2012 GMC Acadia

The Acadia is ready for another year of grocery-getting and family-hauling duty, and as always, there is plenty of room for the kids to bring some of their friends along. With a 60/40-split second row, the Acadia can hold up to eight passengers. The capacity drops to seven when you select captain's chairs for the second row in lieu of a bench. Up front, the 3.6-liter V-6 engine produces 288 hp and does a fine job carting around the Acadia's roughly 4000 pounds. It can also tow up to 5200 pounds when properly equipped. Depending on the buyer's preference and the trim level selected, the Acadia sits on eighteen-, nineteen, or twenty-inch wheels. The Denali model gets the biggest wheels along with a panoramic sunroof, a chunkier lower-body aero kit, a head-up display, and heated and cooled seats for the driver and front passenger. Overall, the Acadia has proven itself to be a solid choice in its segment. It compares well with such standout competitors as the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot both mechanically and functionally. The Acadia rides well and is reasonably economical, which also goes for its corporate siblings, the Buick Enclave and the Chevrolet Traverse.