Used 2017 Chevrolet City Express

The boxy American-sized van is giving way to something with a distinctly global flavor: the 2017 Chevrolet City Express van. Basically a Nissan NV200 with some Chevy styling cues, the City Express now puts Chevrolet in direct competition with the Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City. The City Express’ compact size makes it easier to maneuver in increasingly crowded urban settings, yet its tall profile provides a surprisingly large cargo bay for carrying everything from packages to toolboxes. With no passenger version, the Ford and Ram vans still have a leg up on the City Express, but for those needing a fuel-efficient, affordable van in a tidy size, Chevy’s 2017 City Express work van checks all the right boxes.

Chevy’s City Express van for 2017 is basically a Nissan NV200 with a redesigned nose and some shiny gold bow-tie logos. Because Chevrolet didn’t even modify the engine or suspension, the two vans ride and drive identically. On rutted city streets, the City Express remains fairly composed and its narrow girth and tight turning radius make it easy to maneuver in confined parking lots and one-way alleys. On the highway, the City Express remains confident and stable, although its little 131-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine can’t muster much more than 70 mph with any dispatch. After that, it takes all the little engine has to move the speedometer needle, a problem not found in the more powerful Ram ProMaster City and Ford Transit Connect. Both the Ram and Ford vans also post better highway gas mileage than the City Express, but can’t touch the Chevy’s 24-mpg city figure.

Utility is the name of the game inside the 2017 Chevy City Express van. 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 Chevy’s City Express for 2017 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 1LS and 1LT 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
With 122.7 cubic feet of space in its cargo bay, the 2017 City Express work van can accommodate all manner of material, from bulky boxes to a standard plywood sheet to bolt-in shelving and tool racks.

TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
Available on the 1LT trim, the Technology Package brings Color Connected radio with navigation, a USB port, SiriusXM satellite radio and a rearview monitor.

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 glove box, and the driver-information screen on the dash shows fuel range, oil life, average speed and tire-pressure monitoring. The 1LT trim adds Bluetooth, cruise control, two 12-volt outlets, rear parking sensors, keyless entry plus heated and power-adjustable mirrors.

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 1LT models that adds navigation and a rearview monitor among other things. Cruise control, a rear-window defogger and rear-park assist are all optionally available on the 1LS. Note that rear seats are not available, as the City Express is a cargo-only model.

There’s only one drivetrain configuration for the 2017 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 anti-lock, 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

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.