2006 Envoy Denali w/ 5.3 liter Vortec V8 Displacement on Demand

In late December 2006 I traded my 2000 Blazer on a new 2006 Envoy Denali. It is Steel Gray metallic with light gray leather. It is a truly beautiful luxury SUV. The Envoy Denali comes standard with GM's Vortec 5.3 liter Displacement on Demand engine.

The Denali package includes just about every option available on the Envoy:

5.3 Liter V8 Displacement on Demand engine
4 speed automatic transmission w/ overdrive
Bilstein shocks and load leveling suspension
Locking differential
4 wheel anti-lock brakes
Stabilitrak handling and stability control
Theft deterrent
Heated mirrors
Polished aluminum wheels
Heavy duty trailering package,
Headlamp washers
Dual 8 way power seats
Leather, heated front seats w/ power lumbar support
Bose Premium Sound System (controls on steering wheel)
Rear seat audio controls w/ headphone jacks
Driver information center (light, sound prefs; gas mileage, odometers, oil change indicator)
Electronic compass and outside temperature indicators
Automatic dual zone climate control
Cruise control
Universal remote transmitter
Special quiet ride package

In addition, mine has the following options:

Sunroof, sound and entertainment package -- sunroof, 6 CD changer (see next), and XM radio
Navigation Radio System (GPS) -- replaces 6 CD changer
Head curtain side airbags
3.73 rear axle ratio

Base price $42,200
Dest. chg. $710
Option package discount -$1000
Total $41,910

Bought at Glenn Buick-GMC, Lexington, Kentucky (I rate them the best dealer I have ever bought from. 30 years ago I was a car salesman myself. These are honest people.)

I really can't say enough about this vehicle. As I noted, I used to be a car salesman when I was young. I drove all kinds and makes of cars. This is the nicest, best engineered (despite the problem described below), best riding, most comfortable to drive, vehicle I have ever owned or driven. Period.

One of the features I like about it during these days of increased gasoline prices is the Displacement on Demand 5.3 Liter V8. The vehicle is rated 15 mpg city, 21 highway. Because mine has barely 13,000 miles on it and has been on a long trip only once, I cannot vouch that it will do 21 mpg. But it does do very well. Even on a 20 or 30 mile trip, I will get 17 mpg or better. One thing I have found with GM vehicles: the engines don't really break in until 25,000 miles or so -- at least that has been my experience. My Blazer had mediocre gas mileage until I had about 25K on it, then it would go well over 20 mpg on a trip. I cannot see how this Envoy Denali, running on 4 cylinders a good deal at highway speeds, will not do as well. One more thing I will note about the engine: this V8 makes the Denali very quick. When you need to pass at 65 mph, you apply a little gas and before you know it you are approaching 85 mph. From a dead stop, the torque will press you against the seat.

My Envoy has GM's navigation system along with the Bose premium sound system. I would probably prefer a 6 CD changer over the navigation system, if I had had a choice. The navigation works well, but I hardly use it. The sound of the stereo system, however, is superb. Crisp, clear mids and highs, strong bass (w/o thumping). Turn to XM Pops and you will hear all the instruments clearly in the orchestra. If you like rock, it sounds great without being annoying or wearying. I listen to a lot of talk radio. It is nice to be able to listen to one's favorite shows uninterrupted wherever you are. No more flipping around trying to find another station when you are on a short or extended trip. The XM subscription price is worth it, in my opinion.

My only complaint with this vehicle after 18 months is that I am having problems with the transmission. The problem began 6 months after I bought it. My wife and I were traveling I-75 south in May 2006 for our annual vacation to the Gulf Coast, about a 750 mile jaunt. We were pulling our small pop-up camper. About 200 miles into the trip, the check engine light came on. The transmission had begun to shift hard. Something was not right. OnStar confirmed that a transmission code had been entered and that the vehicle should be serviced soon. We called all around that portion of Tennessee, but, as expected, on Saturday GM service departments were all closed. So, we turned around and drove back home, dropped the trailer at the house, and dropped the Envoy at the dealer in Lexington.

Two more times that summer the same problem appeared. Though the dealer was cooperative, they could not authorize a new transmission. Rather than wait and expend more time and energy, I got GM involved. A representative from GM phoned me, had me describe the problem, and asked what I wanted. I told her that I either wanted a new vehicle, at the very least, a new transmission. A few days later she phoned to say that they were shipping a new transmission from Lansing.

The dealer installed the transmission, and at first all seemed to be fine. Since the Envoy had now become my wife's car, I was not driving it nearly as much. But when I did, I would notice that when the engine and transmission were at operating temperature, the transmission would not engage when it was shifted from park to drive. It took as many as 10 or 15 seconds to catch.

This problem is ongoing. I have an appointment to try and resolve it this week. I'm hoping that it is just a shift adjustment. We'll see. I'll update here with what happens.

Overall, though, I love this car. It is a pleasure to drive as well as look at with its unique (to Denali models) Swiss cheese hole grill.

UPDATE 6/24/2007 RE. TRANSMISSION:
Took the vehicle to the dealer on Thursday the 21st in the AM. They kept it all day, called late afternoon, and said that the factory wanted them to run more tests on it. Friday the dealer phoned to say it was ready. When I arrived, the quality control manager was still out driving it. According to the service advisor, all functions have been set to factory specifications. They had tested it thoroughly and could not get the transmission to slip. No charge. However, he suggested that I contact the GM Zone office. When all this began and at the time the new transmission was installed, the GM Zone office said that they would be willing to offer me a letter stating that the transmission would be warranted for 100,000 miles. I did not follow up at the time. The service manager at Glenn has suggested I follow up with this and get the warranty letter just to be on the safe side. As for now, everything is running fine. No problems.

For any of you who may be considering an Envoy Denali, just let me say that I truly believe mine was an isolated incident. I have not heard other Envoy owners having a similar issue. This is a quality vehicle that I would put up against any luxury SUV made in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world. Lexus and the others have nothing over it.