2007 GMC Acadia FWD SLT
- As tested price: $40,745
- Driven from Ann Arbor to Traverse City, Michigan, Round trip, 550+ miles.
- Fuel Economy: 18 city / 26 highway

Under normal circumstances, the 250 mile drive from Northern Michigan's vacation land back down to Detroit takes four to five hours. In a blizzard, on unplowed highways, with gusting wind and snow so thick you can barely see what's in front of you, tack on another three and hope you've got the right car for the job.

The first hour or so of just such a drive, I wasn't sure about GMC's new Acadia. When better-equipped H2s and Yukons are just barely inching past, obviously fighting their own battle against the elements, your thoughts enter a deep philosophical exploration as to how a sport-utility vehicle (crossover or otherwise) can be labeled as such with front-wheel drive only. One might compare it to drinking decaf or cooking with Splenda: you get the form but not the function. Perhaps we could coin "stylish [but] useless vehicles" for cases like this - but it's best not to jump to conclusions.

As the miles piled on and I became more familiar with the vehicle, my confidence managed to increase. Soon enough, we were holding a relaxed, steady line of 50 miles-per-hour - up from a white-knuckled 30 a few hours earlier. The car cut through the snow fairly easily, allowing me to change lanes without any swerving or slip ups. Braking was also responsive-enough, given the fresh coat of powder we were navigating.

Having driven the Supercharged Range Rover Sport through the same type of storm on the same highway exactly one year ago, I wouldn't dare compare the Acadia's performance to the sheer enjoyment I experienced ripping through the snow in the Rover, but in a pinch, the $40,745 Acadia was better than okay-- and for just over half the cost.

To sum up the rest of my Acadia experience:

Pros

• Attractive Interior: Well styled, not ostentatious, almost Cadillac-like in quality. Large moonroof spans well into the second seating row and close to the third.
• Comfortable: Soft seats, fast to heat up. Second row captain’s chairs make the third row more easily accessible to those taller than 3