2008 GMC Acadia

Performance and Cargo

If Acadia's fuel economy shows a slight gain over full-size SUVs, road handling and ride quality are vastly improved. Acadia's lower center of gravity and car-based suspension makes it feel better and track truer than truck-based vehicles. Acadia won't inspire you to go searching for an autocross event to race in, but neither will you perspire when you take a sharp curve a wee bit faster than you'd planned to. The Intelligent All Wheel Drive system incorporates dynamic yaw control and fully integrates with the Stabilitrak stability control system. The system automatically manages torque distribution between the front and rear wheels, factoring in such variables as throttle position, wheel speed and surface conditions.


Upgraded this year to provide more rear torque bias under certain conditions, it's said to be significantly improved on snow and gravel. Overall, Acadia feels noticeably more confident and planted in corners than any large SUV that comes to mind. From going to stopping: Acadia adds a Panic Brake Assist feature for '08, developing additional braking force and faster engagement of ABS, during emergency stopping.

Interior

Inside, Acadia shows a big wagon's versatility and cabin quality that rivals many upscale cars. Textures, materials, fit and finish are quality all. Ingress and egress is easy; the step in height requires neither a running board nor a running start. Second row seating on Acadia models is either bench or twin captain's chairs, accordingly to trim level. All models have a third row as well, so capacity is rated at 7-8. Our Acadia tester had a pair of comfortable, leather captain's chairs in row two, and regardless of seat type, all second rows can slide fore and aft to increase/decrease legroom, and provide easier access to the third row. Whether that third row handles adults or kids depends on the leg length of those sitting in front of them.


Acadia has a generous, 19.7 cubic feet of storage space in the cargo bay, when all seats are in use. The remote key fob has a one touch button to open/close the liftback door—handy when you've got your arm's full. If you don't need the third row for seating, cargo capacity jumps to 68.9 cubic feet, and it's a whopping 117 cu. ft., with rows two and three folded down.


All of the above is wrapped in a large, handsome package. Acadia's styling lands somewhere south of SUV and north of station wagon; more masculine than a minivan, but not so macho as to polarize. And indeed this Acadia attracted comments and questions from an equal mix of males and females that encountered it during our week-long drive. It's easy to see the attraction. For those whose lifestyle requires a vehicle big enough to carry a lot of people and/or cargo in all weather conditions, Acadia is a good option. It's classy and competent, with a car-like drivability that SUV's just can't match. (www.gmc.com)