Full Review:

2011 GMC Acadia Denali AWD

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January 25, 2010

Drew Dowdell - Chief Editor - CheersandGears.com



GMC for 2011 has released a new "top shelf" version of their full sized
Acadia crossover vehicle. Like the GMC Sierra wearing the
Denali badge, it is entirely an appearance and comfort package with no
performance enhancements.



Exterior changes over a standard 2011 Acadia include: Chrome honeycomb
grill, revised fascias, high intensity discharge headlamps, additional
side mouldings, and a set of very attractive 2-tone 20 inch alloy
wheels.



Interior enhancements include: Leather and mahogany steering wheel,
dark mahogany wood trim on the center stack and door panels, heated and
cooled perforated leather front seats, dual sunroofs, a heads up
display, and something GMC is calling "premium acoustics", which sounds
suspiciously similar to Buick's "Quiet Tuning".



The Acadia Denali is powered by a direct injected 3.6 liter V6 putting
out 288 horsepower at 6300rpm and 270 pound foot of torque at 3400 rpm.


2011 GMC Acadia Denali media gallery

2010 GMC Acadia SLT Media Gallery

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The Drive

The larger of GMC's two crossovers still manages to maintain a car-like
ride even on rough surfaces. Even with the larger 20 inch wheels,
potholes are dispatched without drama and road blemishes like expansion
joints are erased entirely. Enter a turn, however, and you're
immediately reminded that this is not a sedan. Body roll isn't severe,
but it's a regular reminder that you're piloting 4800lbs of crossover.

Acceleration, while competent, isn't spectacular. Ringing up at over
$50,000, I would have expected more. Alas, this is the most powerful
engine GMC offers in the Acadia, so one can't even opt for more if they
wanted it.



Fuel economy is an EPA rated 17 city and 24 highway for the front wheel
drive model. All wheel drive models like this one drop to 16 city and
24 highway.  In my mostly 70/30 city/highway driving, I managed
19.1 mpg.  These numbers seem competitive with the likes of the
Lincoln MKT AWD (16/22), 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 (16/22), Hyundai
Veracruz AWD (16/21), and Toyota Highlander Limited 4x4 (17/22). 
However, out of all of those vehicles, the GMC Acadia has the largest
amount of interior room.

Inside

alt="2011 GMC Acadia Denali dash"
src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1293762611/gallery_63_285254.png"
align="left">The interior of the Acadia Denali is just like any other
Acadia, but with more luxurious trim. The center stack is logically
laid out and easy to use, though my previous comments about the
apparent age of GM's NAV system software remain true here.  An
interface update is needed. To be fair to GM, the 2011 Lincoln MKS I'm
driving right now has the exit numbers for a local highway wrong also.
So maybe a map maker somewhere needs to be contacted. The heads up
display is useful and after a week of driving, felt like a necessity.
Fit and finish is excellent overall with one minor flub of a poor
fitting access panel right behind the front door pulls.

Front seat comfort is superb as long as you prefer it on the softer
side. Let's face it; this will never be a road rally vehicle. There is
no need for firm side bolstering or firm seat bottoms. The Acadia
Denali is built for cruising down the turnpike with a litter of kids
and their stuff, and having the least amount of complaints while doing
it. At the same time, the driver is rewarded with a cushy front seat
that will heat and cool you on those long distance runs. The rear seats
are easy to fold and slide every which way. Ingress and egress from the
3rd row is easy even for an adult.




GMC's "premium acoustics" sounds suspiciously similar to Buick's Quiet
Tuning because of the results it produces. The non-Denali versions of
the Acadia alt="2011 GMC Acadia Denali rear seat"
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align="right"> aren't at all loud, but there is a noticeable
difference between those lesser Acadias and their cousin, the Buick
Enclave. The Enclave is vault silent inside and makes for a quiet
serene ride. The treatments that GMC uses seem to put the Acadia Denali
so close to the Enclave that you would need sensitive sound instruments
to measure any difference.  And therein begins my issue with the
Acadia Denali..... What is the point of the Acadia Denali when the
equally luxurious Buick Enclave is sitting there in the same showroom?



