Envoy XL is 16 inches longer than Envoy. Envoy XL is nearly 9 inches longer than a Yukon, yet it's 4 inches narrower. One way to distinguish Envoy XL from the standard Envoy is to look at the rear doors. Envoy's rear doors are interrupted by the rear fenders. Envoy XL, with its length stretched amidships, has enough space for full-size rear doors.

Envoy's styling looks more sophisticated to our eyes than that of the other mid-size SUVs from General Motors. Envoy shares its platform with the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, the upcoming Buick Rainier, and the outgoing Oldsmobile Bravada.

Envoy has a wide-mouth black grille with a big ruby red logo that says GMC all the way. Sleek and clean are the distinct headlamps, round fog lights and pouty front bumper with a wide, slim slit at the very bottom. Strong beveled shapes extend along the Envoy's clean sides and around the wheel wells, and help make the Envoy look imposing. Envoy dispenses with the TrailBlazer's showy fender flares, by housing its standard 17-inch wheels inside hefty fenders that are part of the trapezoidal design theme. 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 is GM's newly developed inline six-cylinder engine. Advancements in electronics, metallurgy and manufacturing now enable an inline engine to soar, and GM has fully exploited this technical opportunity.