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The Terraza is one of
the four identical GM minivans introduced for the 2005 model year. It shares
its basic design with the last-place Chevrolet Uplander, but can be more
easily found with the optional 3.9-liter V6 that greatly improves the vehicle.
Also, even with the larger engine, the loaded Terraza is slightly less
expensive than the Uplander. While the Terraza is a better vehicle than the
Uplander, thanks to the engine and to small upgrades in other areas, its
sloppy handling, uncomfortable seating, and mediocre gas mileage prevent it
from being a competitive minivan.
The Terraza rides a bit more comfortably than
the Uplander and the other CSVs. It has a softer ride that is more absorbent,
though rather floaty. It handles with more body roll even than its clones,
which were already among the least-agile minivans. As in the others, the
steering is slow to respond and lacks feel. The 3.9-liter V6, theoretically
optional on all CSVs but easy to find only on the Terraza and Pontiac SV6 (and
there only as part of a “performance package” that hurts ride quality) is much
more responsive than the standard 3.5-liter. It doesn’t win the latest minivan
horsepower war, but it never feels strained and is much quieter than the
3.5-liter. The Terraza’s additional sound deadening compared to the other CSVs
also helps, and also diminishes the wind and road noise that plagues other
CSVs. Fuel economy, while not impressive for this class, is no worse than with
the base engine.
Inside, the Terraza features the same hard,
misshapen, and unsupportive front seats as the other CSVs. Lateral support is
most apparently lacking with the leather that is standard on the Terraza. The
second row captain's chairs are better, but the backrest is flat, and there
ought to be more leg space. The third row is adequately roomy, but too low,
hard, and flat to be comfortable. The third row seat folds flat, but unlike in
the others here, it does not fold into a floor well but into a four-inch-high
storage compartment on top of the floor that itself needs to be removed for
maximum cargo space. Cargo space does not stand out for this class, even after
the seats are wrestled out. The recently redesigned dash uses mostly
high-quality materials that fit together well. The Terraza features more false
wood trim than the other CSVs,
but doesn’t feel appreciably more upscale. The gauges are large enough, and
reasonably clear. Instruments are well laid-out, suitably sized, and easy to
use. The driver sits comfortably enough, but rearward visibility is obstructed
by large roof pillars, and shorter drivers won’t be able to see well over the
vehicle's large, high front end. Entry/exit is easy enough to the front and
second-row seats, though third-row access is impeded by difficult-to-move
second row seats with only a narrow passage between them.
The CSVs showed inconsistent performance in
crash test results. They earned the maximum five stars for both the driver and
for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash test, and four stars for
the driver and five for the second-row passenger in the NHTSA side crash test.
They also earned three stars for their estimated 20% chance of tipping up in a
single vehicle accident from NHTSA. The IIHS rated them Good in its offset
crash test, the highest of four ratings, but only Marginal (the second-lowest)
in its side crash test with the optional side airbags. Furthermore, the
second-row seat broke loose from its anchors in that test, and the vans’ front
head restraints were rated Poor, the lowest rating.
The Terraza reviewed here came in at $29,793,
over $200 less than the comparable Uplander despite additional equipment like
a memory system for the driver’s seat and the larger engine. Otherwise, the
two have the same equipment. A rear-obstacle detection system, an integrated
child seat, GM’s exclusive OnStar assistance system, and a remote starting
system are included, but a power liftgate, automatic climate control, or
three-row curtain side airbags are not available.
Overall, despite this
Terraza’s additional power and refinement compared to the base-engine Uplander,
it’s a mediocre van. And while it is less expensive than the Uplander, it is
still thousands more than some competitors. It was able to outrank the
Uplander and the less-expensive Ford Freestar by virtue of the engine’s power
and relative refinement, the Buick-issue sound deadening, and added ride
comfort. If you must have a loaded CSV, this is the one to get, but there are
better choices otherwise.
NEXT: 7th Place
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