Any customer walking in to a GMC dealer for an Acadia Denali will also
be greeted by the curvy Buick Enclave sitting on the same showroom
floor.  The top line Enclave CXL-2 bases about $1,200 cheaper than
the base Acadia Denali. And for that you sacrifice the two tone 20 inch
wheels for 19 inch chrome ones, just about every other major option is
identically offered.



Let's pretend for the moment that the Enclave doesn't exist.  The
GMC is a luxurious full size crossover that is completely capable in
its mission. Put up against competition from other manufacturers this
Acadia Denali makes a compelling case for itself.  Having multiple
vehicles compete so closely for the same customers is something that
General Motors is specifically trying to avoid. Indeed, it was a large
part of the justification given for closing Pontiac and Saturn.



Buick is fighting, seemingly successfully, its "old peoples' car" image
lately. There are still silly holdouts that will "never buy something
with a Buick badge on it!", and I suppose this Acadia Denali is a way
for GM to cater to them.  



If you come away with anything from this review it's this; GM is
fielding two capable, luxurious, large crossovers that you must
certainly test drive if you're shopping in this market. Is GM cheating
by submitting two entries? Maybe just a little... but that works out
better for you.








Correction: I originally stated that ALL Denali packages were simply appearance and amenity packages with no performance upgrades. Only the Acadia and Sierra Denalis are such. The Yukon Denali gets the 6.2 V8 and AWD as an upgrade in addition to the luxury and amenities packages.

Always liked the Acadia, but the rock hard dash was disappointing. Is it still hard plastic in most places?

1) I really like the newer review format with the headings and soft-colored heading bars. Good upgrade.

2) What do you think about the overall package given that it's essentially 4 years old? Is it lipstick on a pig, or does it lengthen the life of the product?

3) How does it compare to its competition...external competition?

Edited January 26, 201115 yr by Croc

1. Thanks, I actually did that by mistake, liked it, left it in place.

2. The overall package is still a very compelling entry despite its age. It certainly doesn't feel 4 years old. There are newer entries out there, but the Lambdas still seem more versatile with their seating. I would have liked to see a little bit more of an MCE inside and out for 2011, but rumors are that major revision is on the way in about 2 years, so I can see why they wouldn't bother.

3. It's hard to pick out exactly what the competition for the Acadia Denali is. Naturally there is the Enclave. If you look at my list of competition in fuel economy, you'll see the crossovers and SUVs that line up against the Acadia in price. If you're looking for the best Price + Luxury + Size + Versatility equation, you simply can't beat the Lambdas. Add in that it meets or beats almost all of the competition in fuel economy while being larger than any of them, and that is probably enough to make a sale right there.

3. It's hard to pick out exactly what the competition for the Acadia Denali is. Naturally there is the Enclave. If you look at my list of competition in fuel economy, you'll see the crossovers and SUVs that line up against the Acadia in price. If you're looking for the best Price + Luxury + Size + Versatility equation, you simply can't beat the Lambdas. Add in that it meets or beats almost all of the competition in fuel economy while being larger than any of them, and that is probably enough to make a sale right there.

As far as domestic competition, maybe the higher trim levels of the Explorer and Flex and the MKT. For imports, maybe the MDX..

Edited January 26, 201115 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

As far as domestic competition, maybe the higher trim levels of the Explorer and Flex and the MKT. For imports, maybe the MDX..

The reason it's tough is that the Lambdas outsize them all. Adults can be comfortable in the 3rd row of the Lambdas. Not so much in the Flex (the Explorer, I don't know yet.)

I find it hard to justify 50K for this with a weak V6 when I can get a nice Yukon with v8 in the same price range.

I find it hard to justify 50K for this with a weak V6 when I can get a nice Yukon with v8 in the same price range.

Amenities. You can't get these amenities in the Yukon for that price...

