Among the three new GM midsize SUVs (Olds Bravada and Chevy TrailBlazer), the Envoy's styling may be the most sophisticated. It's "logical and precise," says GMC's brand manager. It has a wide-mouth black grille that says (in ruby red) GMC all the way. Sleek and clean are the distinct headlamps, round foglights and front bumper with a wide slim slit at the very bottom. Envoy dispenses with the TrailBlazer's showy fender flares, by housing the standard 17-inch wheels (shod with specially developed Michelins) inside hefty fenders which are part of a trapezoidal design theme. Strong beveled shapes extend along the Envoy's clean sides and around the wheelwells, and help make the Envoy look imposing. The rear bumper is stepped for its full length, and includes big round backup lights.

From behind the wheel the Envoy seems to be raked, as you look down over the strong hood. It looks cool. Under that hood, the inline engine is the big new thing. The straight-six design is hardly new, of course. Jeep Cherokee has been using a less sophisticated I6 for years, while BMW and Lexus have very sophisticated versions in high-performance sedans. Advancements in electronics, metallurgy and manufacturing methods now enable an inline engine to soar, and for 2002 GM has fully exploited this technical opportunity.

The new Vortec 4200 is an all-aluminum, double-overhead cam, 24-valve inline-6 with variable valve timing. It features electronic throttle control, an electrical system using silicon circuit boards (replacing some 1100 feet of copper wire), coil-on-plug ignition (thus no plug wires), and a seven-quart oil pan with a clever tunnel for the front drive axle, which allows the longish block to be mounted six inches lower, contributing to better balance and a lower center of gravity.

The chassis rails are shaped by hydroforming, a process pioneered in the '97 C5 Corvette that makes the rails stronger and lighter. No less than eight crossmembers contribute to a claimed 260 percent increase in torsional rigidity, and there are 12 tuned body mounts made of urethane.

Attention to detail is evident, from a battery box that draws in cooling air, to remarkably sanitary wiring under the hood, to a seven-pin receptacle for towing trailers with brakes, to rear-seat headrests that conveniently flip down for better rearward driver visibility. Because the engine is so quiet and smooth at idle, a feature called "intellistart" was added which prevents the starter from grinding if the key is turned when the engine is already running.

The Autotrac system, standard on 4WD models, features four settings: 2WD, Auto4WD, 4HI and 4LO. In Auto, which shifts power to all four wheels as conditions require, the Envoy can be towed without having to disconnect the driveshaft-a convenient new feature. Switching in and out of 4WD can be done on the fly with a flip of the switch, although the vehicle must be in neutral to engage or disengage 4LO.

There is an optional load-leveling air suspension intended to provide a more luxurious ride. It uses a silent air compressor, which yields one small fruit: a 22-foot air hose for filling everything from tires to toys. It attaches to a small valve in a compartment in the cargo area.