| If
a vehicle could do just about any task required of something with four tires and
a steering wheel, GMC's new Envoy XUV could be a good contender. It's part upscale
automobile, part five-passenger sport utility, part pickup truck, maybe part duck. OK.
So that's an exaggeration. But check with Sue Huizenga, vehicle line director
for the latest offering from GM's "professional grade" division that
sells only trucks. To make a point, when a drivable version was ready for early
testing Huizenga checked out its dunking credentials. "I took one of these
trucks to a nursery for some materials for my house. When I was done, I put the
midgate and glass up and left the back open and drove it through the carwash." Women
(and, of course, men) have better things to do than swab topsoil out of the back
of a vehicle after a Saturday morning task turns messy, according to Huizenga.
Hosing it down would work. But why not go one step further? The XUV accommodates
with tiny holes in the all-weather truckbed that lets 35 gallons of water a minute
and accompanying gunk gush down to the ground. The interior, cordoned off with
an electronically-controlled glass topped midgate barrier, stays comfy and dry. Envoy
XUV earlier was envisioned as a more truck-like offering, similar in concept to
the large Chevrolet Avalanche that morphs from a rugged off-road sport utility
to long-bed pickup truck with the removal of a portable midgate barrier. The similarly-designed,
body-on-frame Envoy XUV that resulted -- a robust, four-wheel-drive version with
available camping tent attachment -- took some of the demanding Tellico offroad
trails in North Carolina in stride during testing. But
that alone would be missing the main story. Here's a vehicle that looks distinctly
like a natty SUV from the outisde, while the interior is as refined as any upmarket
automobile. Driving manners approach the comfort level and handling of a sedan,
with a civilized road feel that would lend itself to long highway trips. "At
the beginning of the project we went to Home Depot and hid in the parking lot
and did a lot of videotaping of people trying to load up their vehicles,"
said Huizenga. That inspired the XUV's chameleon-like ability to change function,
a transformation achieved by mostly electronic controls within easy reach. It
quickly goes from enclosed sport utility to an airy semi-convertible or a fully
functional pickup truck extending from behind the driver's seat to the tip of
the tailgate. Unlike the Avalanche's manual midgate, the XUV's
works at the
touch of a button. Once the interior cabin's glass pulls down, seats tumble forward
and the midgate folds down over the top. The result: A pickup truck with a turtle
shell-tough liner for practicality. A
lengthy sunroof top opens completely to let in a breath of fresh air, or for hauling
anything tall that's not top heavy. "Resting points" on each side hold
a 4 X 8 foot sheet of just about anything. Yes, it worked during tests, said officials. Four
tie-downs and 12 tiedown points will keep that potted indoor palm tree or other
cargo secure. And the rear gate drops down pickup style or swings open in car
door fashion depending on the need. Design team women insisted on the dual function
when they learned only a drop gate was planned. The
XUV is built on the Envoy platform and shares the same powertrain as its longer
XL model, but adds 17 inch aluminum wheels and sportier suspension tuning. Engines
are GM's Vortec 4200, 4.2 liter I-6 or Vortec 5300, 5.3 liter V-8. Estimated fuel
economy ranges from 15 city to 19 or 20 highway MPG depending on the model. Full
time amenities include power points front and back, plus integrated rooftop utility
bars and a portable, locking rear cargo box. The
base, two-wheel-drive model is priced at $31,890 with the top-of-the line four-wheel
drive version at $38,715. Destination charges are $650. And
despite its cloistered pickup truck capability, if a special dinner or trip to
the opera is on the menu, the Envoy XUV shouldn't disppoint. In addition to upmarket
leather seating on the premium SLT model, other accessories include power seats,
dual climate controls and heated outside mirrors.
Among available options
are a premium Bose audio system, headlamp washers, side impact airbags and rain
sensing wipers. An information center explains some of the complex electronic
features: Sunroof not fully open? You get a reminder beep. Huizenga,
the mother of three active children, gives extra kudos to the midgate glass that
can isolate cabin from rear storage. When the back is loaded with smelly gear
after her offsprings' trips to the local sports arena or gym, that special "bouquet"
can't get into the passenger compartment once the glass at the center is raised.
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