2008 GMC Acadia SLT-1

Model Highlights

The GMC Acadia pairs carlike driving behavior, including a smooth ride and sharp handling, with SUV hauling capability. Although the Acadia has a lower, sleeker profile, it borrows design cues from GMC's larger Yukon SUV family, including the prominent polished aluminum roof rails and projector-beam headlamps. All models are powered by a 275-horsepower 3.6L dual-overhead-cam V6 with variable valve timing, running through a six-speed automatic transmission. Configurations with either front- or all-wheel drive are available. The all-wheel-drive system is oriented toward on-road driving and always delivers a small amount of torque to the rear wheels, applying more when needed for best traction. Integral body-on-frame construction gives the Acadia more solidity for heavy hauling while maintaining easy entry/exit and the refinement benefits of the uni-body construction that most cars have. With a four-wheel independent suspension--including a space-saving rear-mounting system that helps isolate noise and vibration--the Acadia also has a low center of gravity and sharp handling. Fuel economy is considerably better than similarly sized traditional truck-based SUVs, at 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, and the Acadia can tow up to 4,500 pounds. GM's StabiliTrak stability control system, with rollover mitigation technology to help prevent dynamic situations that could lead to a rollover, is standard on the Acadia. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard, as are front-occupant side air bags and side-curtain bags for outboard occupants in all three rows. The Acadia comes in either seven- or eight-passenger interior configurations. Each setup has bucket seats in front and a three-passenger, 60/40-split folding third row; the seven-passenger version has two captain's chairs in the second row, while the eight-passenger version has another three-passenger, 60/40-split bench seat instead. Both versions claim to have a third row large enough for adults, and they both come with a second-row Smart Slide function, where the second-row seat cushion flips up and the seatback slides forward for easier access to the third row. For cargo and passenger capacity, the Acadia beats many other SUVs its size. Both the second- and third-row seats fold flat for mixes of the two, and there's also a covered cargo area. Two trim levels of the Acadia are offered: SLE and SLT. SLE models come equipped with the conveniences you might expect in a vehicle in its price class, but SLT models come with a number of features not always found standard, such as heated outside mirrors, heated seats, tri-zone climate control, and a Bose ten-speaker, MP3-compatible sound system with rear headphone jacks. Top options include high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, a DVD entertainment system, a navigation system, ultrasonic parking assist, a power rear liftgate, a remote starting system, and a large sunroof with rear skylight.