The automakers like to keep a limited amount of trim levels in this segment but open up a wide variety of body sizes, powertrain, transmission, and drivetrain systems. This segment of vehicles is basically used to haul loads to various destinations and for that nothing extravagant is required by the audience. Following this trend Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van comes in two configurations namely: Regular and Extended Wheelbase, Chevrolet also offers two engine options: a 4.3-L, V6 gas, and a 6.6-L, V8 gas but keeps the drivetrain part simple with a single RWD drivetrain option. Other than that, the Express 2500 Cargo Van is pretty much equipped with all the basic safety and convenience features.

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There isn’t much difference in the payload capacity between the trim levels but the longer wheelbase configuration makes it easy to travel with a payload with a long body structure. If one is tight on budget then consider going with the 4.3-L V6 with an extended wheelbase. Otherwise, we recommend going full monty, yes, the top most 6.6-L V8 with extended wheelbase is the best combination of engine and body configuration as it opens all the doors of power, performance, and better cargo capacity. There isn’t any difference in the features either, all configurations are equipped with pretty much the same features.

The most crucial part for a cargo van is, how much power does its engine generate?... As in the end, one needs to haul heavy products in the back of it. In that perspective Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van is really fortunate because it receives a naturally aspirated 4.3-L, V6 gas engine and that solves the turbo lag issue. The V6 gas powerhouse generates around 276 hp of power and 298 lb-ft of torque which is far better than any other van on offer and with this powertrain the Express 2500 Cargo Van can carry up to 3280 pounds of payload.

The base 4.3-L, V6 gas comes mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission and has features like tow/haul mode. If one wants to take on the much heavier loads then Chevrolet also offers a better much powerful naturally aspirated 6.6-L, V8 gas engine which produces a max power of 401 horses and a peak torque of 464 lb-ft, this V8 engine comes equipped with a heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission. 

The Chevrolet Express 2500 and Mercedes Benz Sprinter are the only cargo vans that can achieve a top speed of 100 mph which is crucial on highways. Chevrolet Express 2500 has the most powerful engine but it might fall behind on road in quarter-mile and acceleration tests but performance figures of Chevrolet and Mercedes Benz Sprinter are evenly matched. The real test for a cargo van is its payload capacity and in terms of that every van fades away in front of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van with a payload capacity of 3920 pounds but Nissan can also carry up to 3720 pounds, whereas Chevrolet Express 2500 sits at the bottom with 3280 pounds.

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van Handle?

The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van may get a standard naturally aspirated V6 gas engine that produces enough power to beat the lazy attributes of the turbo engines at low RPMs but due to its heavy chassis, the Express 2500 Cargo Van feels kind of sluggish under harsh acceleration. Its engine generates enough power for itself with passengers with additional 3280 pounds of payload but certainly affects its mileage as compared to its rivals.

Other than its power and performance figures, the Express 2500 is a heavy cargo van with a typical van-like driving experience, it lacks that sharp handling and accurate steering. The cabin is also covered with basic technology with not-so-comfortable seats, the seats definitely radiate a complete office vibe and the tough suspension system may be good under harsh riding conditions but it strips away the comfortable ride quality.

2021 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van Braking Performance 

Chevrolet offers some basic braking technology and one must not complain as it feels somewhat decent at the price bracket that Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van falls, the features include all 4-wheel disc brakes with the antilock braking system and hill start assist. The rotors size is pretty decent too, the front gets a 12.8 inches rotors whereas the rear wheels get 13 inches rotors, info on curb weight is a bit on a fuzzy side but the GVWR of this van is 8600 pounds which means the curb weight of the vehicle should be around 5320 pounds.

Not much data is mentioned on the stopping distance of any of the cargo vans and these days it has become hard to predict it, as almost every vehicle now uses an advanced barking system and automakers calibrate the brakes as per the vehicle structure and design as well. But with the curb weight info, one can see that Nissan offers big 14.4 inches rotors due to the high curb weight of 5819 pounds of NV 2500HD Cargo Van which must make its braking performance evenly matched with the Ford Transit, the lower weight figures of Transit gives it an upper advantage in braking performance butt the small rotors on Chevrolet Express 2500 might not work as efficiently as they should be.

