1998 Oldsmobile Bravada Sport Utility Vehicle Review & Performance

Even casual observers will have little trouble distinguishing a Bravada from a Blazer or a Jimmy, as Oldsmobile

has branded the Bravada name on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle. Trim details reinforce the Oldsmobile

brand. Up front, the Bravada receives the modern Oldsmobile family identification in the form of larger headlight

assemblies and dual grilles separated by a body color panel carrying the Oldsmobile division logo. Lower body-side

cladding looks quite similar to that seen on Oldsmobile's Aurora.

Otherwise, the Bravada looks similar to the other four-door SUVs from General Motors. It's a clean, attractive

design that features an aerodynamic front end, semi-formal roofline and muscular stance with minimal overhang. Front

and rear bumpers, lamp clusters and other details are new this year, but the basic shape is familiar and easy on

the eyes.

The major difference between Bravada and its General Motors siblings is in packaging. Blazers and Jimmys are

available with two- or four-door bodies, two- or four-wheel-drive systems, suspensions designed for off-road

driving or highway cruising, manual or automatic transmissions and a choice of interiors from plush to Spartan.

But the Bravada comes one way--with everything. That includes four doors, an automatic transmission, a V6 engine,

and every luxury feature imaginable. The driveline consists of electronically controlled all-wheel drive with a locking center differential for when the going gets really slippery. The options list is short: heated seats, a sunroof and an audio system with CD player.

That's reflected in the base price, which sits right at the top of the GM compact-SUV heap. Said price is, however, in the ballpark when compared to stickers on similarly equipped competitors. In fact, it undercuts many of them.

Comfort was a top priority for the Bravada's designers. The result of their efforts is a space that is friendly

to passengers and cargo alike. The well-padded seats are excellent, providing better than average support and

adjustability. The driver's seat offers a six-way power adjustment. Electric seat heaters are available.

Stretch-out room is ample.

Leather is standard equipment, but cloth upholstery is offered as a no-cost option.

Much effort has been expended on giving the Bravada's interior a passenger-car appearance. Results are mixed.

The dashboard, though redesigned this year to accommodate a passenger-side airbag, is big and blocky. Everything

is placed for good access, with easy-to-use rotary knobs controlling headlights and climate control functions. The

grade of leather provided is the same type used in the Aurora.

Along with the soft leather, Oldsmobile's interior designers have applied a dollop of wood to door panels and

center console, and have called for attractive deep-pile carpet on the floor. Overall, the Bravada interior looks

handsome and has an appropriate high-dollar air about it, though the quality of both the various switches and the

plastic panels that surround them is a notch below what you'd find in a Ford Explorer.

Triple door seals keep wind noise and dust at bay, insulation masks most tire noise, and the engine makes only

a soft hum at highway speeds, though induction and fan noise are noticeable during hard acceleration.

Bravada's new rear step bumper is handy for loading mountain bikes and other cargo onto the roof.

Driving the Bravada in an urban setting is in many respects no different than piloting an Intrigue or any other

6-cylinder Oldsmobile. The seating position is higher, of course, which is beneficial in terms of seeing what's

going on around you, but steering and braking required no more effort than their sedan counterparts. A turning

circle only slightly larger than that of most passenger cars aids maneuverability

The Bravada is equally at home on the highway. It is still relatively effortless to drive and has a softer than

normal ride. The brake pedal is mushy, a common trait among General Motors trucks and sport-utilities.

Performance from the V6 engine is good, and there is adequate power in reserve for carrying a full load. In a

few instances during our test, we wished for a V8 option, which would be helpful when ascending steep grades with

a heavy load. But more power would increase fuel consumption, and that's one of the negatives of SUV ownership.

Our test gas mileage was slightly below expectations at 17 mpg, but included more off-pavement driving than most

Bravadas would face. When equipped with the towing package as our test vehicle was, the Bravada can pull a loaded

trailer weighing up to 5000 pounds.

We took our test Bravada on an all-day excursion through the Southern California desert on a run just beyond the capabilities of a front-drive passenger car. The SmartTrak system, which engages all-wheel drive instantaneously and unobtrusively when needed, performed as advertised, and there was plenty of traction available for crossing rocky ground and sand washes. Attempts to bog the Bravada down were unsuccessful, though we caution against trying this away from sources of aid; the absence of a low range of gears in the transfer case makes wading through deep sand, snow or mud an exercise in caution.