The Van Forums
General Van Discussion => General Van Discussion => General => Topic started by: David on March 25, 2010, 07:54:45 PM
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The Chevrolet Express was first introduced in 1997 taking the place of the appropriately named Chevy Van. It is Chevy’s current full sized no frills cargo and passenger van offering that is fully customizable inside and out although not by Chevrolet for the most part. Over the years the Chevy Van changed little since it’s introduction in 1970 having only minor adjustments to sheet metal and limited engine offerings. So when Chevy decided to completely overhaul the full-size van they decided to change it’s name as well. The newly designed and named Chevrolet Express van was the Chevy vans first major overhaul in three decades and helped Chevy out sale its competition and in effect rejuvenate the van industry.
The newly designed 1997 Express had a more ergonomic body style along with a variety of optimized engines that propelled it past its nearest van competitor the Ford Econoline Series. The functionality of the Chevrolet Express van made it popular almost immediately. It is a hard working vehicle that can be used for many different things yet still be fairly affordable to operate. When you add in the fact that there are numerous conversion van companies out there the possibilities are endless.
The next substantial update to the Chevrolet Express van happened with the 2003 model. The biggest news for the 2003 model was the availability of all-wheel drive. Chevy also offered a bigger selection of V8 engines than they had in previous years. That combined with some interior and exterior enhancements made the 2003 Express van a very usable work van. These upgrades played a major roll in helping the Express van continue its dominance over its competitors.
Similar to the Chevy Trucks the Express van is available in three trim levels which are the 1500 or half-ton, 2500 or 3/4 ton and 3500 or 1-ton. The 1500 comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 (295 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque) while the 2500s and 3500s have as their standard engine the 6.0-liter V8 (300 hp and 360 lb-ft). Both engines come paired to a four-speed automatic transmission. The 3500 features stability control, while the 1500 can be had with the afore mentioned all-wheel drive. The 3500 is also available with an extended wheelbase that allows for a 15 passenger capacity. Every Express van can be different so depending on which trim level, features and options that were ordered will determine how many passengers an Express van can carry.
An update for 2008 provided an upgraded cabin as well as standard stability control and standard head-curtain side-impact air bags. The stability control feature is called StabiliTrak and it helps improve stability particularly on slick surfaces and during emergency maneuvers. StabiliTrak consists of a control module that compares your steering input with the vans actual steering arc and then, if necessary, makes quick, individual brake applications to enhance control and keep the driver on track. StabiliTrak automatically intervenes when it senses wheel slippage, understeer (plowing) or oversteer (fishtailing) by applying brake pressure and, if necessary, adjusting engine torque to help the driver get the vehicle back on track.
In reality the Chevrolet Express van is ideally setup for cargo and utility but can also be made into a luxury conversion van capable of carrying up to 9 passengers in total comfort. With the ability to keep its contents dry and even locked up if need be there is little argument that it can be an essential part of any work site. Or you can get a Chevrolet Express Conversion Van and throw in the optional high-top and fold-down third-row seat that turns into a bed so that your passengers can stand up, move around, and even lie down. All this adds up to make the Chevy Express Van one of the most useful vehicles around.