2004 GMC Envoy XL Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The GMC Envoy models are considered to be mid-size SUVs, about the same size as a Ford Explorer. Envoy is smaller than a GMC Yukon, but much bigger than the car-based compact SUVs.

As mentioned, the GMC Envoy is available in two wheelbase lengths: 113 inches for the standard Envoy, and 129 inches for the Envoy XL and Envoy XUV. In terms of overall length, the Envoy XL is 16 inches longer than the standard Envoy, and it's nearly 9 inches longer yet more than 4 inches narrower than the standard GMC Yukon. One way to distinguish an Envoy XL from the standard Envoy is to look at the rear doors. Envoy's rear doors are interrupted by the rear fenders. Envoy XL, with its length stretched amidships, has enough space for full-size rear doors.

The Envoy XUV is about an inch longer than Envoy XL, and an inch and a half taller. At first glance it resembles the XL, but take a closer look, and you'll see that the XUV's rear side windows, the windows that look into the cargo bay, wrap subtly into the roof, where they meet the tracks for the sliding roof section. The tracks themselves are integrated into the luggage rack, a clever design. The XUV also has unique, larger taillights that wrap up over the tops of the rear fenders. From the rear, the XUV looks even more raked-forward than the Envoy and Envoy XL. Visually, the XL and XUV look too long in the back end with respect to the front proportions.

The XUV features a unique, dual-function tailgate. The tailgate power window can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button. With the window fully lowered, the tailgate can be dropped for ease of loading and unloading. Or it can swing open to the right, allowing bumper-level access to the cargo area.

As mentioned, the Envoy shares its platform with the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Buick Rainier, but the Envoy's styling looks more sophisticated to our eyes than that of the other mid-size SUVs from General Motors. Envoy has a wide-mouth black grille with a big ruby-red logo that says GMC in no uncertain terms. Sleek and clean are the distinct headlamps, round fog lights and pouty front bumper with a wide, slim slit at the very bottom. Strong beveled shapes extend along the Envoy's clean sides and around the wheel wells, and help make the Envoy look imposing. Envoy dispenses with the TrailBlazer's showy fender flares, by housing its standard 17-inch wheels inside hefty wheel openings that are part of its trapezoidal design theme. The rear bumper is stepped for its full length, and includes big round backup lights. From behind the wheel the Envoy seems to be raked, as you look down over the strong hood.

Interior Features

The GMC Envoy and Envoy XUV seat five passengers. Envoy XL seats seven. Let's start with the second row and work our way back.

No matter the model, the GMC Envoy offers more room for second-row passengers than the Ford Explorer. (The standard Envoy offers 37.0 inches of legroom and 58.1 inches of hip room, versus the Explorer's 35.9 and 54.2, respectively; Envoy XL provides 37.0 and 58.4.)

The Envoy XL offers lots of cargo space, but third-row seating is only average in terms of roominess. The Envoy XL is 18 inches longer than the Ford Explorer; and where the Explorer squeezes an optional third-row seat into a 114-inch wheelbase, the Envoy XL uses a 129-inch wheelbase. However, third-row Envoy XL passengers get less legroom than third-row Explorer passengers. (Head, hip, and leg room in the Explorer's third row measure 39.0, 45.3, and 34.8 inches, respectively, versus the Envoy XL's 38.5, 45.9, and 31.2.) And the XL's long cabin led some adults we put back there to say they felt like they were looking down a tunnel.

Cargo space in the Yukon XL is generous, however. Fold the second- and third-row seats and Envoy XL offers 107 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the standard Envoy (80) or Explorer (82), or even the Yukon (105). SLT models come with a scrolling cargo cover.

Envoy XUV shares its second-row seating dimensions with Envoy XL, but instead of a carpeted cargo area with a folding third-row seat, the XUV has a weather-resistant box, like a pickup bed parked indoors. Four tie-down rings can be moved to any of 12 locations, and there are four more fixed rings in the ceiling. GMC plans to market a line of accessories to further enhance the XUV's cargo-carrying capabilities. And if things get messy back there, it's easy to flush it out with a hose; GM says the system of one-way drains will channel out 35 gallons per minute.

