2008 GMC Acadia Review

The exterior design team for the GMC Acadia managed to give a relatively large vehicle a look that has moved away from bulky without sacrificing a kind of active grace. Happily GMC has avoided the threatening-SUV school of design that has been so popular.

The rounded front end features a bight grille surround framing a prominent GMC emblem. Distinctively curved headlight clusters give the Acadia a slightly startled expression. Projector beams are standard; high-intensity discharge (HID) head lights are optional. Small round fog lights nestle below. The front bumper is massive, but this is camouflaged somewhat by its black color and by a bright strip at the top.

Most noticeable from the side are rounded fender flares and a horizontal character line that sets out to connect them but disappears into the doors instead. Tasteful bright trim and polished aluminum roof rails add visual interest. The shape of the Acadia is aerodynamically efficient (for an SUV), with a drag coefficient of 0.344. Heated, power-adjustable outside mirrors are standard on all models. Body-color outside mirrors with integrated turn signals are standard on SLT; power-folding mirrors with integrated turn signals and auto-dimming come with the SLT-2 package.

The rear view is generic SUV/crossover accented by interesting two-tone taillight clusters and quad exhaust tips.

Eighteen-inch wheels and tires are standard, and 19-inch wheels are available. The Acadia has the visual mass to support the big rollers, but the bright 19-inchers are too dazzling for our taste.