2013 GMC Acadia Debuts At Chicago Auto Show

General Motors has chosen the 2012 Chicago Auto Show as the launching ground for the refreshed 2013 GMC Acadia full-size crossover. The 2013 GMC Acadia gains a number of styling changes as well as a few other improvements designed to keep the family-oriented transporter competitive.

The 2013 GMC Acadia stands apart from first-generation 2007-2012 models thanks to standard LED running lamps and a more 'butch' front fascia that shares much with the full-size GMC Sierra pickup in terms of looks. Bolder and more aggressive than in years past, the new GMC Acadia also offers a retouched rear three-quarter view, with new hatch glass that wraps around the side of the vehicle to form a single, uninterrupted greenhouse by connecting with the vehicle's back windows. A spoiler juts down from the top of the hatch, adding a touch of sport as well as working to help keep the vehicle's tail clean.

Inside, the 2013 GMC Acadia gains softer-touch materials along with improvements to the vehicle's ambient lighting in an effort to improve the premium feel of the vehicle's passenger compartment. The Color Touch Radio system also makes its Acadia debut for the new model year, and this capacitative touchscreen controls the vehicle's IntelliLink smart phone integration feature as well the its HD radio system and multimedia content that can be accessed via the high definition display.

More importantly, the new Acadia has been given a first-in-its-class center airbag as standard equipment, a system that deploys between the two front seats in order to help prevent injury to occupants on the opposite side of a serious impact. Other safety gear available with the GMC Acadia includes a blind spot monitoring system and a cross traffic alert system. The latter can detect traffic approaching the crossover from either side while the vehicle is backing up, adding an extra layer of safety on top of the Acadia's rear view camera. As with all GM vehicles, a six-month subscription to the OnStar telematics service also comes with the eight-passenger GMC people mover.

In addition to the changes made to the standard Acadia, the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali luxury trim has also seen its fair share of upgrades. The exterior body cladding and trim that help to give the Denali edition of the crossover its distinct character have been beefed up to match the Acadia's new aesthetic, and it also offers 20-inch wheels and dual exhaust. Inside, the Acadia Denali gains heated and cooled perforated leather seats, wood inserts for the steering wheel and illuminated Denali logo sill plates.

Mechanically, the 2013 GMC Acadia largely stays the course, especially in terms of its power plant. Last year's 3.6-liter V-6 carries over unchanged and offers up 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The Acadia's six-speed automatic transmission has been massaged, however, in order to offer quicker gear shifts, which will be a welcome addition to the crossover's driving character. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the Acadia are still on offer.