GMC Envoy I (GMT330) gallery (1998–2000)
The first standalone generation of the mid-size luxury SUV GMC Envoy built on the body-on-frame GMT330 platform.
The first generation of the GMC Envoy debuted for the 1998 model year as an upscale, luxury-oriented five-passenger mid-size SUV based on the GMT330 truck platform. Created to offer a more premium alternative to the standard GMC Jimmy, the Envoy featured upgraded interior materials with leather upholstery, Zebrano wood trim accents, Bose premium audio system, and heated front seats. Power came from a durable 4.3-liter Vortec V6 engine producing 190 horsepower, mated to a four-speed 4L60-E automatic transmission. The Envoy was equipped exclusively with the Autotrac full-time four-wheel-drive system and an auto-leveling rear air suspension setup. Visually, the model was distinguished by aerodynamic body cladding, unique 15-inch aluminum wheels, and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, which were rare in this segment at the time. The generation was marketed across North America through 2000 before taking a brief hiatus ahead of the launch of the second-generation platform.