2021 Chevrolet Express 2500

The cargo van for your business needs comes with 2 configurations, to begin with, which is the Regular wheelbase and the extended wheelbase. Considering this is a vehicle built for commercial purposes it lacks most of the good tech features that are available in modern-day cars, but this shouldn’t be a complaint as these are not expected in the cargo version.

The only major update in the 2021 version is the new engine option, the van is set to come with the 6.6L gas-powered V8 which is seen in the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD. This will produce the same figures as seen in the Silverado HD with 401 HP and 464lb-ft of torque which is a good bump from the 2020 version.

Here is a comparison of key features between the two configurations that are available.

There is an option to choose between the 3 engines that are offered, the base 4.3L V6 engine remains the same for 2021, and the new 6.6L gas-powered V8 replaces the other V8 options that were available earlier. Here is how the engine options are expected to be for the 2021 line up

• 4.3 L Ecotec V6
• 6.6L gaseous CNG/LPG capable V8
• 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel 4 cylinder

The new 6.6L V8 is to use the same six-speed automatic gearbox as the earlier 2020 version and the rest two engines will retain the 8 speed automatic like the earlier version. More information on the engine’s power output and figures will be mentioned in the performance segment of the review.

The iconic “bowtie” logo Chevrolet is most famous for producing affordable and popular vehicles, the 2021 Chevy 2500 Crago starts at the base price of MSRP $33,795 which is the most affordable among its competitors.

The van being a Chevy has the sturdy and rugged feel to it, with the regular servicing and repairs being cheap the parts of the van can also be easily sourced. The van will maximise savings when it comes to this aspect.

Reliability

This chevy model scored a good 4.3 / 5 in the KBB customer reviews, most of the customers often had positive reviews on how the truck is built to last and can keep you accompanied through the ups and downs of your business.

The repairs on this van are also pretty cheap making it easy on the pocket, this truck is built to carry high load goods and will make it look like a cakewalk with its powerful engine. With its good overall built to last quality, this van can be trusted for your business needs.

The van also hasn't seen any recalls on the 2020 model as listed on the NHTSA website, this shows clearly how well built the cargo van is. But like any other van, it did have a few common complaints but none of them were major that caused serious issues to the owner.

Speaking of ownership cost an average user will have to spend around $43,250 in 5 years which is quite cheap when compared to its arch-rival vans in the segment. The prices of the van vary according to the state’s taxing, on an average the van retails at MSRP $33,795.

Warranty

Chevrolet has been in the American market since its beginning and is known to provide good service and roadside assistance to its customers. Warranties are also offered along with the purchase of their vehicles which have varying terms. The rival Ford in this segment also offers similar types of warranty and terms but they do have a superior warranty when it comes to corrosion.

Warranty offered

The roadside assistance warranty offered by Chevy includes emergency towing to Chevy dealerships, flat-tire fix, emergency fuel delivery, battery jump-start, 24/7 toll-free phone assistance, and even vehicle unlock service when you get yourself into trouble after losing the keys.

The van is offered with pre-fitted accessories for professions such as a plumber, electrician, and contractor, these accessories include racks and storage compartment pre-fitted specifically for each profession, this option might be of great use or if you have ideas of using the storage area by yourself then that can be done too.

If you are looking for a more fuel-efficient van then the 2.4L Duramax engine is the best option but it loses out on the punch that the new V8 offers, The better option will be to go for the extended wheelbase version as extra space will come in handy in the future if not now.

Chevrolet also offers a few plans to get better value from your business vehicle, the plans give an allowance of $500 to $1200 on accessory cash for the cargo van.

Should you go for a used Chevy Express 2500 Cargo?

The newer 2021 version of the van doesn't come with any advanced technological or safety feature, it has been the same for quite a few years. If you are looking for new features in the van you will be better off with a used one, this being a Chevy all the replacement parts are easily available in case it needs one.

The previous 2020 version of the van can be picked up for around $27,000 - $28,000 which has all the same features as the newer version, and the carrying and storage capacity also remains the same, only if you want a powerful V8 as seen in the Silverado HD then you should go for the new 2021 version.

The resale values of these vans are also pretty good, Chevy has won the J.D.Power dependability award for 4 times so even a used car will have a good span of life left in it. This being said buying a used car must be done from trusted dealers to avoid any loopholes.

