The exterior design team for the Acadia managed to give a relatively large vehicle a look that has moved away from bulky without sacrificing a kind of active grace.   The rounded front end features a bright grille surround framing a prominent GMC emblem.   Distinctively curved headlight clusters give the Acadia a slightly startled expression.   Projector beams are standard; high-intensity discharge headlights are optional.   Small round fog lights nestle below.   The front bumper is massive, but this is camouflaged somewhat by its black color and by a bright strip at the top.  

Most noticeable from the side are the rounded fender flares and a horizontal character line that sets out to connect them but disappears into the doors instead.   Tasteful bright trim and polished aluminum roof rails add visual interest.   The shape of the Acadia is aerodynamically efficient (for an SUV), with a drag coefficient of 0.344.   Power-adjustable outside mirrors are standard on all models.   Body-color outside mirrors with integrated turn signals are standard on SLT, with a power-folding function available as an option.  

From the rear, the Acadia looks like a generic crossover SUV, accented by interesting two-tone taillight clusters and quad exhaust tips.  

The 18-inch wheels and tires that come standard are a good choice for the Acadia, offering the best ride quality, but it's also available with 19-inch and 20-inch wheels.   The Acadia has the visual mass to support the big-diameter wheels, but the bright 20-inchers are too dazzling for our tastes.