Chevrolet Uplander

Chevrolet Uplander
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	2005–2008 (USA) 2005-2009 (Canada)
Assembly	Doraville, Georgia
Predecessor	Chevrolet Venture Chevrolet Astro
Successor	Chevrolet Traverse (For long wheelbase version)
Class	Minivan
Body style(s)	4-door minivan
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform	U-body
Engine(s)	3.5 L LX9 V6 3.9 L LZ9 V6 3.9 L LGD V6
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	113.0 in (2870 mm) (SWB) 121.1 in (3076 mm) (LWB)
Length	191.0 in (4851 mm) (SWB) 204.3 in (5189 mm) (LWB)
Width	72.0 in (1829 mm)
Height	70.5 in (1791 mm) (SWB) 72.0 in (1829 mm) (LWB)
Fuel capacity	20 US gallons (75.7 L/16.7 imp gal)The extended wheel base model has a 25 gal. capacity
Related	Saturn Relay Buick Terraza Pontiac Montana SV6 Buick GL8 Buick Rendezvous Pontiac Aztek

Chevrolet Uplander LS SWB

The Chevrolet Uplander is a minivan introduced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors, replacing the Venture and Astro. Although introduced for the 2005 model year, it overlapped with the final model years of the Venture (on which the Uplander is heavily based) and Astro. It is built on the same platform as the Saturn Relay, Buick Terraza, and Pontiac Montana SV6. The van is built near Atlanta, Georgia. On November 21, 2005, GM announced that it would close the Doraville, Georgia assembly plant, which produces the Uplander, in late 2008.

Of the four vehicles sharing this platform, there are few differences. The most significant of these is the offering of an integrated child seat in the Uplander LS and that, in the U.S. market, the Uplander is offered in two wheelbases and a cargo version. Suggested retail price for the Uplander ranges from US$21,250–33,795, depending on options. The Uplander is exported to Canada, Chile, Mexico, and the Middle East.

The four minivans all share a common platform and come equipped with a standard MP3/CD player. The Uplander and its siblings are all similarly styled and try to hit the "crossover" vehicle styling with its elongated front fascia.

Year to year changes

2005: The Uplander was initially offered with 3.5 L High Value 3500 LX9 V6 that generates 200 hp (149 kW) and 220 ft·lbf (298 N·m).
2006: A 3.9 L LZ9 V6, with 240 hp (179 kW) and 240ft·lbf (332 Nm) torque, was added as an option.
2007: The 3.5 L V6 was dropped, leaving the 3.9 L as the base engine. Consequently, the optional AWD system was also dropped, since it could not handle the torque of the 3.9 L engine. A flex-fuel version of the 3.9 L V6 also became available for 2007.
2008: The Uplander's last year for the USA, although production continues in Canada until the 2009 model year, when General Motors will be closing the Doraville, Georgia plant where it is produced.

Safety

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Chevrolet Uplander has an improved crash test rating than its predecessor, the Venture. The Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay earned the highest rating of Good in the IIHS offset frontal crash test, but was rated only Poor and Acceptable in the IIHS side crash test with and without the optional side airbags, respectively.