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By: New Car Test Drive Staff
Photo Credit: GMC Overview The GMC Acadia may be a harbinger of refined, fuel-efficient vehicles that offer the utility of a big SUV. The Acadia is a crossover SUV, meaning it looks like a truck but it's built like a car. Crossovers have been gaining in popularity because they make so much sense for so many families, but what sets the Acadia apart is its size: It's big, similar in size to the GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe, inside and out. It can seat eight. And it can carry a lot of cargo. Yet it offers a fuel economy advantage of three-five miles per gallon over a Yukon, benefits of its lighter weight and more efficient engine. We've found the Acadia delivers what most people like about full-size SUVs. For starters, it's big and roomy. The driver sits high off the ground and benefits from that commanding view down the road that many like. Features like rear-seat DVD entertainment make it a good choice for families. The only places where the Acadia falls short of truck-based SUVs is in heavy-duty towing or for slogging through military-grade muck. Properly equipped, the GMC Acadia can tow 4,500 pound, while a Yukon is rated to pull 7,500 pounds or more. Based on the Silverado pickup, the Yukon can handle rugged terrain. The Acadia offers all-wheel drive for capability in stormy or snowy weather and it's fine for unpaved roads. That's plenty of capability for most people. The Acadia offers superb road manners, whether on country roads, rough city streets or pock-marked freeways. It absorbs rough pavement in a soothing manner and takes corners reassuringly for such a large vehicle. It handles better and is smoother than a Yukon and other truck-based SUVs. GMC's 275-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 is smooth and sophisticated and supplies good acceleration performance. Its six-speed automatic transmission is responsive, smooth and efficient, further aiding fuel economy. Three rows of seats provide room for seven or eight, though it's more comfortable with six. Two adults and two or three children plus their belongings can be carried with ease. Acadia comes loaded with safety equipment, including curtain air bags that provide head protection and side-impact airbags that provide torso protection; electronic stability control and other active safety features can help the driver avoid accidents. For 2008, Acadia comes standard with Brake Assist, which helps the driver apply full braking performance in a panic stop. A rearview camera now comes with the optional navigation system, and we recommend it highly to help the driver avoid a tragic accident when backing up. Improvements to the all-wheel-drive and traction-control systems enhance and refine their performance for 2008. XM Satellite Radio comes standard on the 2008 Acadia. A second-row center console has been added to seven-seat models, there are new metallic colors, and other equipment added for 2008.
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