2005 GMC Envoy XUV Published 05/05/2005

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Imagine the foolishness of General Motors thinking that SUV buyers might actually want utility! We know better.

The average sport utility buyer wants a station wagon. Yet "Suzy soccer mom" and salesmen commuting from suburban subdivisions are too embarrassed to drive a station wagon. They secretly hope an SUV will give them that needed shot of testosterone. Sure, some people really can appreciate the utility of an SUV. But General Motors thought there would be more. So they took a decent SUV and actually gave it utility in the GMC Envoy XUV.

Yet it never caught on. Advertising couldn't describe it, salespeople couldn't sell it and buyers didn't buy it. So the 2005 GMC Envoy XUV will be discontinued after this model year. The GMC Envoy will continue but with two new high line editions, the Envoy Denali and the Envoy Denali XL. But before we bid farewell to this unique offering let's take one final look.

Just as retractable hardtops for convertibles, and headlights that turn with curves first debuted over forty years ago, the idea of a sliding roof to accommodate tall objects is not a new idea. The 1963 Studebaker Wagonaire didn't last long either with it's leaky roof and potential for carbon monoxide intake. But the GMC Envoy has both a watertight roof and the latest generation midgate with a power window. Yet like the short lived Studebaker, the GMC Envoy XUV seemed like a good idea but it still didn't sell.

I've always liked offbeat innovations and I like the 2005 GMC Envoy XUV. The Envoy is a good but somewhat pricey midsize sport utility vehicle. Available in two sizes the Envoy XL is 16 inches longer to accommodate third row seating. With a soft ride the Envoy has a more "car like" experience than the full size GMC Yukon. A Yukon essentially is a full-size pickup with a passenger box replacing the bed while the Envoy has more crossover appeal.

The 2005 GMC Envoy XUV fundamentally is the longer Envoy XL with a tough cargo area and retractable roof replacing the third row seating on the Envoy XL. A folding midgate complete with a power window completely isolates the cargo area from the passenger compartment. Cargo area can be left exposed as the quick drain system is designed to channel up to 30 gallons of water per minute. With the mid-gate down the interior can handle 4X8 sheets of plywood. The tailgate with a power window can drop down or swing open for easy access in a variety of situations. Overhead switches control the power sunroof, mid-power window, tailgate power window and retractable roof. This is real utility for a sport utility vehicle.

Comparisons have been made to the crew cab pickup styled Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac EXT, which can open up a mid-gate for more room. The GMC Envoy XUV however begins life as an SUV and can morph into a pickup. In my opinion the Envoy XUV makes more sense than either the Chevrolet Avalanche or Cadillac EXT.

2005 GMC Envoy is available as a four wheel drive or two wheel drive model and the XUV and Denali can have either the 4.2 liter V-6 or 5.3 V-8. I drove the two wheel drive version equipped with the new generation V-8 displacement on demand engine. Perhaps old-timers remember the 1981 Cadillac 4-6-8 engine? Again, it's the same historical concept but this time the technology works. Producing 300 horsepower and 330 lb. ft. torque I could not detect the cylinder deactivation. My EPA rating was 15/21 for fuel economy.

So what went wrong? General Motors is now slathering the Envoy with the bling and luxury of the Denali line but dropping the utility of the XUV? The answer is very simple. In our market driven economy, you build what sells. Many sport utility buyers want to look cool but utility is far from their minds. Maybe that's why you see folks put 20" dubs on a four-wheel drive Yukon Denali? The 2005 GMC Envoy XUV was simply too much for too many people.

Combining extreme comfort and utility in a near luxury sport utility vehicle ran the price of my test vehicle up to almost $40,000. For that price buyers opted for the third row seats of the Envoy XL rather than the usable cargo area of the Envoy XUV. In other words they wanted a minivan or a station wagon but wanted to look macho.

For me the GMC Envoy XUV still seems like a good idea.

2005 GMC Envoy XUV SLT

Rear Wheel Drive, four door sport utility vehicle

Vortec 5300 V-8 Engine
300 horsepower - 330 lb. ft. torque with displacement on demand

Power retractable roof, functional mid-gate with power window

EPA MPG 15/21 City/Highway

Price as tested $39,560

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