Saturday, February 1, 2020
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
The 2020 GMC Acadia Gets a Facelift—And It’s Impressive
Since the first model was released in 2006, General Motors has intended for the GMC Acadia to appeal to families who want a luxurious vehicle without paying an exorbitant price. Given the popularity of the Acadia, particularly since it went from full-size to mid-size SUV classification in 2017, it looks as if the plan is working.
While still part of the second generation, the 2020 Acadia has received a significant facelift. Along with renovated exterior styling, the 2020 Acadia comes with more technology, redesigned alloy wheels, a new turbocharged engine and transmission, and an all-new trim option.
In other words, the SUV offers more to drivers than ever before. Fans of previous Acadias who wouldn’t mind a more aggressive appearance and refined features are sure to love the 2020 models. Let’s discuss some of these big changes in more detail.
Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the Acadia’s 2020 facelift is its exterior design. Overall, the body style is bolder and more square than previous models.
The vehicle has a refreshed front fascia that brings a ruggedness missing from previous models, starting with a bigger, more upright grille à la 2019 GMC Sierra. GMC’s signature C-shaped lighting is also updated, with the headlights enveloped by elongated horizontal features. LED forward lights come standard on the refresh.
The rear of the 2020 Acadia also sees a revamped fascia, particularly with the taillights. Instead of the C-shaped styling seen on previous models, the new Acadia boasts a simplified vertical bar that stretches from the inside of one taillight to the other.
Interior
The 2020 Acadia doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the interior. Following in the GMC tradition of luxurious interior design, the cabin includes upscale features, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with aluminum trim, intuitive and easy-to-reach controls, and black and white gauges with red needles. Buyers of the Denali trim will get a customizable center screen that can display tons of vehicle information.
The cabin also features more premium, soft-touch materials throughout, as well as a redesigned center console that provides more storage space than previous models. The Denali offers a new two-tone color scheme (Dark Galvanized/Light Shale) and open-pore wood adornments.
The interior of the 2020 Acadia is more than just beautiful; it’s also very functional. With the option of six or seven passengers, the Smart Slide feature and a 50/50 split third-row seat provide ultimate flexibility in terms of cargo space.
Technology
The technology in the 2020 Acadia can be summed up in one word: innovation. The optional, industry-leading Next Generation GMC Infotainment System comes with an eight-inch color touchscreen, user-friendly interface, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buyers of the 2020 Acadia can also get 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, which allows you to connect as many as seven devices. Embedded navigation with Cloud connectivity is also available, and you are guaranteed at least five USB charging ports no matter what trim level you choose.
Another key feature of the Acadia’s 2020 facelift is its performance. Now available—and standard on SLT and Denali trims—is a dual-scroll turbocharged 2.0L engine, which is good for 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, GMC promises optimum power through the high valve lift and better fuel efficiency through the low valve lift. The SL and SLE trims still come with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, while the brand-new Acadia AT4 comes with a beefy 3.6L V6 engine.
Along with the introduction of the turbocharged engine, a new nine-speed transmission replaces the previous six-speed transmission on all trims. The new Electronic Precision Shift system, which includes push buttons and pull triggers in place of a gear shaft, will control the transmission. This makes for an even easier driving experience while also creating more cargo space in the center console.
Finally, 2020 marks the first year that the AT4 trim is available to Acadia buyers. Along with the 3.6L V6 engine, the AT4 variant brings a more aggressive and athletic look to the Acadia via distinctive exterior stylings. A harmony of black chrome and gloss black adorn the grille, roof rails, mirror caps, tail lamp panel, and 17-inch wheels (you can opt for 20-inch wheels). The AT4’s interior features dark chrome accents and exclusive Jet Black/Kalahari leather-appointed seats. Moreover, you can choose a five-seat configuration and the Cargo Management System if you want more cargo space.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a family-friendly crossover that balances boldness with luxury, the 2020 GMC Acadia might be the perfect vehicle for you. From style to function, the upgrades have made the Acadia an even better vehicle than it was before. Don’t take our word for it, though. Come on down to Liberty Buick GMC for a test drive and see for yourself!
Monday, January 6, 2020
Friday, December 20, 2019
Forgotten Tax Write-Offs: Don’t Miss Out on Money You Could Be Saving with Your New Work Truck
Buying a new truck has plenty of perks, but one of them is not taken advantage of nearly enough. If you use your truck for work purposes—and there is a wide range of what is considered a “work purpose”—you might be able to save a lot of money by way of tax write-offs.
