1998 Oldsmobile Bravada Driving Impressions Review at Automotive.com
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1998 Oldsmobile Bravada Review: Road Test

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1998 Oldsmobile Bravada Review

Toughness in a tuxedo.
Driving Impressions
Driving the Bravada in an urban setting is in many respects no different than piloting an Intrigue or any other

6-cylinder Oldsmobile. The seating position is higher, of course, which is beneficial in terms of seeing what's

going on around you, but steering and braking required no more effort than their sedan counterparts. A turning

circle only slightly larger than that of most passenger cars aids maneuverability

The Bravada is equally at home on the highway. It is still relatively effortless to drive and has a softer than

normal ride. The brake pedal is mushy, a common trait among General Motors trucks and sport-utilities.

Performance from the V6 engine is good, and there is adequate power in reserve for carrying a full load. In a

few instances during our test, we wished for a V8 option, which would be helpful when ascending steep grades with

a heavy load. But more power would increase fuel consumption, and that's one of the negatives of SUV ownership.

Our test gas mileage was slightly below expectations at 17 mpg, but included more off-pavement driving than most

Bravadas would face. When equipped with the towing package as our test vehicle was, the Bravada can pull a loaded

trailer weighing up to 5000 pounds.

We took our test Bravada on an all-day excursion through the Southern California desert on a run just beyond the capabilities of a front-drive passenger car. The SmartTrak system, which engages all-wheel drive instantaneously and unobtrusively when needed, performed as advertised, and there was plenty of traction available for crossing rocky ground and sand washes. Attempts to bog the Bravada down were unsuccessful, though we caution against trying this away from sources of aid; the absence of a low range of gears in the transfer case makes wading through deep sand, snow or mud an exercise in caution. Next Page



1998 Oldsmobile Bravada