GMC has introduced a "non-truck" -- the Acadia, a knockout new crossover that's just hit the market.

The 2007 GMC Acadia.
Click photo for larger image.

I just took delivery of one for a week, and I've been mightily impressed by its elegant, substantial interior, the solid construction and the generally pleasant driving characteristics. More on my impressions in the June buyers guide.

GMC, whose sales are second only to Chevy in General Motors' hierarchy, is reaching for new territory with this one. It's got sophisticated styling, lots of versatility and plenty of value given its extensive standard equipment list.

The Acadia comes in SLE and SLT forms, and its engine is a 275 horsepower, 3.6 liter V-6 that is rated at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway in a front-wheel drive version, and 17/24 for all-wheel drive.

Standard equipment includes full power accessories, OnStar, front-row side-impact air bags, first-, second- and third-row head-curtain side impact air bags, air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, tire pressuring monitoring system and StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation.

It's a beautifully done product with precision fittings, durable and contemporary interior and best of all, lots of space in the third row.

Interestingly, it's so aerodynamic that it has a drag coefficient that is exactly the same as Corvette's ZO6!

That third row roominess will, I suspect, bring a lot of sales for GM because most similar products on the market cannot claim to have anything but cramped third rows designed for occasional use only.

First Published: April 24, 2007, 3:15 p.m.