2008 GMC Acadia Review

Acadia SLE FWD ($29,735) and AWD ($31,765) come with air conditioning, cruise control, tilt and telescope steering wheel, heated outside mirrors, power windows and programmable door locks with remote keyless entry, four-way manually adjustable driver's seat, 60/40 split second-row seats, 60/40 split third-row seats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio with XM Satellite Radio, auto-on headlamps, daytime running lights, and a rear window wiper. Tires are 255/65 on 18-inch painted aluminum wheels. Options for SLE include Bose stereo ($870), second-row captain's chairs and console ($495), and other equipment from the higher-line model. Also available is a package ($2,055) combining tri-zone climate control, the Bose stereo, and a rear-seat DVD system.

Acadia SLT FWD ($34,270) and AWD ($36,300) add leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, six-way power adjustable driver's seat, two-way power adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, second-row captain's chairs with console, a more sophisticated Bose stereo with rear headphone jacks, driver information center, outside temperature display, universal garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and turn signals integrated into outside mirrors.

Options for SLT include the Dual Skyscape two-panel glass sunroof ($1,300); navigation system and rearview camera ($2,340); head-up display ($350); HID headlights ($500); and 19-inch bright aluminum wheels ($1,295). Eight-passenger seating is available for a credit (-$495). DVD entertainment is offered as a stand-alone option ($1,295). The SLT-2 package ($1,980) upgrades to an eight-way power driver seat, four-way power passenger seat, memory function for driver's seat and mirrors, power liftgate, heated washer nozzles, 115-volt power outlet, cargo shade and net, remote starter, and ultrasonic rear park assist.

Options for both models include a towing package ($425) including heavy-duty cooling and trailer hitch, and an engine-block heater ($75).

Safety features include dual frontal airbags, side air curtains, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver and front-seat passenger, OnStar, anti-lock brakes, and StabiliTrak electronic stability control. Brake Assist has been added for 2008.

Air curtains are low-pressure air bags that come down from the ceiling and cover the side windows (of all three rows on the Acadia) to provide head protection in a side-impact crash or rollover; in a rollover the air curtains could also help keep arms and heads inside the vehicle. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which is funded by the insurance industry, have shown such head protection greatly improves the chance of surviving a side-impact crash. However, air curtains are not a substitute for seat belts. The front-seat side-impact air bags provide torso protection in a side-impact crash. IIHS studies have also shown these, too, are valuable, but not as important as head protection.

OnStar uses a global positioning system and an extra powerful cellular telephone to put the driver in touch with the OnStar center which is manned 24/7. The center can tell where the vehicle is located and send help or provide other assistance. Should the air bags deploy the system can automatically notify the OnStar center that an accident has occurred and where the vehicle is located so it can then send help. OnStar service is free for the first year but after that requires a subscription fee.