2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

This upscale version of the Chevrolet Venture and Pontiac Montana comes in a single body length, equivalent to the extended-length Chevy and Pontiac. GL, GLS, and top-line Premiere Edition models are offered. Premiere has a rear-seat video entertainment system. All Silhouettes have dual sliding side doors with power operation available on one or both sides, depending on model. Front bucket seats and two 2nd-row captain's chairs are standard. The 3rd row can be fitted with two captains chairs or a 3-passenger bench. The 3rd-row bench in GLS and Premiere models folds flush with a floor-level storage tray. All models have a V6 engine, automatic transmission, ABS, front side airbags, a load-leveling suspension, and General Motors' OnStar assistance system. Traction control is optional on GL, standard on the others. A rear obstacle detection system is standard on the Premiere, optional elsewhere. Note: the Oldsmobile brand is being phased out over the next few years. Silhouette's performance and accommodations mirror those of similarly equipped Ventures.

COMPETITION

Though the competition has heated up, we feel that the new Dodge Caravan is still one of the best minivans you can buy. It offers all of the creature comforts in a pleasing package at a fair price. Our other Best Buy is the Honda Odyssey. It's a little bit smaller than the Dodge, but more sporty to drive, and it has a super-convenient flip-and-fold-away rear seat.

Trailing at a close second are the Recommended Chevy Venture, Ford Windstar, and Toyota Sienna. Though these vans are comparably priced and offer loads of neat features, we feel they can't match the road manners of our two Best Buys. Also garnering Recommended ratings are the Chrysler Town & Country and Chrysler Voyager. Though they are mechanically similar to the class-leading Caravan, they don't offer the breadth of model choices.