Touch a button, and a 32-by-32-inch panel above the cargo bay slides forward, open the cargo bay up to the sky. A power rear window quickly slides up from the Midgate behind the rear seat, sealing off the passenger compartment from the now-open-air cargo area. The XUV has converted itself into a four-door pickup with a 44-inch bed. (You can also order a traditional sunroof over the main cabin.)

If that's too short for the job, the XUV has one more trick it can do: Retract the glass behind the seat, open the midgate between the seat and the cargo bay, and then tumble and fold the seat itself. Now you have 6 feet 4 inches of open bed, albeit without a partition between it and the front seats. Close the roof and the tailgate window, and you can carry two people and a lot of luggage, out of the weather and dry. Tie-down points are conveniently located all around.

All this versatility, however, comes at a price. The Midgate and weatherproof bed lining take up some space; when it's buttoned up against the weather, the XUV offers a little less total cargo volume (95 cubic feet) than the XL, and has a significantly shorter cargo floor (76 vs. 85.5 inches long). So for hauling a small army's camp gear, the XL may be the better choice. But clearly the XUV is the better choice for hauling messy stuff, like dirt, plants, a couple of cords of wood. The Envoy XUV could be the perfect solution for a landscape designer, deer hunter, or do-it-yourselfer, anyone who needs the utility of a pickup but also wants to move the family around in comfort.

Up front, it's comfortable in any of the Envoy models. GMC's seats seemed more comfortable to us than the Chevrolet TrailBlazer's seats. The Envoy's seat cushions are longer, wider and thicker than those in the TrailBlazer, and offer noticeably more side bolstering. We would choose an Envoy over a TrailBlazer for the seats alone. Envoy SLT's leather was way plush, while Envoy SLE's cloth was grippier. On the SLT, the driver's bucket is eight-way power adjustable, with two-way lumbar support and optional heat. The shoulder belts are fixed to the seat backs, and one tester said he'd have preferred adjustable anchors.

Instrumentation is complete and clean. A big tachometer is on the left, speedometer in the center, and on the right are smaller gauges for water, battery, gas and oil. The brushed nickel trim looks classy. Four big round registers for heating and air conditioning look stylish and purposeful in nickel. A four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel comes with both models, and on the SLT includes controls for climate, sound, cruise control and the driver information center.

SLE's dual-zone manual climate controls use sliders and seem like a big step backward from the SLT's digital controls. Turning a knob is easier than sliding a lever, especially when bouncing on rough roads. Heating and air conditioning temperatures can be controlled separately by the driver and front-seat passenger. Rear-seat passengers have their own independent temperature control in XL models.

The center console houses an open storage bin, an enclosed compartment, and two cupholders forward of the gear lever. The emergency brake lever is also located there. There are pockets in the front doors and behind the front seats, but we'd like more places to put small items in the center console area. Three power outlets are provided in the center stack, though none have power when the ignition is switched off. Behind the rear seat is a small hidden compartment under the floor, a cargo net and a power outlet. Rear-seat headrests conveniently flip down to give the driver a better view to the rear. The rearview mirror is electrochromic, so it automatically dims when it senses bright lights; unfortunately you can't turn this function off.

SLT's overhead console includes a sunglasses holder and an optional Travelnote digital recorder ($85), which allows the driver to orally take phone numbers while on a cell phone. Interior lights abound, including reading lights.

Audio systems have been redesigned for 2004. We found that the optional Bose system ($495) with six-disc in-dash CD player ($245-395) offers outstanding sound quality and adjustment versatility. All Envoy audio systems include RDS (Radio Data Systems) technology, allowing the listener to search for stations by type, display song and artist information, and provide traffic and weather updates. And the rear-seat DVD system plays through the audio system.

OnStar, GM's communications system, is standard on the SLT and optional ($695) on SLE. It includes GPS navigation, hands-free cell phone communication (including a free first year of safety and security service) automatic crash and theft reporting, as well as remote unlocking and other services.