After all the talk of the utility of the GMC XUV there hasn’t been much said about the ride. To tell you the truth I
don’t really mind driving this big boy. Seriously, the V8 has lots of power, the ride is silky smooth and the seats
engulf you like a nice leather cocoon. Who would mind that?
There is definitely a feeling of invulnerability with the weight of this heavy hauler underneath the driver. It is a
large vehicle that is easy to handle and that is a rare trait in such large SUVs. Obviously the 20 degree mornings here
in Chicago made me love the heated seats. However, a big shock is the fact that the XUV lets you heat the back of the
seat separately from the seat cushion. This is ingenious. I mean it. How has no one else done this? At least none of
the other vehicles I?ve tested with heated seats have this feature.
I?m not an old man but from time to time on long drives and after long days sitting in front of a computer a nice
heated back is something to be cherished. With all this heated bliss I certainly don?t mind the long ride out to the
suburbs in the XUV. But not everything is nice and cheery. The vehicle is a behemoth and on the highway it roars along
steadily and with few missteps. However, the rear section is quite loud if you have the separation down, and even with
everything sealed off it isn?t the quietest SUV around. As nice as the power is the brakes are spongy and slow to
react. That isn?t the best trait when you have so much weight to bring to a halt.
The interior is nice enough with slightly clunky but easy
to use dials for everything. The fake wood trim is aesthetically pleasing but feels somewhat cheap to the touch. Not as
bad as others we recently tested but it certainly doesn?t feel genuine. The stereo is sub par for such an expensive
vehicle and offers virtually no range. A default play list included sports radio talk of Sammy Sosa trades and Super
Bowl predictions.