What is the tipping point where you decide you need the third row? Three kids? Four? Some friends of mine with only one kid recently asked me about getting a minivan. I was like, wait, what?

Ok, but let’s say you either need or want three rows. You can’t face getting a minivan but you’re willing to admit that you are never going to go offroad. So what do you get? A crossover of course!

The Acadia is billed as a crossover but it looks pretty SUV-ish to me. But this a FWD, unibody platform. It was pretty big news when it showed up in 2007, and it has been very successful for GMC over the last few years. But it is getting a bit long in the tooth compared to some of the newer players like the Ford Flex and Explorer. So along comes the Denali version. Continue reading after the jump!

What do you get over the base Acadia? A lot of bling. Out the outside you’re looking at a honeycomb grille, a bunch more chrome, body color moldings and of course big 20 inch chrome wheels. Inside you get wood in the dash and on the steering wheel, the "Dual SkyScape sunroof,” plus just about every option and electronic gizmo in the book.

All told it comes to $12,000 over the base AWD Acadia and our car had a sticker price of just over $50,000. You’ll have to study the option list to see if it’s worth it to you. I usually care most about the drivetrain and suspension. I thought the 288 hp 3.6 liter V6 provided plenty of power for this 4,700 pound beast and I was super impressed by the suspension, which seemed to be the perfect mix of firm and comfy. But as far as I can tell, you get the same motor and suspension on the base Acadia.

But let’s talk about the size. This thing is big and it can haul. Driving it feels like driving a school bus, at least for this car guy. And it’s a bit tricky to park, even with the backup camera. But I got kind of used to it. And I could see the appeal of looking down on everyone. Also, it is great for loading kids and groceries. Jen and I used to it haul a ton of stuff, too. It even fits 4 x 8 sheets of plywood flat. We were considering trying to fit the Suzuki SX4 back there but thought that might get us in some trouble.

So back to the price tag. Worh it? Dunno. I will say that that the Denali looks very handsome and a lot more upscale than the lower level Acadias. It probably got the most unsolicited comments of any test car since the Challenger we tested a few years ago. People definitely notice it and like the way it looks. We did, too, and were sorry to see it go.

What’s New: This is the new super bling Acadia.

Turn Ons: Big, solid, roomy, comfy, nice suspension, plenty of power, decent fuel economy considering the size.

Turn Offs: Seems a bit pricey with all those standard features. But hey, you gotta pay to play.