Article from Bill Marsh Monthly E-Newsletter

Carrying eight passengers in luxury has usually meant renting a limousine. The 2012 GMC Acadia Denali puts that kind of comfort and capacity in your porte-cochere without having to hire footmen, and the Acadia Denali also has a raft of talents and features you won’t find anywhere near a stretched sedan wearing Wedding White.

Continuing its five-year record of success, GMC reports that sales of the Denali were up more than 12 percent for the first quarter of 2011. That means the Acadia is a blend of features, space and efficiency that customers want. A 3.6-liter dual-overhead cam V6 with variable valve timing and direct fuel injection provides 288 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque. The high-tech engine pairs with an equally quick-witted Hydra-Matic 6T75 six-speed automatic transmission. The combination belts out the power with an air of refinement, and the overall theme is efficiency with an EPA highway fuel economy rating of up to 24 mpg for front-drive Acadia models. Optional all-wheel drive makes the Acadia Denali a great choice, even if your region is littered with igloos.

The 2012 Acadia Denali (MSRP $43,880) is easy to spot. The exterior is dressed in a monochromatic motif with Crystal Red Tintcoat and Stone Gray Metallic available as new color choices for 2012. The chrome honeycomb design grille is another Denali cue that makes the Acadia Denali stand out. Front and rear fascias are unique to the Denali, and in between, the bodywork is tied together by lower cladding and rocker moldings. Fender flares and unique body-side moldings add Denali distinctiveness, too, as do 22-inch chrome-clad wheels and dual chrome exhaust tips.

Night drivers are aided by the standard high-intensity discharge headlamps and they’ll be sitting on perforated leather upholstery with matching door panels. The leather makes heating and cooling for front seat occupants possible and standard. A head-up display brings a bit of fighter-jet technology to this troop transport, bouncing critical information off the windshield, helping to inform the driver without a distracting glance away from the road. Wood-grain accents on the leather-wrapped steering wheel are echoed on the instrument panel and center stack. It adds up to an inviting atmosphere inside a large interior space. The standard Dual SkyScape sunroof system adds airiness, and laminated glass is teamed with extra sound deadening to give the Acadia Denali a space as quiet as it is classy. A standard three-zone climate control system ensures that all the sunlight doesn’t cook anyone, too.

Inside the Acadia Denali, buyers will want for little, though there are some options to further tailor the vehicle to your needs. The standard Bose premium 10-speaker audio system packs a subwoofer, and when the optional rear-seat entertainment system is added, it turns into a 5.1 surround-sound setup that puts more advanced sound in your vehicle than most people have in their homes. Navigation is also available to take the stress out of finding your way, and with an easy-driving demeanor and exceptional comfort for seven or eight passengers, you’re going to look forward to road-tripping in the Acadia Denali. Available XM NavTraffic provides your eyes in the sky, watching out for congestion and delay, too. A 115-volt outlet enhances the capabilities of the rear-seat entertainment system’s screen by powering game systems, or, alternatively, providing household juice for whatever you might need while on the road. You’ll find uses for it, and you’ll wonder how you did without, and since it’s available on the Acadia Denali, you don’t have to sacrifice anymore.

Of course, like every GMC, the Acadia Denali features the peace of mind provided by standard OnStar. Using GPS and cellular phone technology, the system can call for help in emergencies, and there’s the added benefit of the communication and live help features OnStar is known for. With six months of Directions and Connections, service is included with the purchase of an Acadia Denali, which allows turn-by-turn directions to be sent directly to the car by an OnStar advisor, an added personal touch not available from any of the other Acadia Denali’s competitors.

When your needs include carrying more people than will fit in a standard sedan, and you need space for more than just passengers, the Acadia Denali has what you need. Unparalleled luxury is the additional benefit of going with the Acadia Denali. Every feature enhances your time in the vehicle and makes it easier to get where you’re going in a relaxed, safe way. Some vehicles are driver-centric, taking exceptional care of the loose nut behind the wheel at the expense of everyone else inside, but the Acadia Denali coddles a sept- or heptet equally well with space to spare.