The Oldsmobile Silhouette is a minivan produced and marketed by General Motors from 1990 to 2004 in two generations. Unfortunately, General Motors stopped the model's production when they discontinued the Oldsmobile brand in 2004.
History of Oldsmobile Silhouette
Oldsmobile Silhouette First Generation (1990 - 1996)
In the summer of 1989, General Motors began the production of a line of single-volume, roomy, front-wheel-drive minivans with an aluminum chassis and plastic bodywork. Pontiac Trans Sport and Chevrolet Lumina APV were twins of the Oldsmobile Silhouette. Each automobile had the same body apart from bumpers and other outside details. The Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan were designed to challenge them. When the concept automobile first appeared, many were taken aback because it had made it to the production line in virtually unaltered shape. The Silhouette had a capacity for seven people, with five lightweight rear seats that customers could configure and remove independently. Built-in child seats were introduced to the options list in 1994, allowing two rear seats to be switchable between adult and child sitting with the simple pull of a seat-mounted button. The first-generation models of Silhouette were not available in Canada. Indeed, Europeans who had become used to stylish minivans like the Renault Espace didn't refer to the "dustbuster" look. They made this choice based on sales. Therefore, the European version would maintain the original appearance. Pontiac badging and wheels were added to the Oldsmobile Silhouette, starting with the 1994 model vehicle. Sales in Europe were strong for American imports, but there was not enough volume to create an economically feasible fourth, separate model.
Oldsmobile Silhouette Second Generation (1997 - 2004)
Oldsmobile's design staff claimed victory over the first generation of the compact family van with the launching of the Silhouette in 1996. Compared to the original Silhouette, the second generation's sleek body shell made it significantly more pleasing to the eye. Both three-door and four-door versions of the car were offered, with a 3.4L V6 engine that wasn't incredibly fuel-efficient. General Motors' longest-lived MPV, the Silhouette, was discontinued in 2004, yet it is still in use today.
Price
Oldsmobile sold the Oldsmobile Silhouette with a price tag of $28,465 ($42,752 in 2022) for the GL (base) trim, $32,125 ($48,249 in 2022) for the GLS trim, and $34,185 ($51,343 in 2022) for the Premiere trim.
Features
Interior Features of Oldsmobile Silhouette
Inside the Silhouette, two bucket seats in the front and two captain's seats in the middle row. A stable bench with a floor-mounted enclosed luggage tray can be used in the third row, as can a three-passenger bench seat. The GLS and Premiere versions have standard leather seat upholstery, a dual-zone climate control system, and an eight-way power seat with the driver's memory. There is a total of 141.9 cubic feet of cargo space. A remote keyless entry system and GM's OnStar communication system are included in all trim levels.
Exterior Features of Oldsmobile Silhouette
All Silhouettes have a 120-inch (3,048) wheelbase, are 68.1 inches (1,729.74 mm) tall, and have a total length of 201.4 inches (5,115.56) significantly longer than the Dodge Grand Caravan. Sliding doors on both sides and a rear swing-up liftgate are standard on the Silhouette. A power-operated passenger door is standard on the GLS and Premiere versions, whereas it is an option on the GL. On the GLS, a power opening for the driver's side is optional, while it comes standard on the Premiere. Standard features for the Oldsmobile Silhouette include anti-lock brakes, side-impact airbags, daytime running lights, electronic brakeforce distribution, front seatbelt pretensioners, a remote anti-theft alarm system, 4-wheel abs, and traction control. The base trim also has standard features like four speakers, a radio data system, separate rear audio, and an AM/FM stereo. Safety standard features include a cargo net, cruise control, front door pockets, cup holders for each row, a power steering, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, a universal remote transmitter, front and rear reading lights, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, rear floor mats, and a zone front air conditioning.
More standard features for the Oldsmobile Silhouette are as follows:
- One-Touch Power Windows
- Remote Keyless Power Door Locks
- Heated Mirrors
- Power Mirrors
Specs
The Oldsmobile Silhouette engine delivers 185 hp (138 kW) at 5,200 rpm and 155 lb-ft (210 Nm) at 4,000 rpm of torque. The Oldsmobile Silhouette accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 11.4 seconds with a top speed of 118 mph (190 kph) and a curb weight of 3,948 lbs (1,791 kg). Oldsmobile offered the second-generation Silhouette in three different trims: GL, GLS, and Premiere. The company sold the model as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with a 4-speed automatic gearbox powered by a 3.4L V6 engine.
Release Date
On August 1, 1989, Oldsmobile released the Oldsmobile Silhouette, and it was discontinued on March 31, 2004.