It's been a while since full-size vans were cool. Go back a little over 20 years, and you might remember an ever-so-short renaissance of the full-size people-mover. Toss some shag carpet and a frosty rainbow paint job on the family van, and you were top dog in the high school parking lot.
Then along came the '80s and the birth of the minivan. Personality was out, practicality was in. The dated designs of full-size vans relegated them to use as airport shuttles and church wagons. GM sought to change that image when it redesigned its biggest vans in 1996. Renamed the Chevrolet Express (Savana in GMC guise), the new design incorporated features that families expected while maintaining the workhorse capability that businesses required.
For 2001, the Express was given another shot in the arm with the introduction of the LT trim level. This new model adds a host of interior and exterior upgrades that give the Express a more comfortable cabin environment along with a more stylish look on the outside.
We ordered one up for a test drive to see just how far these living rooms on wheels have come. Having gleaned plenty of experience in family transportation from our recent minivan comparison test, we were curious to see how this new and improved Express would stack up.
Upon first seeing our Light Pewter Metallic tester, we couldn't help but gawk over its size. At over 6.5-feet tall, it barely squeezed into our parking structure. With a length of over 19 feet, standard parking spaces are barely enough to contain it.
The LT features a monochrome exterior that adds a color-keyed grille, door handles and side moldings for a cleaner overall look. Sharp 15-inch brushed aluminum wheels and integrated foglights also come standard to give the LT a more upscale appearance.
Getting in requires a bit of a climb. The driver's doorway is narrow, and the seat sits exceptionally high. The LT adds standard six-way power seats for both the driver and front passenger along with a tilt steering column that makes finding a comfortable position easy. Once situated, the seats are supportive, if not a little on the soft side, and the view of the road is exceptional.
With a hood that extends barely more than a couple feet in front of the windshield, driving the Express can be a little unnerving at first. Once you get used to the unusual dimensions, however, maneuvering and parking the big van is surprisingly easy. With a turning circle of 45 feet (that's 7 feet wider than a Honda Odyssey), you can count on plenty of multi-point turns, but the light steering and huge side mirrors go a long way toward making the Express more parking-lot friendly.
Handling at higher speeds is a little more of a challenge, as the tall profile makes for plenty of lean in the corners. The suspension does an admirable job of controlling the big van's movements, but there's minimal, if any, feel for the road. Potholes are filtered out with little intrusion to the cabin, but it's bouncy over dips and bumps. The long wheelbase makes for a smooth ride on the highway, and road noise is surprisingly low for a vehicle with such brick-like aerodynamics.
The only engine available on the Express LT is the tried-and-true 5.7-liter V8. With 255 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, there's plenty of muscle to get the Express going in just about any type of situation. With a maximum tow rating of 6,600 pounds, the LT can tow more than most midsize SUVs. The standard four-speed automatic overdrive transmission provides crisp, clean gear changes and surprisingly quick downshifts. With an EPA fuel economy rating of 13 city/17 highway, the LT isn't going to win any environmental friendliness awards, but what do you expect from a 5,000-pound V8-equipped vehicle?
Besides, the Express isn't built for those looking for the best of both worlds. This is a van for families who want the ultimate in passenger comfort. To that end, the LT features standard second-row captain's chairs, dual flip-down monitors, a VCR, video game player docking station, rear-seat climate controls and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Our test model also added the optional Leather Seating package.
To say that the Express LT seats seven comfortably is an understatement of epic proportions. Sit in either of the second-row captain's chairs and you can't touch the front seats if you try. The third-row bench might be a little tight on hip room for three people, but with legroom galore, it hardly seems cramped. The only tight spots are the driver's and front passenger's footwells, which are intruded upon by the massive center console.
Not only will the rear-seat occupants not mind sitting in back, they'll probably prefer it. The dual flip down screens are easy to see, and the wireless headphones included with the system allow second-row passengers to enjoy a movie on the front screen while third-row riders can play video games on the rear screen. If everybody is up for a movie, the Bose audio system delivers terrific sound throughout the cabin.
Another useful feature is the ability to reconfigure or completely remove the second- and third-row seats. Take out one chair up front for easier access through the side doors or remove the third row entirely for a truly monstrous cargo area. The seats aren't exactly feather-light, but one strong person can remove and reinstall them without much trouble.
Needless to say, if your family numbers seven or fewer, the Express LT offers one of the most comfortable and entertaining (for the rear passengers, that is) cabins available anywhere. Between the multiple-screen video system and the cavernous interior, you won't be hearing "Are we there yet?" until well into a long trip. Leather seats might be a little extravagant for younger families, but older kids will love drifting off to sleep in the well-padded captain's chairs.
There's certainly a price you pay for all this comfort. With a base price of $35,695, the Express LT isn't cheap, by any means. Add to that the additional cost of its less-than-spectacular mileage, and this probably isn't the van you want for your everyday grocery getter. But then again, our long-term Dodge Grand Caravan priced out at over $35K, and it has significantly less interior room, no entertainment system and can only tow 3,500 pounds.
Choosing a full-size van is largely a matter of necessity. If you have a large family, take frequent trips and occasionally tow a couple personal watercraft to the lake, a vehicle like the Express makes perfect sense. With no available all-wheel-drive system or even traction control, it might not be the best option for those who live in harsh climates, but slick roads aside, the uncompromising size of the Express will rarely leave you wishing for anything more than a bigger gas tank. It doesn't have the refined nature of today's modern minivans, but if you value capability over drivability, the Express LT is a tough act to beat.
