- van 115,104
- 4,995 high price
- Spokane Valley, WA
-
- autoshopper.com
- van 115,104 blue automatic
2005 chevrolet uplander review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Taking care of the passengers. introductionwith its current counterparts from other general motors divisions, the 2005 chevrolet uplander is easily the best minivan gm has ever built. the uplander is enough to make the world forget gm's original 'dustbuster' minivans. It beats the 2004 chevy venture, which it replaces, in virtually every respect. Chevy says uplander's long-nose, truck-type styling conjures up images of an suv more than a minivan. With the optional towing package, it can pull up to 3,500 pounds. if uplander falls short of the best minivans, it's most obvious in the driving. This chevy's cam-in-block engine makes less power than those in all of its primary competitors, and while uplander is pleasant enough to drive, it feels less responsive and perhaps less satisfying than the minivans from dodge, honda, nissan and toyota. The uplander's real strength lies in its value. Comparably equipped, it sells for thousands less than class standards such as the honda odyssey and toyota sienna. That said, while minor styling and equipment differences may apply, there isn't a lot to separate the chevy uplander, saturn relay, pontiac montana and buick terraza. When comparably equipped, the retail prices are very close. All models share a 121. 1-inch wheelbase, a 3. 5-liter overhead valve v6 and the same 17-inch tires and wheels. All-wheel drive is an option, and the three trim levels are distinguished by standard equipment. the base uplander 24,350) comes well equipped, with standard air conditioning, power windows, power locks, tilt steering column, cruise control and a decent stereo with a single cd player and mp3 capability. Its second-row seat is a two-place bench, and its third-row seat splits 50/50 to increase passenger/cargo flexibility. the uplander ls 26,995) adds a rear window defroster and wiper, dark-tinted rear glass, remote keyless entry and power rear vent windows. The aftermarket has made a mint with remote starters for years, a nice feature when it's cold. second-row captain's chairs are optional on lower-trim uplanders. Other stand-alone options include rear cargo convenience storage bins 285), xm satellite radio 325), traction control 195), roof rails 50) and the 3500-pound towing package 170). Popular option groups include a premium seating package 1,350) with leather surfaces for the first and second row, power front passenger seat and front seat heaters, a six-cd changer with xm 620), and a convenience package with a power sliding rear door on the driver's side and rear parking assist 545). the optional phatnoize system adds a second video screen to the single-dvd entertainment system and a wallet-sized 40-gig hard drive that slips into the uplander's overhead rail system. That's enough storage space for 10,000 audio files in virtually any format, or 40 feature films in the mpeg format. Phatnoize has a voice-browsing feature that allows the driver to cycle through menu offerings with buttons on the steering wheel hub and a usb port that allows photographs to be loaded directly from a digital camera. Moreover, the phatnoize hard drive is easily removed and attached to a pc, to be loaded with whatever an uplander owner chooses. safety features include onstar (including automatic notification when airbags deploy) as standard equipment. Front side-impact airbags are standard on the lt and optional 350) on other models; gm's stabilitrak skid-control system 450) is also an option. Uplander falls short of best-in-class when it comes to safety equipment, however, because it does not offer curtain-style head-protection airbags, which are now offered in some other minivans. walkaroundchevrolet's party line on the 2005 uplander: its 'innovative styling combines the best attributes of vans with the bold look of a sport-utility vehicle.' this is accomplished, according to chevy, with a long hood and a large, chromed-ringed grille sporting a big chevy bow tie. In profile, wide roof pillars, 17-inch wheels and tires wider than the typical minivan's are supposed to reinforce the suv look. Gray molding covers the rocker panels and connects the lower bumper plastic front and rear, 'creating an suv-like skid-plate.' we're not sure about any of this suv stuff, because to us uplander just looks like a minivan with a prominent, slightly awkward snout. It won't fool many people. In virtually every respect uplander is a minivan, with all the many advantages minivans offer, including a low step-in and load lift heights compared to the typical suv. one thing that impresses during an uplander walkaround is the overall quality of its assembly and finish. It was among the best we've seen from chevrolet and as good as any other minivan currently offered, including those known for their build quality. few owners absolutely must have power-operated rear sliding doors, but they're something we like and handy in a number of situations. Gm actually invented power rear doors years ago, so it's a bit perplexing that those on the uplander seem a little slow to open, close and lock (as are nissan's). Perhaps chevy engineers designed the operating mechanism with safety foremost in their thinking. More likely, they were responding to cautionary intervention from corporate liability attorneys. The uplander shares its engine, transmission, chassis and general dimensions with the buick terraza, pontiac montana and saturn relay. It also stacks up well against its current competition. interior finish and materials are almost surprisingly good, considering some of gm's efforts just a few years ago. Plastics are generally rich in touch and appearance, and while other media have bashed the fake wood trim, we find it as good as that in cars that cost considerably more. Uplander's instrument panel doesn't try to get cute. It's clean, straightforward design is efficient and easy to get comfortable with. the instrument binnacle prominently features a large tach and speedometer. The dials are sharp and legible, and trimmed with a thin chrome ring that adds a classy touch. Window, mirror and lock switches are located in the driver's armrest, right where we like them. Lights are on the dash, next to the steering column; wipers on a stalk to the right. There are redundant audio controls on the steering wheel hub. the center stack is particularly well done. Audio controls sit above the climate controls, also as we like them, and the knobs are not only big, but pleasant to touch. There's a pair of pull-out cupholders and a swing-out storage bin at the bottom. There's also a folding utility table between the front seats with more cupholders and indents to keep phones or glasses handy without allowing them to slide off. while the uplander's cabin is good, it's hardly perfect. The glovebox door feels a bit flimsy; the same applies, more so, to the bins behind the front seats. These are well designed, with secure storage fo. Power Locks✔ Power Windows✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Player✔ DVD Entertainment System
4,995 Spokane Valley, WASpokane Valley, WA at autoshopper.com