2011 GMC Acadia Denali SUV Review & Ratings

The word Denali originates from the Eskimo word meaning "the high one" and the name of a famous peak on Mountain McKinley, which is also one of the highest peaks in North America. The 2011 Acadia Denali has recently entered the market with a $50,125 price tag for the fully loaded package. The base model Acadia begins at $32,615, which is still great value for the amount of automobile being offered. However, the model we reviewed had optional packages raising the price.

The Denali boasts its image as a luxury SUV amongst its competitors. However, the Acadia seems more like a dressed-up kit placed on cheaper Dodge platform. Simple changes, such as the newly designed front bonnet looks like an aftermarket addition. The body-color matched rocker panels, fender flares, and other external body features aid in making the new look more elegant than the previous black plastic panels seen on the standard Acadia. The Acadia Denali also sports a lot of chrome; 20 inch chrome wheels come standard. However, if you don't like the standard 6 spoke design, there are other factory options available. The beginning, actually, consists of drilled chrome grilles. Chrome highlights are also featured on the windowsills, the doors, bumpers, trunk, and even the emblems.

The Acadia Denali's interior design is very stylish. The new chromed doorsills incorporate a illuminated Denali symbol (on the front doors only). While the wood grain interior trim is faux, GMC has done an excellent job in making it appear as real wood. Added accent light exemplifies the new modern interior design. This luxury SUV is incredibly quiet thanks to its triple door enclosures, laminated glass, and additional sound deadening material. All of these design cues were taken from the Buick Enclave. The front seats are standard in leather and feature both heating and cooling functions. A double sunroof, wood and leather steering wheel, navigation, a heads-up display, and a tri-zone climate control are also apart of the design.

However, if it happens that you are looking for a big crossover, the Chevrolet Traverse offers plenty of the same features as the Acadia Denali, and for a lot less money. If your looking for more useable interior space, the Honda Pilot would actually be a better choice, even if its interior is more simplistic than the Acadia's. If you can cope with the smaller interior space, then you might want to choose the Acura MDX, which is a proper luxury SUV that is overflowing with high-tech features. On the other side, the Ford Flex is best known for its capability to comfortably seat 6 people, and its optional EcoBoost engine supplies great power while consuming very little gas, even though it is actually smaller than the Acadia.