The styling is attractive. Corners are nicely rounded and the lower body is clad in plastic. Flanking the GMC family grille are headlamps that set the Envoy apart from the Jimmys. Each headlight cluster includes a circular amber parking light, an elliptical halogen high beam, an elliptical high intensity discharge low beam, and a sidemarker light. A pair of large fog lamps is incorporated into the lower front valence. With this lighting package, they will see you coming.

The Envoy sports cast-aluminum wheels with P235/70R15 all-season tires. Front suspension is independent, a short-long arm design with torsion bars. Semi-elliptic springs are used at the rear. The Envoy comes with the Luxury Ride suspension (ZW7), which has shock absorbers and springs tuned for a smooth highway ride on paved or improved roads. Front shocks are by Bilstein, with Delphi premium load-leveling shocks in back. This suspension works well for trailer towing; the Envoy is rated to tow up to 5600 pounds and comes pre-wired for trailers.

Power for the Envoy and all Jimmy models comes from GM's Vortec 4.3-liter V6 engine. This overhead-valve 90-degree V6 is tuned for truck work, with 250 foot-pounds of torque peaking at 2800 rpm. It generates 190 horsepower at 4400 rpm. Redline is just over 5000 rpm.

This engine is mated to GM's 4-speed electronically controlled transmission (4L60-E). The Envoy's transmission has a tow/haul mode, accessed by a button on the shift lever, that reduces shifting when towing a heavy trailer and attunes the performance of the gearbox to the heavier load. The AutoTrac 2-speed transfer case is standard as well. Modes are selected by dash-mounted buttons, including an Auto 4WD button that is not all-wheel drive, but rather a standby mode that, when rear wheel spin is detected, engages the four-wheel-drive system for as long as needed.

Four-wheel disc brakes with four-wheel ABS are standard on all models.