As the first crossover SUV sold by GMC (new in 2007), the 2008 GMC Acadia continues to share its structure and many of its features with the Saturn Outlook and the Buick Enclave. The Acadia successfully combines the appearance and capabilities of an SUV without the large sticker price and low gas mileage. In these days of gasoline at $4 a gallon that’s a real consideration.

Under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 that delivers 275 horsepower mated with a six-speed automatic transmission that propels this large vehicle forward with ease. A mid-range tow/trailer package is available that provides a towing capacity of 4500 pounds. (If you’re looking for heavy duty towing, this might be a deterrent.) Yet it has the power to haul people and cargo with ease. At one point I had six people inside and everyone said it was extremely comfortable and roomy for its size.

Still, the Acadia manages to pull off, in both style and substance, a sport/luxury car feel. For example, the on-road drive was smooth and I drove this through some areas that were littered with potholes. The handling was precise, responsive and gave it an agility that I have seen in very few cars in this market segment. It would probably do well on long trips though my experience was more localized.

Each Acadia comes with seating for seven to eight passengers. The base model SLE is well equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, power windows and door locks, a six-speaker stereo system that accommodates both CD's and an MP3 player, front and rear air conditioning, cruise control and remote keyless entry. The SLT offers heated outside mirrors, machine-polished wheels, heated leather upholstery, triple zone climate control and a Bose stereo system with ten speakers, in-dash six CD changer, subwoofer and steering wheel mounted audio controls. The top of the line SLT features satellite radio, a rear parking assist system, power rear lift gate, remote start and a crystal clear rear seat entertainment center. Other options include a windshield instrument display, navigation system; sunroof and Dolby 5.1 surround sound system that includes audio controls in the cargo area. All models are available with either the standard seven-passenger seating arrangement or an optional eight-passenger seating configuration. Each trim model comes with an optional advanced AWD system.

Fuel economy is okay for this segment. We wished it had been better considering this is marketed as an alternative to gas-guzzling full-size SUVs. Still, it gets 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Overall, the 2008 GMC Acadia provides a comfortable ride and handles well. It is unusual to find this type of performance and comfort in a crossover, and the price, ranging from $29,845 for the 2WD SLE to the SLT AWD cost of $38,255 is reasonable. R&D