The holiday season is the best time to purchase a new work truck. The savvy car-buyer knows that the end of year produces some pretty impressive deals, but this same buyer also knows that going for a new work truck has a hidden benefit as well—tax write-offs!
Why don’t more people write-off their work trucks? Confusion, most likely. Not so much in the process of making deductions, but confusion in what can be deducted and how to go about writing things off. Fortunately, the process of deducting your yearly taxes for mileage used is not difficult at all, just as long as you know what can be counted and where to file. At Liberty Buick GMC we are always looking out for our customers, even their taxes! So we did a little digging and have come up with a few key pieces of information for anyone looking to save a bit of cash come next tax season.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common purposes for using a truck that can generate you some substantial financial returns.
Business Purposes
Though there is no compensation for driving from your home to your place of work, if you use your truck to drive from one job site to another, meet with clients, or even drive clients around, you are eligible for a write-off.
In order to deduct for business purposes, document your mileage on Schedule C if you are self-employed, and on Schedule F if you are a farmer—or, if you’re an employee, you can document as an unreimbursed business expense on Form 2106.
Medical Purposes
According to the IRS, driving to get medical attention for you or your dependents, as long as the drive is “primarily for, and essential to, medical care,” allows for a deduction that can be made on Schedule A of your tax form as part of your itemized medical expenses.
This is one deduction most people forget about or simply choose to ignore. But it’s easy to document, so why not?
Charitable Purposes
If you find yourself providing any type of service to a charitable organization, such as driving to perform volunteer work for a church, helping out with a charity, or volunteering at a local hospital, you can deduct driving expenses.
Simply document the deduction on Schedule A on your tax form as part of your charitable donations.
Making Deductions
Most people do not take advantage of work-truck write-offs because they don’t want to bother with the paperwork. But, after looking into the actual process of making deductions, there are only two options: use your actual expenses, or use a standard mileage rate.
If you want to deduct according to your actual expenses made, the following are what should be considered:
- Parking fees and tolls
- Vehicle loan interest
- Vehicle registration fees
- Personal property tax on the vehicle
- Lease and rental expenses
- Insurance
- Fuel
- Repairs—oil changes, tires, other routine maintenance
If you would rather use a simpler method, consider documenting according to the standard mileage rate. This rate varies depending on the year and reason(s) for driving your work truck, but you can get a significant amount of money back using this method.
The process is simple: take the number of miles you want to use as a write-off and multiply it by the applicable rate. Here are the rates for 2019:
- Business Purposes=58 cents per mile.
- Medical Purposes=20 cents per mile.
- Charitable Services=14 cents per mile.
If you have a truck and you use it for any or all of the purposes listed above, definitely consider your deductions! It may not seem to be much in terms of savings at first, but it adds up quickly and can be done every year.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Friday, November 22, 2019
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Why the 2020 Buick Encore Will Be a Crowd-Pleaser This Black Friday
Black Friday season has arrived! Here at Liberty Buick GMC, we’ve got deals that are nothing short of amazing on a slew of brand-new models, including Buick’s flagship SUV—the 2020 Encore.
Buick and GMC marketing vice president, Phil Brook, said it best when he described the Buick Enclave as “everything [buyers] want in a premium crossover with its distinct styling, quality and driving dynamics.” It’s true. In a crowded midsize SUV class that includes the Enclave’s siblings—the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia—the Enclave is an attention-getter.
Since its design overhaul in 2018, however, the Buick Enclave has offered buyers much more than its sleek and subtle styling. The second-generation Enclave provides performance, comfort, safety, technology, and overall quality to rival any luxury crossover on the market. Yes, the three-row, seven-passenger Enclave makes for a superb family vehicle, but you don’t have to be toting around kids to appreciate its abundance of premium features.
The 2020 refresh of the Buick Enclave comes with several notable changes, such as significant tech upgrades and the new Touring Sport appearance package, among others. Simply put, it’s better than ever, and it just might be the perfect vehicle for you if you’re in the market for a got-it-all midsize SUV.
Let’s take a look at some of the most noteworthy qualities of the 2020 Buick Enclave and why you should consider making it your Black Friday purchase:
Just in for 2020
The newest Enclave receives a number of updates that set it apart from 2018 and 2019 models. First of all, there is some new technology. Buyers of the 2020 Enclave will get the next generation of Buick’s renowned infotainment system and an eight-inch IntelliLink touchscreen standard on all trim levels. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot, and six USB ports are still standard. Sirius XM/360L capability and navigation with traffic and weather alerts are still available as infotainment upgrades.
