Chevrolet Uplander

Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	2005–2008
Model years	2005–2009
Assembly	Doraville, Georgia, United States
Predecessor	Chevrolet Venture Chevrolet Astro
Successor	Chevrolet Traverse
Class	Minivan
Body style	4-door minivan
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform	U-body/GMT201
Engine	3.5 L LX9 V6 3.9 L LZ9 V6 3.9 L LGD V6
Transmission	4-speed 4T65-E automatic
Wheelbase	113.0 in (2,870 mm) (SWB) 121.1 in (3,076 mm) (LWB)
Length	191.0 in (4,851 mm) (SWB) 204.3 in (5,189 mm) (LWB)
Width	72.0 in (1,829 mm)
Height	70.5 in (1,791 mm) (SWB) 72.0 in (1,829 mm) (LWB)
Related	Saturn Relay Buick Terraza Pontiac Montana SV6 Buick GL8 Buick Rendezvous Pontiac Aztek

Chevrolet Uplander LS SWB

The Chevrolet Uplander is a minivan produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. It replaced the Venture and Astro. Although introduced for the 2005 model year, it overlapped with the final model years of the Venture (on which the Uplander is heavily based) and Astro. It was built on the same platform as the Saturn Relay, Buick Terraza, and Pontiac Montana SV6. The Doraville, Georgia assembly plant that produced the Uplander closed on September 26, 2008. It was the last minivan to have the gearshift on the steering column whereas its contemporaries had moved the gearshift to the center console.

There were few differences amongst the Uplander and its three siblings. The most significant of these was the offering of an integrated child seat in the Uplander LS and that, in the U.S. market, the Uplander was offered in two wheelbases and a cargo version. Suggested retail price for the Uplander ranged from US$21,250–33,795, depending on options. The Uplander was exported to Canada, Chile, Mexico, and the Middle East.

The four minivans all shared a common platform and came equipped with a standard MP3/CD player. Unlike its predecessor, the 8-passenger seating configuration was dropped. The Uplander and its siblings were all similarly styled, trying to appear more SUV-like with their relatively long, level hoods and tall front fascias.

In front of the steering wheel was a black circle with the Chevrolet logo placed in the center, it offers leather and cloth seats and wood trim on 3 panels, windows on doors, air conditioning and Radio.

While initially a decent seller, the Uplander's sales were poor compared to the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Hence, General Motors made the decision to pull plug on the minivan market and instead target the new crossover vehicle market with the Chevrolet Traverse.

Year to year changes

2005: The Uplander was initially offered with 3.5 L High Value 3500 LX9 V6 generating 200 hp (149 kW) and 220 lb·ft (298 N·m).^[1]
2006: A 3.9 L LZ9 V6, with 240 hp (179 kW) and 240 lb·ft (332 Nm) torque, was added as an option. The GM logo was added to the front doors.
2007: The 3.5 L V6 was dropped, leaving the 3.9 L as the base engine. Consequently, the optional AWD system was also dropped, since it could not handle the torque of the 3.9 L engine. A flex-fuel version of the 3.9 L V6 also became available for 2007.
2008: The Uplander's last year for the U.S., although production continued for export to Canada and Mexico up to the 2009 model year. The final vehicle (a 2009 Canadian version short-wheelbase Pontiac Montana SV6 in Liquid Silver Metallic^{[citation needed]}) rolled off the Doraville assembly line on September 26, 2008.^[2]

Safety

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Chevrolet Uplander has an improved crash test rating than its predecessor, the Venture. The Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay earned the highest rating of "Good" in the IIHS offset frontal crash test, but was rated only "Acceptable" and "Poor" in the IIHS side crash test with and without the optional side airbags, respectively.

References

External links

• Video of Chevrolet Uplander's 5-Star Crash Test

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