Then along came the '80s and the birth of the minivan. Personality was out, practicality was in. The dated designs of full-size vans relegated them to use as airport shuttles and church wagons. GM sought to change that image when it redesigned its biggest vans in 1996. Renamed the Chevrolet Express (Savana in GMC guise), the new design incorporated features that families expected while maintaining the workhorse capability that businesses required.
For 2001, the Express was given another shot in the arm with the introduction of the LT trim level. This new model adds a host of interior and exterior upgrades that give the Express a more comfortable cabin environment along with a more stylish look on the outside.
We ordered one up for a test drive to see just how far these living rooms on wheels have come. Having gleaned plenty of experience in family transportation from our recent minivan comparison test, we were curious to see how this new and improved Express would stack up.
Upon first seeing our Light Pewter Metallic tester, we couldn't help but gawk over its size. At over 6.5-feet tall, it barely squeezed into our parking structure. With a length of over 19 feet, standard parking spaces are barely enough to contain it.
The LT features a monochrome exterior that adds a color-keyed grille, door handles and side moldings for a cleaner overall look. Sharp 15-inch brushed aluminum wheels and integrated foglights also come standard to give the LT a more upscale appearance.
Getting in requires a bit of a climb. The driver's doorway is narrow, and the seat sits exceptionally high. The LT adds standard six-way power seats for both the driver and front passenger along with a tilt steering column that makes finding a comfortable position easy. Once situated, the seats are supportive, if not a little on the soft side, and the view of the road is exceptional.
With a hood that extends barely more than a couple feet in front of the windshield, driving the Express can be a little unnerving at first. Once you get used to the unusual dimensions, however, maneuvering and parking the big van is surprisingly easy. With a turning circle of 45 feet (that's 7 feet wider than a Honda Odyssey), you can count on plenty of multi-point turns, but the light steering and huge side mirrors go a long way toward making the Express more parking-lot friendly.
Handling at higher speeds is a little more of a challenge, as the tall profile makes for plenty of lean in the corners. The suspension does an admirable job of controlling the big van's movements, but there's minimal, if any, feel for the road. Potholes are filtered out with little intrusion to the cabin, but it's bouncy over dips and bumps. The long wheelbase makes for a smooth ride on the highway, and road noise is surprisingly low for a vehicle with such brick-like aerodynamics.
The only engine available on the Express LT is the tried-and-true 5.7-liter V8. With 255 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, there's plenty of muscle to get the Express going in just about any type of situation. With a maximum tow rating of 6,600 pounds, the LT can tow more than most midsize SUVs. The standard four-speed automatic overdrive transmission provides crisp, clean gear changes and surprisingly quick downshifts. With an EPA fuel economy rating of 13 city/17 highway, the LT isn't going to win any environmental friendliness awards, but what do you expect from a 5,000-pound V8-equipped vehicle?
Besides, the Express isn't built for those looking for the best of both worlds. This is a van for families who want the ultimate in passenger comfort. To that end, the LT features standard second-row captain's chairs, dual flip-down monitors, a VCR, video game player docking station, rear-seat climate controls and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Our test model also added the optional Leather Seating package.
To say that the Express LT seats seven comfortably is an understatement of epic proportions. Sit in either of the second-row captain's chairs and you can't touch the front seats if you try. The third-row bench might be a little tight on hip room for three people, but with legroom galore, it hardly seems cramped. The only tight spots are the driver's and front passenger's footwells, which are intruded upon by the massive center console.
Not only will the rear-seat occupants not mind sitting in back, they'll probably prefer it. The dual flip down screens are easy to see, and the wireless headphones included with the system allow second-row passengers to enjoy a movie on the front screen while third-row riders can play video games on the rear screen. If everybody is up for a movie, the Bose audio system delivers terrific sound throughout the cabin.
Another useful feature is the ability to reconfigure or completely remove the second- and third-row seats. Take out one chair up front for easier access through the side doors or remove the third row entirely for a truly monstrous cargo area. The seats aren't exactly feather-light, but one strong person can remove and reinstall them without much trouble.
Needless to say, if your family numbers seven or fewer, the Express LT offers one of the most comfortable and entertaining (for the rear passengers, that is) cabins available anywhere. Between the multiple-screen video system and the cavernous interior, you won't be hearing "Are we there yet?" until well into a long trip. Leather seats might be a little extravagant for younger families, but older kids will love drifting off to sleep in the well-padded captain's chairs.
There's certainly a price you pay for all this comfort. With a base price of $35,695, the Express LT isn't cheap, by any means. Add to that the additional cost of its less-than-spectacular mileage, and this probably isn't the van you want for your everyday grocery getter. But then again, our long-term Dodge Grand Caravan priced out at over $35K, and it has significantly less interior room, no entertainment system and can only tow 3,500 pounds.
Choosing a full-size van is largely a matter of necessity. If you have a large family, take frequent trips and occasionally tow a couple personal watercraft to the lake, a vehicle like the Express makes perfect sense. With no available all-wheel-drive system or even traction control, it might not be the best option for those who live in harsh climates, but slick roads aside, the uncompromising size of the Express will rarely leave you wishing for anything more than a bigger gas tank. It doesn't have the refined nature of today's modern minivans, but if you value capability over drivability, the Express LT is a tough act to beat.
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