The Acadia Denali does what it sets out to do: Be a more luxurious three-row crossover than the standard Acadia. GMC includes the right things — dual-pane sunroof, differentiating body panels and interior bits — to set the Denali apart. It has the right mix of features to hang in the luxury crossover category.

If we set aside the subjective things — like the seats and wood-grain trim — where I think the Denali stumbles, the truth is there's little to distinguish it from other three-row crossovers. It's not as if the driving experience is so luxurious it would draw a person who wants a luxury crossover, or as if it has so many unique features it's likely to draw people who just want a cool vehicle. Its appeal, in fact, is much narrower: It's largely driven by the need for three rows of seats.