While the rest of the big van market moves to Euro-based body-on-frame vans with high roofs and small engines, Chevrolet continues on with their body-on-frame, big-engined van. It's the 23rd year for the express, and it's been 16 years since the last major update to Chevy's passenger and cargo hauler.
It does see some big changes for 2018, especially under the hood. The base 4.8L Vortec V8 is being replaced by an all-new V6. The 4.3L EcoTec V6 shares a displacement with the V6 that was in the big vans years ago, but this is an all-new engine. It's based on the latest V8s, but with two cylinders cut off. The new engine is rated for 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque.
Midway through the 2017 model year, Chevy added a 2.8L four-cylinder diesel, the one from the Colorado, in place of the old 6.6L V8 oil-burner. That diesel makes 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. New for the V6 and the diesel is an eight-speed automatic transmission. Either of those engines, combined with the new gearbox, should offer a significant boost to fuel economy. That's a big deal for the fleet customers who buy the lion's share of these vans.
All Express vans now get a rearview camera with the monitor mounted in the mirror. Blind spot alerts and hill start assist are also added. Configurations get simplified for the passenger models, as the eight and 10-passenger models go away for 2018.
Passenger express models now come in 2500 extended, and 3500 in regular and extended wheelbase. LS and LT trims are available. LS comes with vinyl seats, and the V6. The diesel is optional, as is a 6.0L V8. Cloth seats are optional, as is a carpeted floor and auxiliary rear heat and AC. LT trim adds cloth front bucket seats, keyless entry, full carpeting, rear AC, cruise control, and tilt steering as standard. 3500 models are equipped the same way, but can haul and tow more weight.
On the cargo van side, 2500 and 3500 models are both available in regular or long-wheelbase. They come only in WT trim, which means vinyl seats, AC, power windows, and that's about it. These are low-option vehicles designed for moving from jobsite to jobsite, and are low on creature comforts. What they can do is tow up to 4,536 kg. That's higher than the Euro-vans like the Ford Transit and Dodge Promaster, and higher than the other body-on-frame van, the Nissan NV.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
