Review
Introduction
Ford and Chevrolet are the only U.S. companies that still build their own full-size vans—the Dodge Sprinter is a rebadged Mercedes-Benz van. Of the two domestic vans, the Chevrolet Express and its sister ship, the GMC Savana, are newer designs than are the Ford E-series vans.
The GM vans drive like, well, vans, but they do offer a decent ride; subdued noise, vibration, and harshness; and a variety of excellent powertrain choices compared with the competition. Like the Ford E-series, the GM vans are available in a dizzying array of configurations from baseball-team hauler to delivery van to school bus. GM even offers cutaway (cab only) versions that can be converted to shuttle buses and recreational vehicles. Unlike the Ford vans, the GM vans can be had with all-wheel drive in a regular-duty passenger version. Three different versions from regular duty to heavy duty (regular-duty 1500, mid-level 2500, and heavy-duty 3500) are available in both cargo and passenger versions.
Chevrolet offers five gasoline engines in the Express and one diesel engine. The base engine in nonpassenger Express vans is a 4.3-liter V-6 with 190 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Two versions of a 4.8-liter V-8 are also exclusive to the commercial set—one with 258 horsepower and another with 279 horsepower. Regular-duty (1500 series) passenger-hauling Expresses get a 5.3-liter V-8 (also available on cargo vans) with 301 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. A 6.0-liter V-8 with 323 horsepower and 373 pound-feet of torque is standard in 3500-series heavy-duty passenger vans and optional on cargo versions. Heavy-duty cargo vans can also be equipped with a 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V-8 with 250 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
The only major competitors to the Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana are the Sprinter and the E-series.
Verdict
The Express and the Savana stand out in the full-size-van segment owing to the excellent powertrain choices, relative refinement, and available all-wheel drive. They offer a stupefying array of options in the commercial version. The passenger-hauling versions aren’t as intimidating to equip, and they stand apart from their competition thanks to a decent amount of refinement.
Click here to read our full review of the Chevrolet Express.
What’s New for 2008
For 2008, the big news is an all-new interior for the Express. The interior makeover includes a new steering wheel and new materials for the cloth seats, headlight switch, HVAC dials, radio, window switches, and instrument cluster. A revised passenger-side airbag is also new.
