Oldsmobile Bravada restructured with all-time 4x4 traction
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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When rain pours in New Mexico's mountains east of Santa Fe, canyons quickly turn into torrential rivers. Yet waters recede between the infrequent downpours, leaving sandy chutes ideal for measuring off-road attributes of 4-wheel-drive sport-utility wagons.
John Rock, who heads the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors, selected one such arroyo, or canyon, to demonstrate the smooth-riding suspension and all-wheel-drive traction capability of Bravada, a 4-door sport-utility vehicle dressed in new generational edition.
Oldsmobile offers a 4x4 wagon?
In case you missed the fact that the Oldsmobile lineup mixes a SUV wagon into the array of fancy sedans and sporty coupes, understand that Bravada first appeared in 1991 as a plushly appointed compact wagon built upon the chassis of GM's compact pickup truck.
It featured a differential transfer case which meted power to all wheels for superior pavement traction, yet the vehicle was never intended to compete as off-road warrior.
Bravada's shortcoming, in my opinion, was that it rode rough like a truck and required effort to maneuver in traffic -- not the comfort-oriented attributes usually associated with Oldsmobile's image.
Bravada in 1996 trim eliminates that truckish ride quality, thanks to a rigid chassis and new suspension.
It also packs a big V6 that produces more power than the best-selling SUV in class, then loads on new gear for safety and performance, plus a pleasing new windswept exterior package which looks both sleek and sturdy.
To show off the new Bravada in that deserted New Mexico arroyo, Rock brought along a few competitive SUVs, including that $35,000 class best-seller plus a fancy import from Europe which lists for more than double Bravada's $25,000 base price.
How does this moderately-priced SUV stand in the face of expensive competition?
Well, to my surprise, Bravada bested all contenders in the arroyo's sand and mud.
Its engine blasted down the straights, clearly ahead of the pack. In muddy stretches, its 4-wheel grip never mired in muck, and across the bumps and ridges of the riverbed its suspension felt clearly superior.
The outcome wasn't what I had expected, although examining Bravada's new hardware would suggest as much.
New Bravada looks great, rides and drives like a car, contains a wagonload of comfort and safety features, and totes one of the most productive engines in the market.
Bravada's interior feels like that of a fine sedan, not some hulk of a truck. You sit high, above the traffic, in comfortable front bucket seats or 3-person rear bench surrounded by all of the comforts and conveniences of a luxury car -- even including supple leather upholstery for entry-level pricing.
And Bravada brings so much playful horsepower.
The engine, GM's iron block 4.3-liter V6 with overhead valving and sequential central port injection, produces 190 hp at 4400 rpm and 250 lbs/ft of torque at 2800 rpm.
It mates to a 4-speed electronic automatic transmission that deletes shifting hassles from the task of driving.
Bravada's muscle shows its stuff when climbing steep off-road grades like those navigated when coming out of that New Mexican canyon. It zipped up slopes as effortlessly as if simply meandering down a dusty rural lane, but with sure-footed traction applied to all wheels.
Then on pavement, I found power in reserve to pass slower vehicles without fear of pegging limits on forward velocity -- and if you pull a trailer, Bravada can lug up to 5,000 pounds of excess baggage.
It's this trailer-toting, slope-sucking, car-passing strength that nabbed my immediate attention when testing Bravada, but what ultimately won my confidence came from its easy handling nature and that car-like ride quality.
Reinforcing the boxed ladder-type chassis makes this platform more rigid so it resists twisting when in motion.
Apply an independent front suspension setup with upper and lower control arms and torsion and sway bars, along with a rigid rear axle rigged with semi-elliptical leaf springs and stabilizer bar, then install De Carbone high-pressure gas shock absorbers at all points for consistent damping, and you end up with a luxurious ride quality that's still predictable off-road.
Bravada's SmartTrak system combines full-time 4x4 with a Borg Warner transfer case, center differential, viscous limited-slip device, Eaton locking rear differential and Kelsey Hayes 4-wheel anti-lock brakes. With this rig you never have to decide when to apply 4-wheel traction because it's always engaged and ready.
Under normal conditions, 65 percent of the engine's torque goes to the rear axle and 35 to the front, but in slippery situations SmartTrak takes control, sensing which wheels spin and which need more traction.
What it becomes is a real confidence-builder because Bravada can maintain a tight grip to pavement when lesser machines may not. As the arroyo in New Mexico proved, it also performs capably off-road in dire conditions, although the intent is not wilderness maneuvers but comfort and security for more urban adventures.
Safety elements include a driver's airbag, front and rear crash zones and new daytime running lights.
Pull out a tape measure to discover Bravada's make-over carves out generous interior space for riders.
Front passengers end up with additional head room, for instance, and at least three more inches of shoulder space. This ultimately translates to increased comfort in transit, particularly in the rear seat, where a mid-size wagon can sometimes seem confining.
Behind the 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, Bravada brings a cargo bay of generous proportions.
According to Rock, Bravada's interior elements use benchmarks borrowed from Oldsmobile's dramatic Aurora sedan, such as the form-fitting front bucket seats with lumbar and thigh support canted toward luxury and comfort.
This wagon stocks so much standard gear that options have been limited to a towing package, engine block heater, CD deck and gold-trim exterior elements.
1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA
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| 1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size SUV wagon |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size SUV wagon |
| Wheelbase: |
107.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
180.9 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 4.3-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
All-wheel-drive |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
1 |
| Gas Mileage: |
16/21 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 25,000 to $ 28,000 |
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