Coming standard on Premium and Avenir models are an HD Rear Vision Camera, HD Surround Vision, and a massage feature and four-way power-adjustable lumbar support for the front and passenger seats.
Also new for 2020 is the optional Sport Touring (ST) appearance package. This package is available on the Essence trim, and it features several exterior tweaks, such as a black mesh front grille, body-color grille surrounding, and 20-inch machined alloy wheels with contrasting graphite pockets. Overall, the ST package adds a little aggression and sportiness to the Enclave.
The 2020 Enclave Avenir has a body-color lower panel, which is sleeker than the black plastic panels on previous models. Also, three colors have been added to the list of Enclave exterior finishes. Avenir buyers can now get the Rich Garnet Metallic, while Champagne Gold Metallic and Dark Moon Blue Metallic are available for all trims.
Powertrain and Performance
The 2020 Buick Enclave is available in four trim levels: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir. All trims come standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that’s matched with a nine-speed transmission. Performance is not Buick’s primary goal for the Enclave, but the 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque produced by the engine are sufficient for passing moves and towing up to 5,000 pounds.
When it comes to the ride and handling, the 2020 Enclave is composed, comfortable and quiet. This is largely due to its responsive steering and brakes, as well as a suspension that provides a pleasant ride on smooth and rough terrain alike.
InteriorThe 2020 Enclave’s cabin comes in impressive design. All and all, it looks simple yet sophisticated, and it’s unmistakably luxury. The wood-grain/metal trimmings, asymmetrical vents, and easy-to-access controls help in that regard. Also, the seats are really, really comfortable, and the Enclave’s cabin is among the top of the class in spaciousness. Plus, with a Pitch Slide seat in the second row and 60/40 folding seats in the third row, even more space opens up for cargo.
Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 Buick Enclave five out of five stars in crash-test ratings. It comes standard with a rearview mirror camera, and you can opt for automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights.There are plenty of incredible deals to be found at Liberty Buick GMC this Black Friday. If you’re looking for a midsize SUV that comfortably fits seven, looks distinguished inside and out, and has tons of features, the 2020 Buick Enclave could be the one for you. Be sure to come by our dealership to see the deals for yourself and take a test drive!
Friday, November 15, 2019
Monday, November 11, 2019
Black Friday Meets an Already-Cost-Effective 2020 GMC Terrain
The day after Thanksgiving is well known for attracting droves of American shoppers to retail stores. Considered to be the kickoff to the holiday season, Black Friday now spans over virtually all sectors of retail, and you can find deals on anything from electronics and toys to musical instruments and clothing. And with the prominence of online shopping, a single-day event has gradually turned into an entire weekend of sales that extend well into Cyber Monday.
However, retail isn’t the only industry that participates in Black Friday. Did you know that a significant number of shoppers look elsewhere for their deals in late November? Over the last decade or so, these heightened shopping trends have spilled over into the automotive market, with dealerships everywhere offering steep discounts on much—if not all—of their models.
This competition among manufacturers and dealerships creates a great opportunity for people who are in the market for a new vehicle. In fact, you can find some of the best car deals of the year throughout most of November.
Here at Liberty Buick GMC, we’re not holding back on the discounts and incentives this November. We’ve got deals going for tons of brand-new models, and we would love for you to come by and see for yourself. Actually, we’ve got one of the most cost-effective vehicles on the market in stock—the 2020 GMC Terrain. And with additional discounts available, you would be hard-pressed to find another vehicle that offers you this kind of bang for your buck.
What makes the 2020 GMC Terrain so cost-effective? We’ll discuss that here, along with many other characteristics of the one-of-a-kind SUV:
Overview of the 2020 GMC Terrain
The 2020 GMC Terrain is in a crowded class of compact SUVs. Competition is fierce from popular models like the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Toyota RAV4; yet, the Terrain holds its own and offers buyers several characteristics not found in other vehicles.
Some describe it as a more upscale version of its sibling—the Chevrolet Equinox. But the Terrain is more than that; it’s an SUV that sets itself apart from the rest of the class with everything from its standard safety features to its attractive design to its tech options. Oh, and its fuel efficiency, among other things, makes it one of the most cost-effective vehicles you can buy today.
The Terrain still comes in four different trims (SL, SLE, SLT, and Denali), but GMC has made some notable changes to the vehicle for 2020. Along with tweaking a few features here and there, the all-wheel-drive models are no longer available with a diesel engine. However, buyers can still opt for a diesel engine on the front-wheel-drive versions of the SLE and SLT trims. Most appealing, perhaps, are the changes to its standard safety features. In recent years, features such as automatic high-beam lights, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, and lane-keep assistance were optional; now, they come stock.
