Used 2016 Chevrolet City Express

American urban and suburban roads are taking on a distinctly European flavor thanks to the growing popularity of compact work vans, such as the 2016 Chevrolet City Express. Sharing its architecture, drivetrain and suspension with the Nissan NV200, the City Express joins the Nissan and other compact vans like the Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City as alternatives to the bulkier and more expensive full-size vans that used to dominate the marketplace. While this is strictly a work van — there is no passenger or "wagon" version like with the Ford Transit Connect — it’s worth a look if your business needs a small, flexible, cargo-friendly vehicle with a nice big white space on the side for advertising.

The 2016 Chevrolet City express is essentially a Nissan NV200 with a Chevy-specific nose and name. So it’s no surprise that the way the little Chevy drives is basically identical to the Nissan. The ride stays composed on rough city streets, tight alleyways or cruising down the highway. On the highway, the City Express has a built-in speed limiter, in that if you try to go over 70 mph the little 2.0-liter 4-cylinder just can’t give the van much more oomph, at least, not without excessive droning. But so what? This is an urban and suburban work van, with tons of cargo space, easy maneuverability, and while its little engine may not be a powerhouse, it’s exceptionally fuel-efficient, which will bring long-term savings in any company’s fleet.

Utility is the name of the game inside the Chevy City Express. The interior is awash in hard plastics, which are durable and easy to clean. Likewise, the 6-way-adjustable seats give you a commanding view of the road, and they’re upholstered in durable and easy-to-clean vinyl. And there are storage nooks everywhere. A pencil tray and laptop storage are located in the center console, and there’s a sliding drawer situated under the front-passenger seat for even more storage.

The biggest styling difference between the City Express and the Nissan NV200 is the Chevy-specific nose and badging on the former. Otherwise they’re very similar, sporting the stubby nose, upright windshield and high-looking roof that have come to define this class of vehicle. It’s available in the usual Chevrolet LS and LT models, with the latter offering access to more options, such as the aforementioned Technology Package. An Appearance Package available on both paints the mirrors and bumpers the same color as the rest of the van, as well as the door handles.

CARGO AREA
There’s 122.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the Chevy City Express, meaning there’s more than enough room for shelving, large or bulky items, or for even a standard-size wood pallet.

TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
The $945 Technology Package adds extras like a USB port, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Sirius XM radio, and a touch-screen infotainment and navigation screen. Luxury features? Maybe, but considering how much time City Express drivers will spend in their vans, features like Bluetooth and navigation quickly become necessities.

The Chevrolet City Express is about as bare-bones as you can get these days. Power windows and door locks are standard, as are an easy-to-clean vinyl floor and a rear cargo mat. The rear doors are solid, there’s a locking glovebox, and the driver information screen on the dash shows fuel range, oil life, average speed and tire-pressure monitoring.

Multiple configurations exist for the City Express, including things like glass panels on the side doors and side panels instead of solid metal. Other options include the Technology Package on LT models that adds Bluetooth and navigation among other things. Cruise control, a rear-window defogger and rear park assist are all optionally available. Note that rear seats are not available, as the City Express is a cargo-only model.

There’s only one drivetrain configuration for the 2016 Chevrolet City Express: a 2.0-liter inline-4 cylinder engine that sends 131 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. This Nissan-supplied drivetrain works out to some good fuel-economy ratings, with the City Express getting a combined rating of 25 mpg from the EPA. In the real world, that 131 horsepower is put to work hauling 3,200 pounds, so it’s not too surprising that it struggles at speeds higher than 70 mph. Traction control and antilock, front disc/rear drum brakes bring the City Express down to a halt in a controlled manner.

2.0-liter inline-4 cylinder engine
131 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
139 lb-ft of torque @ 4,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/26 mpg