The GMC Acadia is a popular lineup of full size crossover SUV from the house of the General Motors that is built on the new platform GM Lambda platform on which some other top notch SUVs are also built including Saturn Outlook, Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. The first model of the GMC Acadia was offered for sale in December 2006 in the US. The lineup is offered in five trims, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2 and the top of the lineup Denali. In this article we will review the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali that is slightly refreshed this year to compete with its rivals. The GMC Acadia Denali 2013 model year receives front and rear styling updates and  interior updates including safety features.

Exterior, Interior and Specifications

The 2013 GMC Acadia Denali is a full size SUV that has a conservative style and has a decent big chrome mesh front grille, xenon headlights, power folding sideview mirrors, power glass roof, fixed glass rear sunroof, intermittent front and rear wipers, rear spoiler and the Denali sit on standard 20 inch chrome clad wheels. The exterior color palette of the Denali is comprised of Summit White, Quicksilver Metallic, Crystal Red Tintcoat, White Diamond Tricoat, Carbon Black Metallic and Iridium Metallic.

The inside of the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali is very complementing and sophistication and is a blend of comfort, high end features and useful cargo area. The interior is able to accommodate up to eight adults in a very comfortable and soothing manner. The Denali is highly user friendly which is a plus point of this full size SUV. The second and third row seats are flat folded so that to extend the cargo area up to 116 cubic feet. The 2013 GMC Acadia Denali model is updated with the addition of aluminum accents with satin chrome accents, mahogany inserts and perforated leather. The second row seats are sliding that makes easy access to the third row.

Standard interior specs on the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali are eight way power driver and passenger seat with multilevel heating and power adjustable lumbar, keyless entry, cruise control, three 12V power outlets, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, rearview camera, rear parking sensors, 10-speaker Bose Premium brand sound system with CD player, Sirius XM satellite radio, adjustable speed sensitive volume control, separate rear radio, iPod/USB interface and auxiliary audio jack. The GM adds a color touch screen radio with touch screen controls and navigation system. The GMC 2013 Acadia Denali is no doubt a luxury SUV in each and every aspect if we just hide the badge and so it has a price tag that may create issues for some buyers.

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Safety Features

The standard safety features of the Acadia Denali are antilock disc brakes, front seat side mounted airbags, full length side curtain airbags for all three rows, stability control and traction control. For the 2013 model year, the GMC Denali got Rear Cross Traffic Alert and side blind zone alert. The one year GM’s OnStar service with turn by turn navigation and hands free phone connectivity is also standard.

Powertrain and Performance

The 2013 GMC Acadia Denali gets power from a 3.6 liter V6 engine that delivers 288 horsepower and 270 lb ft of torque. The front wheel drive and a six speed automatic transmission are standard whereas all wheel drive is optional. The EPA rated fuel economy is 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with front wheel drive and 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway with AWD.

Pricing and Availability

The high end and well appointed GMC 2013 Acadia Denali has a price tag of $45,945 and is available for sale.

Competitors

The key rivals of the 2013 Acadia Denali are Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna, Ford Flex, Honda Odyssey and Mazda CX-9.

Pros

• Spacious interior offering space for up to 8 adults
• Better handling compared to conventional rivals
• High end luxury

Cons

• Six speed automatic only
• Expensive yet no luxury badge
• Drives heavy specially at 5,000 rpm

The Verdict

The 2013 GMC Acadia Denali is an ideal SUV for those looking for a spacious yet stylish and luxurious SUV. It is upgraded for the 2013 that makes it one of the leading SUVs in the segment. Though, it’s a little pricey but for the standard features that are offered by the Denali the price will never matter for shoppers.