GMC revived the Envoy name for 2002 on a new midsize SUV related to the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. All models are available in rear- or four-wheel-drive powertrains. The Envoy comes with an inline-six-cylinder engine, while the high-end Denali edition gets its own V-8 powertrain with cylinder deactivation. Competitors include the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner. The Envoy can seat five people.
There are no significant changes for the 2009 GMC Envoy.
A shield-shaped convex grille, wedged headlamps and boldly defined character lines help the Envoy fit in with GMC’s ‘professional grade’ theme. The upscale Denali edition also features a honeycomb grille with an integrated air dam to channel air to the engine. The Envoy measures 191.6 inches in length and 74.7 inches wide, similar to the 4Runner and Explorer but wider and longer than the Grand Cherokee.
- Chrome bodyside moldings
- Standard 17-inch aluminum wheels
- Optional 18-inch high-polished forged-aluminum wheels
- Two-wheel-drive Envoy Denali gets 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels
- Available assist steps
The Envoy has reclining front buckets and a split, folding rear bench seat. Interior appointments in the Denali version include leather seats with French-seam stitching. All Envoys come with standard quiet packaging, which includes a laminated windshield and strategically placed sound insulation material.
Cargo volume behind the back seats measures 43.7 cubic feet. With the bench folded down, the Envoy offers 80.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which is similar to the Explorer but more than the 4Runner’s 75.1 cubic feet and the Grand Cherokee’s 67.4 cubic feet.
- Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Standard cruise control
- Optional power-adjustable pedals
- Optional Bose audio and navigation system
- New Bluetooth phone connectivity
All Envoys come with a four-speed automatic transmission. Envoys are available with rear-wheel drive or Autotrac four-wheel drive, which incorporates a two-speed transfer case. The only engine offered is an inline-six-cylinder; Denali trims come with an upgraded V-8.
- 285-horsepower, 4.2-liter inline-six-cylinder (276 pounds-feet of torque)
- 300-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 (321 pounds-feet of torque) featuring cylinder-deactivation technology, which increases fuel economy by shutting off four cylinders at highway speeds
- Air-adjustable load-leveling suspension system (Denali edition)
- Engine block heater (optional on four-wheel-drive models)
No side-impact thorax airbags are offered, but side curtain airbags for the first and second rows can sense an impending rollover and deploy. Standard safety features include:
- Side curtain airbags for first and second rows
- Four-disc antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system
- Traction control
