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.
With sales running at less than 10 percent of those posted by the class-leading Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer,
the Bravada caters to a more limited market. Volume aside, though, it serves its purpose admirably, giving Oldsmobile
dealers and customers a versatile vehicle that slots neatly into the company's product structure.
Handsome outside and roomy inside, the Bravada provides all expected amenities inside and out, encased in a
well-constructed and solid structure that will breeze through normal use and absorb more off-road punishment than
it is likely to experience. Workmanship in the examples we've seen has been very good as well.
Some entries in the Bravada's class are equipped with features unavailable here--some have V8 engines and most offer two-speed transfer cases--but the Bravada is a good choice for skiers and campers who want a vehicle that combines traction with classy looks, and has a smooth ride and enough interior enhancements to make travel luxurious. It will look right at home in front of an upscale restaurant or a mountain chalet, and has the hardware to make the trip to any place safe and comfortable.
