Used 2022 Chevrolet Express

The Chevrolet Express is a van with truck-like capabilities. Available with a V6, V8, or turbo-diesel inline-4, the Express is up for some heavy lifting with impressive towing and payload capacities. If you’re hauling a big crew, the passenger van variant can carry up to 15 people. There’s also a cutaway option that’s highly customizable for your business.

We can’t ignore the fact that this big Chevrolet van has been in the same generation since the 1996 model year. Depending on what you’re looking for, that could be good or bad. If you’re looking for a van with modern tech features, a car-like ride, and a wide variety of body configurations, you’ll want to check out the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

However, if you like the idea of an old-school, body-on-frame work van with an available V8, the Chevy Express is one of the only vans of its kind left. Its closes rival mechanically is the Nissan NV, which is another affordable choice in this class.

The Chevrolet Express is a van that drives like a truck. This is a familiar driving experience for anyone who has spent much time driving a traditional pickup truck or an old-school work van like the Ford Econoline of the past.

All three available engines deliver confident power and impressive capabilities. The standard V6 is a trusty engine with a satisfying balance of power, efficiency, and capability. The available turbo-diesel delivers plentiful torque and excellent fuel economy. The 6.6-liter V8 has gobs of power, and it’s one of the only V8 engines available in this class. You can’t go wrong with any of these engines.

The Express isn’t the most agile van on city streets. There’s noticeable body roll in sharp turns and, in general, this van is pretty cumbersome compared to more modern rivals. If you’ll be doing a lot of long-distance highway driving, the Express is a comfortable cruiser.

The Chevy Express hasn’t gotten a major refresh since 2003, and that’s noticeable on the inside. It’s gotten some incremental updates over the years, like an updated radio with optional Bluetooth and a standard backup camera, but it still feels like an old van on the inside. If you’re not looking for frills in your work van, this won’t bother you a bit. However, most rivals of the Express like the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have much more modern interiors.

You get two standard front seats in the cargo van, and there’s an available 5-seat configuration. In the passenger van, seating for 12 is standard, which can go up to 15 in the long-wheelbase model. Seating in the back of the passenger van is reasonably roomy and comfortable by work van standards.

Don’t expect anything fancy in this interior. There are no heated or ventilated seats, no leather seating option, and no modern infotainment tech like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The LT trim of the passenger van adds some creature comforts like standard cloth upholstery and carpeted flooring rather than vinyl, but that’s about as luxurious as it gets.

The 2022 Chevrolet Express has three basic variants: a cargo van, a passenger van, and a cutaway. There are two wheelbases available and only one roof height. With the extended wheelbase, the Express is about the same size as the recently discontinued Nissan NV.

The cargo van and passenger van are pretty self-explanatory. The cargo van comes standard with two front seats, no back seats, and no rear side windows. There’s a 5-seat configuration available, which adds rear windows.

The passenger van has standard seating for up to 12 and optional 15-passenger seating in the extended-wheelbase model.

The cutaway variant has a ladder frame and a wide opening in the back of the cab, but there’s no chassis cab option with a fully enclosed cab. If you’re looking for a chassis cab, consider the Chevy Silverado HD chassis cab.

The styling of the Chevy Express is pretty subtle. It looks like a no-nonsense work van, which is exactly what it is. You can add some flair by adding a chrome appearance package, which is standard on the LT trim of the passenger van.

DURAMAX DIESEL
The available Duramax turbo-diesel engine gives the Chevy Express satisfying torque and great fuel economy for a full-size van.

6.6-LITER V8
The Express is one of the only vans in its class available with a good old-fashioned V8 under the hood.

The standard features in the Chevrolet Express are pretty sparse. The cargo trim is only available in the WT trim, which includes air conditioning, an AM/FM radio with an aux jack, six cargo tie-downs, power windows, power door locks, a driver information center, a vinyl floor, vinyl seats, OnStar with Wi-Fi hotspot capability, a 120-volt power outlet, a backup camera, and two bucket seats.

The base LS trim of the passenger van is equipped similarly to the cargo van but adds seating for up to 12, rear windows, and rear air conditioning.

Some option packages available for the Express include a Driver Convenience Package with a tilt steering wheel and cruise control, a Communications Package with SiriusXM, Bluetooth, a USB port, and steering wheel controls, and a Safety Package with rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring, and an Enhanced Convenience Package with remote keyless entry, remote start, and heavy-duty trailering equipment.

There’s an Express Crew Van package available for the cargo van, which adds 5-passenger seating.

Upgrading to the LT trim of the passenger van adds a deluxe center console with swing-out storage bin, a color-keyed carpeted floor, cloth seats, a chrome appearance package, remote keyless entry, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and an anti-theft system.

An extended wheelbase is available for both the cargo van and passenger van. In the passenger van with the extended wheelbase, you can add an extra row of seats bringing the seating capacity up to 15. The cutaway model has three wheelbases available.

The base engine in the Chevy Express is a respectable 4.3-liter V6. This is a capable V6 with a max tow rating of 7,400 pounds and a payload rating of up to 4,280 pounds when properly equipped.

There’s an available 6.6-liter V8 producing 401 horsepower, and a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel inline-4 that generates 369 pound-feet of torque. The diesel also makes this big van pretty fuel-efficient. The Duramax is not available for the cutaway model.

The V6 and the diesel use an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the V8 is linked to a 6-speed automatic.

Every Chevy Express is rear-wheel drive. Unfortunately, there is no all-wheel-drive option for this van. If you must have AWD, consider the Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

4.3-liter V6
276 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
298 lb-ft of torque @ 3,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

2.8-liter turbocharged diesel inline-4
181 horsepower @ 3,400 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

6.6-liter V8
401 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
464 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A