Let’s get into some of the details of what makes the 2020 GMC Terrain so special:
A Distinct Exterior
The Terrain is a great-looking vehicle. As far as shape and size go, it does share some similarities with the Equinox. However, the Terrain has a distinct design that won’t be mistaken for any other vehicle. It looks refined and unquestionably luxurious with a graceful blend of sharp and rounded character lines, C-shape LED lighting, and squared-off grille. Its overall appearance is attention-getting yet easy to the palate.
There are nine colors available for the 2020 Terrain:
- Smokey Quartz Metallic
- Graphite Gray Metallic
- Ebony Twilight Metallic
- Red Quartz Tintcoat
- Summit White
- Satin Steel Metallic
- Blue Emerald Metallic
- Quicksilver Metallic
- White Frost Tricoat
Buyers who are looking for a more aggressive exterior should consider the Elevation Edition, which is available with the Graphite Gray Metallic, Ebony Twilight Metallic, Summit White, and Satin Steel Metallic colors. The Elevation Edition Terrain features a darkened grille, black roof rails and mirror caps, black exterior accents and trim badging, and 19” gloss-black aluminum wheels.
A Handsome and Functional Interior
Like other GMC models, the 2020 Terrain has got it going on in the interior. It comfortably seats five (with impressive legroom in the back row), and there’s ample space for cargo; actually, it’s among the top of the class in terms of cargo space. Much of this is due to 60/40 split-folding rear seats and an optional fold-flat front seat. With the back seats up, there are 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back row, and that space grows to 63.3 cubic feet when you fold down the back seats. Fold down the front passenger seat, and you can fit objects as long as eight feet in the vehicle.
The interior of the 2020 Terrain also looks really good. The cabin is nothing less than what you would expect from a luxury vehicle, with high-quality design and materials throughout, especially in the SLT and Denali trims. All trims come standard with aluminum trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Whether you opt for cloth or leather upholstery, the seat cushioning is sufficient, and you can increase comfort with features like advanced heated seats (which allow you to heat both the bottom and back cushion or only the bottom cushion) and power-adjustable seats.
Lots of Standard Safety Features
Though the 2020 Terrain comes wrapped in arresting style, one of its most impressive characteristics is how safe it is. It’s arguably as safe as any compact SUV on the market, and GMC added tons of standard safety features to the Terrain in 2020. General Motors calls the new package of active safety technology “Pro Safety,” and it comes on all four trims of the Terrain.
The Pro Safety suite includes automatic high-beam lights (IntelliBeam headlamps), automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-keep assistance, lane departure warning, following distance indicator, and front pedestrian braking.
There are also plenty of other safety features buyers can add by opting for the Driver Alert package. These features include:
Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
The main purpose of this feature is to help you prevent side-swiping and other types of accidents. Whenever you’re about to change lanes—or are in the midst of changing lanes—lights on your side mirrors alert you if there’s a vehicle in or quickly approaching your blind spot.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
This comes into play when you are reversing your vehicle, especially in parking lots. If there’s a vehicle approaching your vicinity (left or right), you will see an indicator symbol on your rear vision camera screen. Rear cross-traffic is detected through radar sensors on the back of the Terrain.
Adaptive Cruise Control
This technology uses cameras to automatically adapt your vehicle’s cruise control speed to keep a safe distance between you and the vehicles ahead of you. In short, it makes cruise control even safer and more convenient.
Front and Rear Park Assist
This feature also uses radar sensors to help drivers in parking lots. When you’re driving at low speeds and trying to park, the feature will give you distance alerts to nearby vehicles and objects so that you can safely park.
Safety Alert Seat
The Safety Alert Seat is one of the cooler safety features offered on the 2020 Terrain. In essence, it allows you to replace crash avoidance beeps with vibration pulses on the bottom of the driver’s seat.
Teen Driver System
This feature was created to help teenage drivers develop safe driving habits. When it’s set up, you can activate Teen Driver mode with your key fob. So, if you have a teen driver in your family, the vehicle will provide advice and feedback throughout the driving experience, and it will even produce a report card. Furthermore, you can control which vehicle features are available and which cannot be turned off during Teen Driver mode.
