The family truckster
Written: Feb 13 '04 (Updated Feb 15 '04)
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Pros: comfort, solid and protective, interior trim is superb
Cons: brakes, gas mileage, access to 3rd row seats
The Bottom Line: Very nice large size SUV, superb interior comfort and a great traveling vehicle. We shopped fairly carefully, are happy with it, and would buy another one.
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| cdp9m's Full Review: 2004 GMC Envoy XL |
My wife was ready to move from a Mercedes ML-320 to something just a bit bigger. Instead, we got much bigger. We have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of this vehicle, however.
Competing in the end were the Ford Expedition, the Mercedes ML-430, and the Envoy. None of these vehicles will please the tree-hugger in you, but if you've got a herd to transport, and you want to keep the kids happy, they work. In the end, the interior trim and fit, and the options available at the price swayed us to the Envoy. Dealer-promised service was also a factor.
Exterior trim is very nice. Doors, trim, everything is very well fitted, and attractive. It's a nice looking vehicle. Roof rack and running boards completed the exterior. Mirrors give you excellent vision to the side and behind.
Power is more than adequate. We got the V8 (trips to the mountains, didn't want to limp up hills). Gas mileage is not good, but okay. We've hit 16 mpg. It is mostly left in the AWD configuration, but in the summer it will be left in 2WD, and hopefully mileage will go up a bit. Runs on regular. It tracks your time-to-oil changes and other service notes on the display screen in the driver-selected option screens on the dash. Great displays there - range on a tank, system information, temperature, etc. My opinion of the handling of this quite large vehicle - very good. It has wonderfully effective steering, and the big tires can still turn it very well. Responsive on acceleration, because of the big engine. I haven't experienced any significant sway, which I have felt in my Nissan Xterra. It gives me a good bit of confidence in turns, and doesn't feel like it is going to get away from you. Brakes are just good - you've got to get used to the fact that you will need some space to stop.
Interior is wonderful. Leather seats are plush, comfortable, and easy to maintain. Power seats with memory keeps your position, and long trips have been just fine. Stereo is quite good - I'm not a fan of in-dash CD players, but this is a changer, and it isn't too much bother to load. Radio is adequate. Speakers everywhere, and the sound is quite good. Middle row and back row seats are located a bit higher, and there is excellent visibility for all. We got the DVD player with a swingdown screen behind the front seats. I've sat back there just to watch movies, and it is great! Headphones are IR, however, and you have to keep your head front or suffer a drop out of sound. Climate control actually works. Interior controls are good, intelligently laid out, and easy to access - all but the radio controls, which suffers from the "give the folks all they want" bug, and has an inordinate number of small controls very close together.
Not much to complain about - we had a small accident in the vehicle early on, and it felt very solid and protective. I thought the brakes were just adequate, however, and would love a bit more authority. I guess it is because this is a big vehicle, and quite heavy. The 3rd row seats are okay for kids to climb into, but the access is just adequate.
If you're looking for a big family SUV, I think you owe it to yourself to drive an Envoy.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 45,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: XL SLE, entertainment package
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Epinions.com ID:
cdp9m
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 1 member
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