2001 OLDSMOBILE Bravada 4.2L 4AT RWD (270 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Oldsmobile introduced the third generation of the Bravada SUV in 2000, and, like its predecessors, it was just an upscale version of a Chevrolet.

GM looked like it didn’t want to spend too much money to save the Oldsmobile brand and just used the badge-engineering process to create vehicles. Unfortunately, that didn’t go too well, and, in 2004, one of the oldest car brands in the world disappeared from the market. Strangely, though, General Motors announced the brand’s shutdown process just days after launching the Bravada, which became the final product to wear the Oldsmobile badge.

Based on the same GMT360 platform, the Bravada shared its underpinnings with Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, and Saab 9-7X. Its front fascia was unique to the brand, featuring a chromed trim that comprised the headlights and the half-grille on each side of the center-mounted slat that sported the Oldsmobile badge. To improve cooling, the carmaker added some additional slits in the bumper. In addition, the car featured integrated blinkers in the door mirrors, which was a nice addition to the SUV.

The interior featured buttons on the steering wheel for the trip computer, climate control, and sound system. At the same time, the leather-wrapped cabin offered a luxurious feeling to the occupants. In addition, the faux wood trims on the center stack, door cards, and the center console enhanced that feeling. At the back, the bench was profiled for two, even though there was plenty of room for three adult-sized passengers.

Under the hood, the car featured the same Vortec inline-six powerplant as the Trailblazer paired with a four-speed automatic that sent the power to the rear or in all corners. The Bravada managed to sell around 60,000 units, not enough to save the brand.