1997 Oldsmobile Bravada Review

The princely Bravada carries the Oldsmobile nameplate but is the ``Cadillac'' of General Motors' compact sport/utility vehicles.

In fact, if Cadillac built a compact sport/ute, it probably would closely resemble the $29,505 Bravada, which I recently tested.

Consumers who notice the Bravada's basic styling and coarse-grained plastic dashboard will recognize that this Olds is a posh, well-equipped version of the Chevrolet Blazer and near-identical GMC Jimmy compact sport/utes.

In fact, there was no 1995 Bravada because General Motors was concentrating on bringing out the revamped, highly praised 1995 Blazer/Jimmy. But the Bravada has good timing: It has returned in a model year that has gone bananas over luxury sport/utility vehicles.

Ironically, the Bravada first was sold in 1991 as a luxury sport/utility when most sport/utes only stressed ruggedness and utility--and when the few posh sport/utes offered were considered a bit strange.

``The 1996 Bravada combines luxury premium sedan qualities with the tractability and versatility of a tough truck,'' Olds spokesman Gus Buenz said.

Indeed, the handsome Bravada is aimed mainly at fairly affluent buyers, such as those who would purchase the $34,860 Olds Aurora.

Of course, the Bravada has a distinctive grille and other minor cosmetic differences, compared with the Blazer/Jimmy. Exclusive for this Olds--and not offered for the Blazer/Jimmy--are a center-console mounted shifter for the standard four-speed automatic transmission, uniquely shaped seats and posher interior door trim panels.

Also exclusive are cleverly designed rear seats that fold entirely flat and completely out of the way of cargo, converting the standard cargo area into a huge space.

Standard Bravada equipment includes cushy front seats, leather upholstery, woodgrain trim, air conditioning, cruise control, sports sedan instrumentation, six-speaker AM/FM/cassette, remote keyless entry system and power driver's seat, windows and mirrors.

The few options include a $210 towing package with a heavy-duty suspension, $133 white-letter tires and a gauche $50 ``gold package,'' which contains gold badging, gold wheel trim and beige striping. Yuk.

There are daytime running lights, but only a driver-side air bag. Despite minor flaws, the quiet Bravada is above-average, with a rugged, one-piece feel and friendly, carlike nature. Compact exterior dimensions of the 180.9-inch-long vehicle make it easy to park and garage.

Power flows from a smooth, 4.3-liter, 190-horsepower V-6, which works with the smooth-shifting automatic. The V-6 propels the heavy, 4,184-pound Bravada from 0-60 m.p.h. in a brisk 10.4 seconds and provides decent 65-75 m.p.h. passing times on highways.

But the weight and all-wheel-drive system cause fuel economy to be mediocre: an EPA-estimated 16 m.p.g. in the city and 21 on highways.

The standard power steering sometimes feels a bit heavy, but it is precise. Handling and braking are good. And the 107-inch-wheel base Bravada rides more like a big, comfortable car than a truck--at least most of the time; sharp bumps sometimes jolt occupants and cause the steering column to shake.

The Bravada's state-of-the-art, full-time, all-wheel-drive system doesn't call for buttons to push, levers to throw, gears to mesh or special driving techniques to be mastered. When you need greater traction, the system's computer instantly provides it.

The fact that the all-wheel-drive system lacks a high-low transfer case means that the Bravada is meant to be driven mainly on paved roads. But so what? Most sport/ute owners never leave pavement for rugged, off-road terrain.

And the Bravada's SmartTrak system--a combination of all-wheel-drive, four-wheel anti-lock brakes and locking rear differential--gives this truck great traction on slippery pavement and during casual off-road motoring.

At least the Bravada looks as if it could be used on African safaris, and many buy sport/utility vehicles partly because they want such a rugged look.

Although classified as a compact sport/ute, the Bravada easily seats four tall adults--or five in a pinch. The rear doors don't open wide enough to allow easy entry for larger-than-average folks, but the Bravada is generally easy to enter and leave because it stands at a fairly comfortable height.

The cargo area is fairly large with rear seats in their normal position, although rear wheelhouses consume some cargo room. The fold-down tailgate is handy, and a clever touch is a cargo-hiding shade that extends across the cargo area from a retractor in the left-side panel; thus, the shade doesn't have to be removed when the Bravada is carrying long objects.

From its leather seats to its soft-touch controls, the Bravada should satisfy most of the many former luxury car owners who are switching to a sport/utility.