They say that “All good things must come to an end” and for General Motors the Envoy is coming to its end after seven years of successful sales during the peak of the SUV era. With that era drawing to a close, and the popular opinion shifting rapidly towards crossovers and other car-based SUVs from the big truck-based designs, the Envoy is going the way of all things that reach their use-by-date. Unfortunately for the Envoy, although its power and towing ability have stood out in the mid-sized SUV class, its handling has never reached that of the Chevrolet Traverse or Honda Pilot, and its sales have suffered in recent years as the high-class competition multiplied around it. General Motors is pinning their hopes now on their new car-based Acadia which is more in line with current sales trends, although with the whole economy on a downhill slide even that may be optimistic.
2009 GMC Envoy Performance
There are two engines in the 2009 GMC Envoy. For the SLE and SLT models there is a 4.2-liter V6 that produces 285hp and 276lb-ft of torque. This engine is adequate in most situations with plenty of passing power and even good towing capability. The Envoy Denali on the other hand offers a 5.3-liter V8 that generates a cool 300hp with 330lb-ft of torque and tons of acceleration, plus the ability to tow 6600lb.
While power is plentiful however, it is badly let down by the four-speed automatic transmission that is smooth enough but fails to convert the engine’s torque into real power at the right time. Another issue for the Envoy is the lack of independent rear suspension that contributes to the overly numb and badly unresponsive steering. Around corners this is particularly evident, with copious body lean and the kind of steering that leaves you wondering if it is you driving the car or if it is driving itself. The high center of gravity on this truck-based SUV means that combined with the sloppy steering and suspension, there is a strong tipping feeling at speed. The Denali offers rear load-leveling suspension which helps but does not eliminate the problem. On the bright side, the tight turning circle makes handling around the city and in the Walmart parking lot reasonably easy.
Rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive is available on all trims and the Autotrac 4-wheel drive system allows you to leave it engaged on paved roads and adds a low-range gear for serious 4-wheel drive conditions. Optional is a locking rear differential for more solid off-road performance, although for the kind of work that most Envoys do, it is probably not necessary.
Fuel economy is nothing special, with the V6 rated at 14/21mpg city/highway, and the Denali with its Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation system manages a slightly more impressive 15/21mpg.
2009 GMC Envoy Interior and Features
The 2009 GMC Envoy seats five passengers comfortably and with plenty of leg and head room, and although the seats are not overly padded they provide enough bolstering to make most people happy. The rear seat fits three adults without too much squeezing and splits 60/40 with automatically folding headrests to create a cavernous cargo space of more than 80cubic feet.
The overall ambience of the cabin is clean and simple, although the artificial wood trim is unconvincing and there is a proliferation of hard black plastic that gives a budget feel on a not-so-budget vehicle.
The comprehensive standard features on the SLE include 17-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way powered drivers seat, full power accessories, remote keyless entry, universal garage door opener, fog lights, towing hitch and automatic headlights. The SLT adds 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bose sound system with steering wheel audio controls, wireless cell phone link and trip computer. The top-of-the-range Denali adds upgraded leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, running boards and a cargo cover.
Optional features include OnStar with navigational instructions, power sunroof, chrome roof rails, 6-disc CD changer, full navigation system and a rear seat DVD entertainment system with one screen or two.
2009 GMC Envoy Safety
Government crash tests show the Envoy to be fairly average in its safety levels, scoring just three stars for driver front impacts and four for passenger impact, while side impact situations fare better with five stars. Features include dual front and side curtain airbags, without head-curtain side impact airbags. There is an anti-skid system, plus four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and a rollover monitor that activates the airbags.
Safety features:
- Dual front and side curtain airbags
- Anti-skid and 4-wheel ABS
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Daytime running lights
- OnStar emergency communication system
Overall the 2009 GMC Envoy sees a fitting end to this mid-sized SUV that has been so influential in the success of the SUV in the US. While no doubt some of the larger SUVs will survive the economic downturn, many like the Envoy will not, as the tide shifts towards car-based crossovers.