Other than the payload capacity and powerful engine, the fuel economy is another necessary part for any cargo van as these vans cover a lot of distance to deliver different kinds of products. So when time is short then the efficient engine can save the rider from fuel stops, the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van has a massive engine that guzzles a lot of gasoline and claims around 14 mpg in the city driving, 17 mpg on the straight highways, and 15 mpg under combined situations. The below-average fuel economy of Express 2500 is backed up by a big 31 gallons of fuel tank that takes the van’s range to 527 miles on highways.

Not much data is available on the fuel economy but as per the given information, Ford Transit with the awesome performance figures is much more efficient than the Chevrolet Express 2500. As per the 2.0-L gas engine and 9-speed automatic transmission of Mercedes-Benz, it should be the one claiming best in class fuel economy as it has a small-sized engine which is mated to an efficient gearbox and on top of that its chassis is lighter than other competitors. Chevrolet claims poor fuel economy but to cover it up it gets the biggest in the segment 31 gallons fuel tank. 

As one knows, the cargo van comes with 2 seats and Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van follows the trend but with elegance as it has the best cabin in terms of space and comfortability. The equipment is pretty basic though with hard buttons and a tactile feel all around the cabin, which makes the cabin look slightly outdated from the rest of its competitors. The soundproofing of Express 2500 isn’t that effective as the cabin receives a lot of road & mechanical noises.

Let’s talk about the material used inside the cabin, the cabin is covered in hard and cheap plastic which sometimes rattle while riding over some rough patches, the dash, and other storage spaces might easily get scratches with the equipment as simple as keys. Some essential gauges and indicators for the driver's aid are also there, some of them are a fuel gauge, tire pressure monitoring system, voltage meter, gear indicator, and compass. Other than that, the seating comfort isn't as good as the Mercedes but it does its job even on long rides. 

From the looks of it, none of the cargo vans holds the badge of the most spacious in the competition but both Chevrolet Express 2500 and Ford Transit have a balanced spacious front row, while Ford lacks some shoulder room almost by an inch. Nissan NV 2500HD Cargo Van also offers great space for 2 passengers with better head and legroom but one might find it hard when it comes to shoulder room. 

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van would be a great choice for super tall people as it has almost 6.5-inch more headroom than the Express 2500 but Mercedes has left every cargo van in the dust with its massive 319 cu-ft cargo volume which is 79.6 cu-ft more than the Chevrolet. Some highlights of the interior tech of Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van has been mentioned below:

• Regular air conditioning
• Rubberized vinyl floor covering
• Power door locks with power windows
• Vinyl front bucket seats
• Driver & passenger high-back bucket seats
• Tow/haul mode selector
• 12-Volt & 120-Volt power outlets
• Front & side window defoggers
• Auto-dimming IRVM
• Interior lighting

How intuitive is the infotainment system?

In this segment, all the money goes into building the safety system for payloads and towing mechanism which shortens the budget for the infotainment system as these vehicles should also be affordable to the general public. To make the Express 2500 Cargo Van affordable, it receives a basic entertainment system from Chevrolet with features like 2-speakers on the front door panels, AM/FM stereo with MP3 player, aux audio input & 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capable. These features are enough to make one’s journey enjoyable during work. Highlights of the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van infotainment system are:

•  2-speakers on the front door panels
• AM/FM stereo
• MP3 player
• AUX audio input
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capable

The exterior styling of the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van would still remind you of the old school style, the front gets the black bumpers with black grille and Chevrolet badge in the middle. The headlights are rectangular in design and the front has an overall boxy appearance. The headlamps are pretty basic halogen types with basic daytime running lamps. Other than that nothing much interesting is happening on the front.

