Some General Motors SUV Brand Variations

Back in the days when General Motors ruled the automobile world and was rolling cash, there still was need to economize.  For example, from the early 1940s into the mid-1950s GM made use of three basic bodies for its five brands (1940s Cadillac Model 75 limousines were a minor exception).  Which meant that each body was shared by more than one brand.

Each GM brand was given its own set of styling cues -- grilles especially, plus lesser decorative items -- and these would be provided to the various bodies for brand identification purposes.  For example, around 1950, Chevrolets and Pontiacs used only GM's A Body, whereas 1951 Oldsmobiles used bodies A, B and C.

Those bodies were sedans and derivatives such as convertibles and station wagons.  Nowadays, a brand's models are spread across several distinct body types, perhaps along with more than one body within a given type.

Currently, General Motors has several SUV bodies in production, each used by more than one of its four current brands (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac).  The present post deals with brand variation on a current intermediate-size SUV platform and its immediate predecessor.

Models discussed are the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave.

Gallery

2009 Chevrolet Traverse
General Motors was drifting towards bankruptcy when this body was under development.

2008 Buick Enclave
Even so, the Buick version received slightly different sheet metal on the lower body.  Also note small differences on the rear door windows.

2007 GMC Acadia
Yet the Acadia received different bodywork aft of the middle of the rear side door.  My guess is that since GMC was once General Motors' truck brand, the car was given a larger-capacity cargo carrying zone in the form of a higher roof and more vertical rear, in line with GMC's industrial image (that is much less strong today).

2018 Chevrolet Traverse
The 2007-09 SUV bodies were replaced for the 2018 model year.  By that time, GM was in better financial shape and could afford to fund more visual variation.  The Traverse is the largest seller of the group, so consider it the baseline for our discussion.

2018 GMC Acadia
The Acadia again received the most expensive differentiation.  Its wheelbase is 112.5 inches (2857 mm) compared to 120.9 inches (3071 mm) on the Traverse and  Enclave.  The difference is most visible in the profile of the aft quarter window and the aft cutline of the rear side door.

2018 Buick Escalade
The Escalade's bodywork abaft of the cowling is different from and racier-looking than that of the Traverse.  Note the chrome strip extending across the upper edges of the windows and on to the rear.   This enhances the "racy" appearance (compared to many competing SUVs). 

2018 Chevrolet Traverse
The Traverse grille theme is similar to that of some other Chevrolet models.  That horizontal sweep from headlight to headlight is a variation on an industry-wide styling cliché, though the overall frontal design is comparatively simple and pleasing.

2018 GMC Acadia
That across-the-front sweep cliché is mercifully absent on the Acadia.  Instead, there is a strong, truck-like grille befitting the GMC legacy.

2018 Buick Enclave
Enclave's design feel is softer than that of the others.  More obvious curved areas and little angularity and tight-radius folds.  Its front end is fairly simple in today's context.  The sweep cliché is absent, and the grille is less bold than the GMC's.  All-in-all a likable design, though not an outstanding one.

Rear-quarter view showing more of the generally rounded body-shaping theme.