Drew Dowdell

Some of those up level marques are even using fabric on the side of the seat that faces the center console.

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.)

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.

Full Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali We review the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali. Is it worthy of the Denali name? Does it compete with the Buick Enclave in the same showroom? Follow the jump to find out. Full Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali AWD

Moving to the Lounge for greater visibility.

Happy Birthday Paolino

Full Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali AWD style="width: 472px; height: 354px;" alt="2011 GMC Acadia Denali grill" src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1293762611/gallery_63_386373.png"> 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 style="width: 500px; height: 375px;" alt="2011 GMC Acadia Denali front" src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1293762611/gallery_63_431017.png"> 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" src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1293762611/gallery_63_289692.png" 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.

The next design contest has been announced. Design a new Dodge compact sedan.

but would they have been able to keep the cost down that way?

Having DI in the Cruze, especially in the turbo models, would have allowed them taller top gears for highway Cruzing speeds.

Get that back by running a 6-speed or CVT instead of a 4-speed....

what other ad-ins you have running?

update your flash

The 4-cylinder 4-speed auto Alero was able to manage 34-35 mpg also.

A 5mph difference doesn't create a 5mpg difference. Something else was afoot on the trip up.

Announcing your new GMC Truck Forum Moderator - GMTruckGuy74