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2004 GMC Envoy Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

Car Review of the 2004 GMC Envoy Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

Base MSRP Range: $29,120 - $38,065

Base Invoice Range: $26,354 - $34,449

MSRP As Tested: $35,840

Versions: XUV, XL, SLT

Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels:Four-Wheel Drive

Engine: 4.2-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves, V-8, 275-horsepower at 6,000rpm and 275lb-ft torque at 3,600 rpm.

Transmission As Tested: 5-Speed Manual, 4-Speed Automatic.

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 15/19.

Standard Safety Features: Driver and front passenger, side airbags, ">Antilock Brake System.

Competition: Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Chevy Trailblazer, Buick Rainer

Review

No longer will you have to wonder how to get that tree home from the nursery, or that refrigerator you just purchased from Sears, as the 2004 GMC Envoy XUV is at your service.

It’s a sport-ute; it’s a pickup; it’s (Super) Envoy XUV, and if you have lots of cargo to haul around, or if you just like the idea of being able to load a young sapling into the back of your vehicle, then this muscled-up Envoy is for you. The novelty of the Envoy XUV centers around a 32-inch by 32-inch retractable rear roof. With the push of a button, the enclosed cargo hold becomes an open truck bed, but with the added advantage of high sidewalls, which helps support taller-than-normal items.

In addition, for those times when your cargo is horizontally challenging (as is the case with 4-foot by 8-foot sheets of plywood), the midgate - which separates the cargo area from the passenger compartment - can be lowered, along with the second row of seats and power glass window for a total cargo space of 95.2 cubic feet.

If hauling garden material is more your style, the XUV’s cargo area is also ideal for packing in mounds of sod, bags of dirt or pots of plants, due to its heavy duty plastic lining. Once you’ve reached your destination, you can clean it out with a spray from the garden hose; the water simply travels through grooves into a drainage trough, leaving all other interiors water- and dirt-free.

Though the Envoy may be the Bob Villa of the vehicle world, it also has a softer, non-handyman side to it.

Creature comforts

With gate, window and roof closed, the Envoy transforms from Supertruck back into its Clark Kent persona, pampering passengers with a smooth ride, leather upholstery, heated seats and XM Satellite Radio.

Actually, the interior is similar to other mid-sized General Motors SUVs (like the Chevy Tahoe & Avalanche) with its control panel, uncomplicated audio and climate controls and a variety of convenient steering wheel controls.

Standard equipment includes four-wheel anti-lock brakes, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, 17-inch all-season radial tires, a dual zone climate control, power driver and passenger seats and stereo with CD player. Convenient add-ons that are worth considering include a power sunroof ($800), power adjustable brake and gas pedals ($150 and worth the price if you’re of small stature and don’t like having to scoot your seat up against the steering wheel) and side-impact airbags ($350).

Choice of powertrains

Standard power for Envoy XUV is a Vortec 4200 4.2L 24-valve, dual-overhead cam inline six-cylinder engine. It’s rated at 275 horsepower and 275 ft.-lbs. of torque, which provided us with plenty of spunk during stoplight starts and merging onto the freeway throughout our weeklong test drive. There’s nothing dainty about the Envoy, especially when it comes to gas mileage. It likes to gulp it down, averaging 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. However, before you start dipping into junior’s college fund, you can take heart in the fact that GMC recommends 87-octane, which helps to ease the pain just a little.

Of course, if you’re looking for a little more bragging capability, then you may be interested in the optional ($1500) Vortec 5300 5.3L V8. With 290 horsepower and 325 ft.-lbs. of torque, you can tow up to 6,500 pounds for 2WD models and 6,400 pounds with 4WD models.

We truly enjoyed our time spent behind the wheel of the Envoy. It arrived at time when we needed to haul around a lot of gear, and it was eagerly up for the task. The fact that we could stuff everything in the back and have a cabin that was free of luggage was an added bonus. Additionally, we like the way GM styles its instrument panel and dash - it’s simple. Often, it takes a couple of days to become familiar with how a car operates, however, with the Envoy we had all the knobs, dials and buttons mastered within the first hour of driving.

The Envoy: It’s the ultimate multitasker - an SUV built for the urban jungle. And, if you ever need to transport a tree, this is the vehicle to do it in.

Ratings (1-10)

  • Style: 7
  • Performance: 6
  • Price: 7
  • Handling: 7
  • Ride: 7
  • Comfort: 7
  • Quality: 7
  • Overall: 6.8

More Data

Where Built: United States

Major Options: On Star, Vortec 5.3L 8 Cylinder, Power Moonroof, Load Leveling Suspension Package

Seating: 5

Number of Rows: 2

Length in Inches: 208.4

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 6 year/100,000 miles corrosion protection, 3 years/36,000 miles free Roadside Assistance.

Weight in Pounds: 4,945 lbs

Cargo Capacity in Pounds: 1,150-1,255

Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 6,200

Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not Available

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 25.0

Destination Charge: $540