The reason it's tough is that the Lambdas outsize them all. Adults can be comfortable in the 3rd row of the Lambdas. Not so much in the Flex (the Explorer, I don't know yet.)

i regularly have adults in the third row of my taurus x, and get back there myself sometimes. It's not as much as the Lambdas, but you can still be comfortable. The footspace is good so you don't have to be cramped. But yes, the Lambda is the most commodious and has an advantage in the third row on just about everything else in the market. If only a suburban were that commodious.

A huge advantage the Lambadas have is I believe you can get plywood in them and shut the hatch. At a minimum, its wide enough.

As far as domestic competition, maybe the higher trim levels of the Explorer and Flex and the MKT. For imports, maybe the MDX..

At least with the Fords you get that twin turbo.

Edited January 26, 201115 yr by regfootball

Amenities. You can't get these amenities in the Yukon for that price...

No comparison there, especially in rear seating and space, let alone driving dynamics. They're great trucks, but big 'ole trucks if you drive one vs. a Lambda. The 3rd seat & cargo space difference is huge, and the drive very different.

Speaking of the 3rd seat & space, nothing can beat the Lambda's for real space. Not mentioned or otherwise, my loaded zoom-zoom CX-9 Grand Touring has a 3rd seat--despite how even I assumed before from the outside size & looks--that I can sit in, normally and comfortably, and be comfortable. At 6'-3". The Mazda doesn't get enough credit in this regard, unless you've tried it.

I still hold a special place in my heart for the Lambda's, especially with the upgraded DI engine, etc. But they're a bit too large, for my uses, just as the Flex (other fave) is.

Always liked the Acadia, but the rock hard dash was disappointing. Is it still hard plastic in most places?

It's an Acadia dash with extra wood and leather on the wheel and center stack.

That's too bad that the never upgraded the materials. It would be nice if these things got an MCE (they are due), got integrated center stacks and upgraded interior materials, Ford and Dodge have passed all the Lambdas with the Explorer and Durango.

It's been a while, but I sat in the 3rd row of an Outlook, and didn't find it to be that terribly comfortable (I'm 6'). Felt like the 3rd row in a typical early 90's minivan from what I recall. Now the 3rd row in my '98 Suburban, I'd ride back there all day long.

It may grow on me, but at first glance the lower front facia looks like an aftermarket add-on piece that's a little out of place.

"Like all other top shelf GMCs wearing the Denali badge, it is entirely an appearance and comfort package with no performance enhancements."

Doesnt the Yukon Denali come with a 6.2 V8 and AWD instead of the 5.3 and 4WD thats on the standard yukon??

Edited January 27, 201115 yr by MikeyMo84

"Like all other top shelf GMCs wearing the Denali badge, it is entirely an appearance and comfort package with no performance enhancements."

Doesnt the Yukon Denali come with a 6.2 V8 and AWD instead of the 5.3 and 4WD thats on the standard yukon??

You're absolutely right. The Sierra Denali that I had most recently is what I was thinking of. I thought you could still get the 6.2 on the Yukon without going Denali

$50k seems steep for a crossover that with basically the same door panels and trim as the model that starts at $32k. Sure you get more electronic gizmos, some extra leather, wood and flashy wheels, but these Denali packages don't seem worth the price premium to me. Denali or even Cadillac's Plaatinum editions are more of an appearance package, and they almost look like aftermarket interior add ons and a wheel package. To me they aren't worth the price premium and I think they almost look cheesy compared to the standard models.

Ok, but seeing as GM can wring out tons of money from these appearance packages, just like BMW can with it's 'M' appearance packages, why complain? It just means that GM makes more money.

I still say the Acadia needs to be butched up to match its little bro, Terrain. And I do not like pearl white paint, but I imagine it's available in other colors. I do not like the washed-out driftwood interior trim, either. Also, the bodykit does not help its looks at all. If I were needing something like this, I'd take an SLT in green or one of the dark colors.

The Yukon is also too soft in the front end, like a droopy dog cartoon character.

As it stands, I think an SLE-2 AWD Terrain in Walt's blue with chrome package would suit me fine if I could afford it and were in the market for a CUV.