Oldsmobile Silhouette II 3.4 V6 (182 Hp)


Overall Rating

6.2 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.0 / 5
Value 3.5 / 5
Performance 2.5 / 5
Comfort 3.5 / 5
People\'s Opinion 2.3 / 5

Oldsmobile Silhouette:

The Oldsmobile Silhouette is a minivan manufactured by General Motors for model years 1990–2004 over two generations.
Production ended when General Motors discontinued its Oldsmobile brand in 2004. GM continued to market badge-engineered variants of the U-body minivans, the Saturn Relay and the Buick Terraza from model years 2005 to 2007.
General Motors' first attempt at producing a minivan to compete with the Chrysler minivans—the rear-wheel-drive, truck-based Chevrolet Astro and its twin, the GMC Safari—failed to compete strongly against Chrysler's dominance in the minivan market in the 1980s. The 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette and its sibling models sold more successfully than the Astro/Safari predecessors....(Read more on Wikipedia)

II Overview:

Oldsmobile Silhouette (II). With 279 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1690 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 11 s). The top speed reaches 190 km/h. A spacious vehicle designed to transport passengers comfortably, often with sliding doors. With seating for 7, it’s perfect for larger families.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Oldsmobile Silhouette II was primarily a North American market vehicle and was not tested by Euro NCAP. US safety ratings (NHTSA) would be more relevant for this model.

3.4 V6 (182 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

Provides sufficient power for general family duties, offering a smooth but not particularly quick driving experience, typical for a minivan.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is comparable to other FWD 3.4L V6 minivans of the period, offering adequate efficiency for its size and purpose.

Best Use Case: Everyday family commuting, school runs, and light road trips.

reddit Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 33% Neutral: 0% Issues: 67%
rating
2.3 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 6 discussions

Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
There’s some good options hiding amongst all the mediocrity. For me it’s between the Impala, the Camaro and (if in SSEi trim) the Bonneville
👍 POSITIVE
Roadmaster wagon, Impala SS and/or a two door Tahoe.
👎 NEGATIVE
Stereotypes are awful but damn this is the car that without fail I always see *at least* one of while driving through the hood
👎 NEGATIVE
This is what we call a NO trick pony. It's not cool, not quick, not safe, not well made, not spacious, not economical, not luxurious, not a good off-roader, not a good ride... It's just not good at *anything*!
👎 NEGATIVE
God. I worked for a small used car dealership back in the early 2000's and I remember getting some of these in from auctions. They were the most boring and meh SUV I have ever been in. The only thing worse was the Oldsmobile silhouette.
👎 NEGATIVE
Oof, I had this cars sibling for my first car for 5 years. I'm really surprised how much hate the Oldsmobile gets because you still see Jimmy, and Blazers driving around all the time where I live.


Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Spacious and versatile interior with flexible seating
  • • Comfortable and smooth ride quality, ideal for long trips
  • • Available All-Wheel Drive (AWD) for improved traction
  • • Good value on the used car market
  • • Decent highway cruiser

Cons:

  • • Uninspired performance and leisurely acceleration
  • • Dated interior design and materials by modern standards
  • • Average fuel economy for its class
  • • Some known engine issues, particularly intake manifold gaskets
  • • Limited advanced safety features compared to newer vehicles

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Silhouette: 1992 - 1996).

General:
Brand:Oldsmobile
Model:Silhouette
Generation:II
Modification (Engine):3.4 V6 (182 Hp)
Start of production:1996
End of production:2000
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Minivan
Seats:7
Doors:4
Engine:
Power:182 Hp @ 5200 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:54.3 Hp/l [173mm less]
Torque:279 Nm @ 4000 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:LA1 More details about the engine LA1
Engine displacement:3350
Number of cylinders:6
Engine configuration:V-engine
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:4.3 l
Coolant:9.1 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:92 mm mm
Piston Stroke:84 mm mm
Compression ratio:9.5:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:13.1 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:9.4 l/100 km
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:11 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:11 sec
Maximum speed:190 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:9.3 kg/Hp, 107.7 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:6.1 kg/Nm, 165.1 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:10.5 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:1690
Trunk (boot) space - maximum:3585 l
Fuel tank capacity:76 l
Size:
Length:4760 mm mm [173mm less]
Width:1835 mm mm [40mm less]
Height:1710 mm mm [40mm more]
Wheelbase:2845 mm mm [57mm more]
Front track:1560 mm
Rear (Back) track:1610 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size205/70 R15
Front suspensionSpring Strut
Rear suspensionTorsion

Every driver has a story. What’s yours with the Oldsmobile Silhouette?