2001 Pontiac Montana Pontiac Montana 2001 Pontiac Montana Regular 7-Passenger Minivan Wagon FWD Doraville, GA Updated styling and more feature content top the list of changes to the Montana for 2001, but perhaps most importantly, GM has figured out how to provide buyers with a third-row seat that flips and folds to create a flat load floor in extended-length models. New standard features include OnStar communications, power windows, a CD player and remote keyless entry. A rear parking aid sensor, power driver's side sliding door and a six-disc in-dash CD changer are new options. When you buy the available TV/VCP setup, you get a larger screen for 2001. Available eight-passenger seating, folding third-row seat (extended length models), optional rear parking aid sensor, spunky V6 and sporty handling. Weak offset crash-test scores, uncomfortable rear seats, cheap interior materials. Ever since it took on the Montana name and a pseudo-SUV marketing angle, Pontiac's fun-to-drive minivan has been gaining attention as a worthy challenger to its rivals. Like most other minivan makers, Pontiac offers a driver's-side sliding door, adding optional power activation for 2001. And Pontiac's minivan can accommodate eight-passenger seating, while other minivans cannot. Chrysler, Ford and Toyota vans feature removable third-row seats, but they're heavy suckers to unload. This year, Montana can be equipped with a handy folding back-row bench that creates a flat load floor when stowed. On top of these useful features, Montana buyers can even get a reverse parking aid sensor and a TV/VCP setup to make family life in the 'burbs more pleasant. For motivation, Montana features a 3.4-liter, 185-horsepower V6 that gets 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. Around town, Montana feels downright spunky, with good throttle response and car-like handling. Its four-speed automatic shifts seamlessly and braking is excellent for a 4,000-pound vehicle. Front seats are comfy, and controls are easy to see and use. In the safety column, dual front and side airbags are standard, as are antilock brakes and daytime running lights that operate the parking lamps rather than the headlights. Puncture-sealant type tires and a rear window defogger are standard, as is a ventilation system that features a replaceable pollen filter. OnStar communications is standard for 2001, making it easy to call for help should the need arise. Rear-seat audio controls can be had with uplevel radios or a CD unit, and extended-wheelbase models can be fitted with MontanaVision, a factory integrated rear-seat entertainment system that includes an overhead LCD monitor (larger for 2001), a VCP, and video-game inputs. New this year is an available in-dash six-CD changer. For soccer dads (and moms) who are sport sedan wannabes, there's an optional sport performance and handling package that offers upgraded tires on racy wheels, special storage and a sport-tuned suspension with automatic load leveling and traction control. Montana is, indeed, well packaged and versatile. But it isn't perfect. While the automatic sliding doors are great, they don't work exactly like a typical elevator door. Designed to reverse direction when they determine that an object is blocking the closure path, they need a stern reminder that you are in the way. Teach kids that they are, indeed, strong enough to push them back. Chevrolet Venture Dodge Caravan Ford Windstar Mazda MPV 336,000 336,000 336,000 6100,000 NA NA NA 6 3.4 liters V6 185 hp @ 5200 rpm 210 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm 120 cu.ft. NA 3500 lbs. 187.3 in. 72 in. 67.4 in. 3803 lbs. 112 in. 37.4 ft. NA 39.9 in. 38.9 in. 59.8 in. NA NA 64.3 in. 39.9 in. 36.9 in. 7 Standard Standard Not Available Standard Not Available Standard Not Available Rating = Good Rating = Average Very Good Very Good Poor Poor 20 gal. 19 mpg / 26 mpg 380 mi. / 520 mi. Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not. $23,417 $25,875 7.35% $640 N/A 3% of the Total MSRP REGULAR 6-PASSENGER VAN (4A): 3.4L V6 OHV SMPI 12-valve engine; 4-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter; 600 amp battery with run down protection; 105 amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 3.29 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear semi-independent torsion suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering with vehicle-speed-sensing assist; front disc/rear drum brakes with 4-wheel antilock brakes; 20 gal. capacity fuel tank; front license plate bracket, side impact bars; 4 doors with sliding left rear passenger door, sliding right rear passenger door, liftback rear cargo door; class I trailering; roof rack; front and rear black bumpers with rear step bumper; black bodyside cladding, rocker panel extensions; clearcoat lower accent two-tone paint; aero-composite halogen fully auto headlamps with daytime running lights; additional exterior lightsinclude front fog/driving lights; driver's and passenger's power remote black heated folding outside mirrors; 15" x 6" steel wheels; P215/70SR15 RWL self sealing A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, rear heat/AC ducts, air filter; AM/FM stereo radio, clock, seek-scan feature, single-disc CD player, 4 speakers, auto equalizer, window grid antenna; cruise control; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, child-safety rear door locks, power remote hatch/trunk release; 3 power accessory outlets, front lighter element(s), retained accessory power, driver's foot rest, smoker's package, emergency S.O.S. (OnStar); instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, water temp, battery, low oil level, low coolant, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, door ajar, trunk ajar, service interval; driver's and passenger's front airbags, driver's and front passenger's seat-mounted sideairbags; ignition disable, panic alarm, tracker system; deep tinted windows with driver's 1-touch down function, power 1/4 vent windows; variable intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, fixed interval rear wiper, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 6, front bucket seats with adjustable tilt headrests, driver and passenger armrests, driver's seat includes 6-way adjustment, passenger's seat includes 4-way adjustment; removable 2nd row seat reclining bucket seats with adjustable headrests; removable 3rd row reclining bucket seats with adjustable headrests; front height adjustable seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert with carpet lower, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats; interior lights include dome light with fade, front and rear reading lights, illuminated entry; sport steering wheel with tilt adjustment; vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full overhead console with storage, locking glovebox with light, front and rear cupholders, instrument panel covered bin, interior concealed storage, 2 seatback storage pockets, driver's and passenger's door bins, rear door bins, front underseat tray; carpeted cargo floor, carpeted cargo mats, cargo net, concealed cargo, cargo tie downs, cargo light; chrome grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles. REGULAR 7-PASSENGER VAN (4A) (in addition to or instead of REGULAR 6-PASSENGER VAN (4A) equipment): Seating capacity of 7; removable 2nd row reclining captain's seats with adjustable headrests; removable 50/50 folding 3rd row reclining split-bench seat with 3 adjustable headrests. EXTENDED VAN (4A) (in addition to or instead of REGULAR 7-PASSENGER VAN (4A) equipment): 25 gal. capacity fuel tank and rear heater. --2 Prado Leather Seat Trim $1,046 $1,175 1SA 1SA Equipment Group $0 $0 1SB 1SB Equipment Group $1,647 $1,820 ABE 8 Passenger Seating $0 $0 AG1 6-Way Power Driver Seat Adjuster $240 $270 D84 Two-Tone Paint $134 $150 K05 Engine Block Heater $31 $35 KA1 Heated Front Seats $174 $195 PH3 Wheels: 15" Sport Silver Painted Cast Aluminum $249 $280 R6M New Jersey Cost Surcharge $69 $0 U1Q Radio: AM/FM Stereo with CD, Cassette $89 $100 UC6 6 Disc In-Dash CD Changer $352 $395 UC6 6 Disc In-Dash CD Changer $263 $295 UK3 Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel $165 $185 UK6 Rear Seat Audio Controls with Headphone Jacks $111 $125 V92 Trailer Provisions (3,500 maximum lbs) $147 $165