On the side profile, the door handle and outside mirrors are all covered in black, whereas the windows & windshield get a solar-ray light-tinted glass. At this price point, it would be really hard for any vehicle to get the power-folding & heated mirrors but the 16-inch steel wheels keep the cargo van looks on point. Chevrolet offers Express 2500 Cargo Van in two wheelbase options: the regular wheelbase and the extended wheelbase. Let’s take a look at the back of the vehicle, here the bumpers are also in black with basic tail lamps and manual cargo gates, besides that everything is simple with this cargo van.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit are the only two cargo vans that are light on their wheels with the curb weight of 4696 and 4985 pounds respectively, but the problem with the Mercedes is its 233-inch of long body and 144-inch long wheelbase which somewhat justifies the 319 cu-ft of awesome cargo space and in returns it kind of ruins the handling of the vehicle. In terms of handling, Ford and Chevrolet would feel nice with the shortest body and wheelbase but Chevrolet would be able to handle rough road conditions much better with its highest in the segment 9.72-inch ground clearance. Some highlights of the exterior tech of the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van has been mentioned below:

• 16-inch steel wheels
• Front & rear black bumpers
• Dual halogen composite headlamps
• Black manual outside mirrors
• Solar-ray light-tinted glass
• Intermittent variable-speed wipers
• Front license plate kit

The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van doesn’t come with top-notch safety features like frontal collision mitigation and all but in terms of the safety of the occupants, this van is quite practical. It receives the features like 4-wheel disc brakes with the antilock braking system, hill start assist, daytime running lamps, front driver/passenger airbags, airbag deactivation switch, rearview camera, and some more. Chevrolet has built this van with good quality material which provides it a rugged and solid feel which sounds safe for the occupants, the Express 2500 Cargo Van hasn’t been crash-tested by any of the crash testing organizations but Chevrolet always offer a safe product to its customers. All the safety features of the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van are:

• Transmission/brake shift interlock
• Hill-start assist
• StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system with traction control
• Door beams, steel-side
• Daytime running lamps
• 2 frontal airbags for driver & passenger
• Seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver & passenger
• Passenger airbag deactivation switch
• OnStar & Chevrolet Connected services capable
• Rearview camera
• Tire pressure monitoring system

2021 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van Vs 2021 Ford Transit Cargo Van

The Ford Transit may come with a 3.5-L, NA V6 engine but it beats the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van in every performance test without any hesitation and it can also carry a slightly more payload too. As for the information and data gathering, Ford is much more practical than the Express 2500, it’s light on its wheels, has better cargo volume, claims better economy with a balanced seating space. All these things make Ford Transit Cargo Van a much better choice but the only drawback of transit is its price tag, it costs $2000 more than the Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van. 

2021 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van Vs 2021 Nissan NV 2500HD Cargo Van

The Nissan NV and Chevrolet Express both receive powerful engines but when it comes to performance then Nissan takes the lead, whereas Chevrolet is more spacious and rather offers a great balance in-cabin dimensions. Chevrolet may have a slightly more cargo Volume but Nissan NV 2500HD can carry more payload which makes it much more desirable in this segment, other than that, Chevrolet is much easier to control on turns with a short wheelbase.

2021 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van Vs 2021 Mercedes Benz Cargo Van

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a well-equipped cargo van but it cost a lot to buy one of these and the major downside of the sprinter is that its base trim cost around $36,355 and it gets an underpowered 2.0-L turbo gas engine. Mercedes may have a better cargo volume and better payload capacity than Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van but it all goes to waste if its engine isn’t powerful enough to carry all that stuff. In these aspects, Chevrolet makes much more sense as it offers better space and a strong NA V6 gas engine as standard. 

The Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van has many practical features and things on its side like the spacious cabin, decent safety features, average entertainment system, and most importantly the vehicle gets a standard V6 engine with 8-speed automatic transmission. But things like fuel economy, low payload capacity, and low cargo volume make us think twice about this cargo van. The competitors in this segment offer much better features and customization options, Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van is a vehicle that must be on your list while hunting in this segment, and do take a look at other products too.