It’s also worth noting the conventional safety features that buyers will find on the new Terrain:
- Driver, Passenger, Front Head, Rear Head, and Front Side Airbags
- Electronic Stability Control
- Traction Control
- Anti-Lock Brake System
- Daytime Running Lights
Top-Notch Crash Test Results
The safety doesn't end with the features when it comes to the 2020 GMC Terrain, as it received top marks for almost every category. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a five-star overall rating (out of five), as well as five stars in the front and side crash tests. Its only imperfect score was four stars in the rollover test, but it was evaluated to have only an 18.5% rollover risk.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has yet to evaluate the 2020 Terrain, but the 2019 model was given a “Good” (the highest rating) in all tests administered.
Great Fuel Efficiency
One of the main reasons why the 2020 GMC Terrain is such a cost-effective vehicle is that it gets great gas mileage. Buyers have a choice between two four-cylinder engines: a 1.5-liter good for 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter that produces 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both of the engines are turbocharged and matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The 1.5-liter engine provides 30 MPG highway, 26 MPG city, and 28 MPG combined, while the 2.0-liter gives you 28 MPG highway, 22 MPG city, and 24 MPG combined.
Trims and Prices
As previously mentioned, the 2020 GMC Terrain is available in four trim levels: SL, SLE, SLT, and Denali. Let’s discuss some of the main features and prices involved with each one:
The SL
The SL is the Terrain’s base model, and it starts at $25,000 MSRP. For a base model, the Terrain SL comes with a lot of features. Safety-wise, it includes front pedestrian braking, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking, all of which are new to this year’s model. It comes with many other safety features as well, such as a rear-view camera system, automatic high-beams, lane-keep assistance, lane departure warning, following distance indicator, and GMC’s Teen Driver system.
Technology-wise, the Terrain SL includes a six-speaker audio system, 7” touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi hotspot, four USB ports, proximity keyless entry, and push-button start. Oh, and it throws in a leather-wrapped steering wheel for good measure.
The SLE
Going up to the Terrain SLE, the price starts at $28,400. There aren’t a lot of added standard features. However, this is where the buyers are eligible for a slew of upgrade packages, including upgrades to styling, seating, the infotainment system, and safety.
The SLT
The SLT comes in at $31,200 and has several notable standard features. First of all, leather seats and remote start come stock. Also standard is dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats. Buyers of the SLT will also get a bigger touchscreen, along with other infotainment upgrades, and satellite radio capability.
The Denali
Like other GMC models, the Denali is the most luxurious trim of the Terrain. Starting at $38,300, this trim comes stock with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, a heated steering wheel, powered front seats (both), and a hands-free liftgate.
This is also the trim that provides the most safety features, with additions like lane change alert with side blind zone alert, front and rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and safety alert seat. Moreover, buyers of the Terrain Denali will get a seven-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and navigation.
If you’re looking for a great all-around SUV that makes sense economically, look no further than the 2020 GMC Terrain. And be sure to come by Liberty Buick GMC during our Black Friday sales event. We guarantee we’ll have the best deals you can find on all-new GMC models. We look forward to seeing you!
Friday, November 1, 2019
Liberty Buick-GMC: A Reason to Get Stuck in Charlotte Traffic
If you have to spend endless hours in Charlotte traffic, it might as well be in a luxury Buick—hey, you might end up finding the standstill bearable, maybe even an enjoyable escape from the grind.
It’s no secret the traffic in and around Charlotte is intensifying, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. Sure, nobody likes sitting in a line and watching stoplights going from green to red over and over again. Getting caught in continual traffic congestion is reason enough to move up in levels of comfort, aesthetic, and technology. At Liberty Buick-GMC, we have the next level of luxury you are looking for.
For instance, imagine driving down Independence Blvd. during five-o’clock traffic when you come to a complete stop with nothing but brake lights in your immediate future. The normal reaction is to be frustrated and a bit stressed, but not today. Today you are driving the 2020 Buick Enclave, which sports new and improved performance, a fresh new look, and high levels of luxury.
This luxurious SUV comes with Buick’s next generation of infotainment: an 8-inch diagonal touchscreen that offers connected navigation and Sirius XM with 360L (a system that combines satellite and streaming in order to offer more channels and content to all passengers), plus much more to keep you occupied while sitting in traffic.
Plus there’s the HD Rear Vision Camera and HD Surround Vision Systems to keep you alert at all times on the situation around you.
And for those extra congested times, the new Enclave has a four-way power lumbar seat adjuster that offers both driver and passenger back massages. Now, this is a reason to get stuck in traffic.
Traffic may be getting intense here in Charlotte, but at Liberty Buick-GMC we have found the best way to bypass it all: by joining it in with a luxury vehicle and enjoying every relaxing minute of it. Bring on the traffic!
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