GM Sets Prices For New 2005 Crossover Sport Vans

[Butta]

FOR RELEASE: 2004-09-10

GM Sets Prices For New 2005 Crossover Sport Vans



DETROIT - General Motors announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for its new 2005 crossover sport vans, the Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Buick Terraza. Prices start at $24,350 for the Uplander, $24,485 for the Relay, $25,235 for the Montana SV6 and $28,825 for the Terraza. All prices include a destination charge of $715, and exclude all tax, title, license and dealer fees.

The new crossover sport vans break new ground by combining SUV-inspired styling with mid-van functionality. Available in both front- and all-wheel-drive versions, they are powered by a 200-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 mated to the Hydra-Matic 4T65-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The crossover sport vans feature highly refined interiors and have been engineered for solid dynamic safety performance.

All models include substantial standard equipment, such as an overhead rail storage system, rear-seat passenger DVD entertainment system, a CD/MP3 player, 17-inch wheels and tires, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, dual-stage frontal air bags for supplemental protection for the driver and front-seat passenger, and the OnStar system with one-year subscription to its Safe & Sound services.

Available equipment includes a remote vehicle starter system that operates from a range of about 200 feet; GM's sophisticated StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system (front-wheel-drive models only); the segment-first Mobile Digital Media Powered by PhatNoise system that allows users to store hundreds of hours of music, movies and other entertainment onto a removable hard drive cartridge (interim 2005 model year start of production); and seat-mounted side impact air bags that help provide head and torso protection for both the front passenger and the driver.

"GM's new crossover sport vans are ideal for those who need and appreciate comfortable seven-passenger seating and cargo efficiency, a high degree of safety, fuel economy, low step-in height, and great ride and handling - but prefer the more expressive styling associated with an SUV," said Anna Kretz, vehicle line executive for Front-Wheel-Drive Trucks.

Reflecting their individual brand characters, each vehicle features unique trim, equipment content and option packages. The MSRPs for the new models by trim series are:

Chevrolet Uplander Base
$24,350

Chevrolet Uplander LS
26,955

Chevrolet Uplander LT
29,385

Saturn Relay 2
24,485

Saturn Relay 3
27,580

Pontiac Montana SV6 1SA
25,235

Pontiac Montana SV6 1SB
28,605

Buick Terraza CX
28,825

Buick Terraza CXL
31,885


The Uplander and Montana SV6 replace Chevrolet's and Pontiac's current mid-van offerings. By bringing Buick and Saturn into the mix, GM is expanding its mid-van entries to maximize market coverage in the segment and build on the growing popularity of crossover vehicles among consumers.

Terraza delivers a premium, refined experience that blends the best qualities of Buick sedans with the utility that today's marketplace demands. Terraza will compete at the upper end of the segment and continue the trend started with Rendezvous and Rainier to pull new customers into the Buick showroom.

The Relay's refined interior appointments reflect the direction of future Saturn vehicles under development. The Relay also will help grow the brand, giving Saturn its first vehicle that can carry seven people, while also helping the brand meet the needs of existing Saturn owners with growing families and active lifestyles.

Full Article Here

[surferdude00711]

They havce standard DVD! Thats cool! They don't hav nav system; what are they thinking!!! The saturn base price is more than that of the Chevy!???

[Ming]

I am very happy not to see prices in the realm of the ridiculous - like 36,000 dollars for the old minivans.

With mild rebates, these vans might not be such a bad deal.

[jaorobot]

yah i didnt realize they came standard with dvd players? is that true?

[ChevyLaxMan]

These prices seem more sensible than the prices of their predecessors. If gm can begin to ween people off rebates they should start with the csv's pricing. Standard dvd is cool too.

[usa1]

The pricing is a relief. At least GM did not insult us with stupidly high prices. They are now on par with the competition, but not better.

Now they are only insulting our intelligence with these van's missing gear tranny, low output motor, dated engineering, ugly looks, fake fold flat rear seat, etc.

I firmly believe these vans are still a stupid choice for any consumer unless they have $5K+ discounts.

Mark

[Buick61]

Get a stronger motor and a five-speed auto, and Toyota and Honda would have something to worry about.

But at these prices, and with impressive standard equipment, I think the ones that should worry are Ford, Mercury, Nissan, and Kia.

[BigAls87Z28]

Standard DVD player will deffinalty be the #1 attraction for these CSV's. Mini vans come down to ride and amenities. If the ride is nice and quite, and the DVD player with the Phatnoise set up, the CSV's should actualy do quite well.
I think they will deffinatly fair well then the other domestic vans because they offer a LOT more quality wise. Anyone that has stepped foot in to the Stow-n-Go DCX vans will notice that in order for DCX to hide the seats, they had to take away something...and that was any comfort. My mom had a 00 T&C, and the 2 captains chairs in the middle were pretty nice, but the stow and go seats are like sitting on a lawn chair. They also dont offer the overall support of a seat that is in the rest of the mini vans.
One thing I see holding back the CSV's is the look of them. I think that the Buick and Saturn vans look the best, with the Chevy and Pontiac taking the ugly end of the stick. They should all do very well.

[sdd122]

I know they are on the ugly side, but I think they may look enough like an SUV to "fool" the average consumer. Since most people classify a minivan with station wagons as the ultimate in uncool rides, I think it was worth the risk for GM to try and get away from the minivan look. About a month ago, I printed out a picture of an Uplander and showed it to a bunch of moms and grandmas. Not one thought it was a minivan. They all thought it was an SUV. They all liked the look of it.

Keep in mind that people reading gminsidenews are car people. They are not Mr./Mrs. average consumer that don't know or care that there is a difference between wheels and tires, or take their vehicle back to the dealer because the fog lights don't work when they didn't buy it with fog lights.

[88montess]

Originally posted by jaorobot@Sep 11 2004, 02:58 AM
yah i didnt realize they came standard with dvd players? is that true?

There are Two DVD systems, the base one doesn't come with wire less head phone and regular wired ones will work. I believe if you bought the wireless they will work.. The nicer models come with Two-four sets of wireless headphones and a little nicer layout.

I don't know about the rest of the country, but we are getting great initial feedback from consumers with already a few leads. I'm in the snow belt and since DCX almost dropped completely out of the AWD biz. that is were we are gettingg headway. Also as a full line dealer the buick is getting the most nods.

However our absolute best selling point of the current vans for years has been the available 8 pass. seating. to have that exclusive in the market from 99 till Toyota in 04. then lose it I think is there biggest mistake. It ought to at least be optional.

[dindak]

The DVD and MP3 are huge selling points. I wanted a MP3 on our 04 Montana but it cost big $$ as you had to get the top end sound system to get it. Given it's not the best van in the world, GM seems to have played it smart with reasonable MSRPs on well equipped vans.

MSRP in the fixed price Relay seems a bit dumb though!

[GMObsession6]

they look so much better. and the interiors are a big improvement too

[gmwsag]

Huh---what is a Saturn doing being priced much more than the Uplander? I thought Saturn was the cheap one, and Chevrolet was the more-expensive cheap one, similar to the relation between Scion and Toyota??

[jro4566]

If I was shopping for a CSV, I'd probably take the Relay. The top of the line Relay is cheaper than the Uplander and SV6 but with the same amenities. Plus with rebates it won't be so bad.

[gmsickofan]

Pontiac Montana SV6 1SA
25,235

That is awesome newz! I must have one!