While I enjoyed driving the regular wheelbase van more, it's difficult to argue against the added cargo room the extended
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| It's difficult to argue against the added cargo room the extended Uplander offers. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Uplander offers. When this layout is chosen a rear cargo hold featuring two lidded bins sits level to the rear seatbacks when folded forward. The lids are carpeted, just like the backs of the seats, making for a soft, rattle free surface for stowing what-have-you. Those 50/50 divided seatbacks fold forward easily too, although I found it difficult to get both sides evenly flat without pulling one down from inside. Throwing some cargo on top solves this problem, of course, so it's a moot point really. I also liked the fact that the third row headrests didn't have to be removed in order to stow the seats, reducing effort while eliminating what could otherwise be potentially dangerous projectiles in case of an accident. I overhead some complaints that GM's third row seating system wasn't as slick as that on Chrysler Group's 2005 long wheelbase Caravan and Town & Country, nor those offered by the Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Mazda MPV, Nissan Quest or Toyota Sienna. These rivals feature deep wells behind their rear seats, which hold tremendous amounts of cargo when not filled with the folded rear seat. Lifting that cargo in and out can be challenging, however, a point GM staffers were quick to point out. Instead, the
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| GM's third row seating system isn't as slick as that on Chrysler Group's 2005 long wheelbase Caravan and Town & Country. Here, seen in regular wheelbase guise, the handy double compartment isn't available and very little storage room can be had behind the seats. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Uplander requires the operator to hoist cargo a half foot or so higher than the regular load floor, which should actually be about level to where most people carry heavy loads as it is. Therefore, it might be an ideal system as long as what you're trying to load isn't any taller than the abbreviated interior height. If all fails, the seats and cargo bins can be removed. The second row doesn't fold into the floor like Chrysler's or forward like those in the Nissan Quest or Toyota Sienna, but rather the seatbacks flip-and-fold forward making a flat surface to load longer items on. While vertical space is limited, information GM gathered through focus groups led the automaker to believe that most users didn't need the flexibility of a tumble under second row. Only time and future sales numbers will tell if their focus groups were right.