This boxy cargo van comes with options of fitting 4 different engines in it, one offers better fuel economy whereas another offers a better punch and acceleration. Finding the right one for your use will be easy as we will cover all the power outputs and necessary figures to cut your time in making the right decision.

It should be noted that the new 6.6L V8 that is offered does not increase the carrying capacity of the cargo van and it still remains the same, the rival Ford Transit cargo van has a base engine 3.5L naturally aspirated V6, let's compare this with the base engine offered with the Chevy Express cargo van.

2021 Chevy Express Cargo Van Acceleration and Braking Performance

The 2021 Chevy cargo van can cover the 0 - 60-mile mark within 8.2 seconds and the quartered mile in about 16.5 seconds, this is not the quickest acceleration offered in this segment, The ford transit van covers the quarterer mile in about 15.9 seconds. But this is good enough considering how big and boxy the vehicle is.

The new addition of the 6.6L V8 in the 2021 model is expected to be quicker than this, taking the competition to a higher level in terms of acceleration.

Not the best when it comes to fuel efficiency, the 2021 chevy does not have a listed mpg number on its official website but the numbers are expected to be low. Judging from the previous 2020 model which gave a fuel economy of around 14mpg on the V6, the newer powerful V8 is expected to give figures around 13mpg. For better fuel efficiency the 2.4L Duramax 4 cylinder must be preferred as it is expected to cover a decent 20 miles for a gallon of diesel.

The van comes equipped with a 31-gallon fuel tank which is good enough for in-city travel during your business visits.

You know that you are inside a commercial cargo vehicle when you sit inside the 2021 Chevy express cargo, the cheap plastic materials used to make it durable feel scratchy even the steering wheel is made of a hard plastic that doesn't feel good to touch.

The van also has very poor soundproofing and all the mechanical noise slips inside, this could have been improved which would have made up for the poor feel of the cheap materials.

The van gets all the essential gauges such as oil pressure, voltage meter, fuel gauge, and speedometer, there is a small digital display that has handy features and indicates tire pressure, an odometer with trip range, a gear indicator, and even a compass that can be calibrated.

The biggest miss is that there is no glove box compartment, but there is a cut out on top of the dashboard but still, it is not the right replacement for an actual glovebox.

There are two seats in the front, the passenger seat does not have good legroom even though there is plenty of room in the back, the seats are quite comfortable and will get the job done even while driving for long distances.

There is an option to select the driver convenience package which offers cruise control and the switches will be located on the left side of the steering wheel, this feature is a must-have.

The overall length in the regular wheelbase configuration is 224.05 inches and has a lesser area when compared to the extended wheelbase configuration.

2021 Chevy Express Cargo Van Infotainment System

The new 2021 version retains the same old 2020 infotainment system, it does not get a huge center console display option as offered in the ford transit cargo van. The system is quite old and simpler that can play mp3 files and has optional Bluetooth connectivity, this does not stand out with extra features and good display but is quite easy to use while driving and can play music which is good enough to keep yourself charged during business runs. If there was an optional satellite navigation system it would have been of great help making it a hassle-free experience

The van has not undergone any major facelift or design change for a long time and it keeps the old boxy look with the bow tie logo on the front grills. The van comes with side doors which will be helpful while loading in heavier goods. The van gets a split rearview mirror and has a standard mirror on top and a wide-angle mirror on the bottom helping cover the objects behind the long van.

The cargo van for 2021 comes with basic safety features such as 2 airbags, hill start assist, rear vision camera, tire pressure monitoring system, and transmission/ brake shift interlock but gets optional forward collision alert, lane departure warning, rear park assist and side blind zone alert. The safety features are not that good when compared to the Ford Transit which gets standard lane keep, automatic emergency braking, and pre-collision warning.

It's obvious that cargo vans are not meant for higher speeds but still having all the safety features as standard would have been better making the competition with its rivals tighter.

2021 Chevy Express 2500 Cargo vs Ford Transit

The Ford transit is no match as it is a modern cargo van with the latest tech and safety features, the interior and styling too is better than the Chevy, if you don't mind spending a few extra and thousands then the Ford transit is the better option of the two, the power and towing capacity are the only two segments that the chevy comes out on top which might not be much of difference when driven in real life.

2021 Chevy Express 2500 Cargo vs Mercedes Benz Sprinter Cargo Van

When compared to a well equipped Mercedes Benz the Chevy might be the better option given that the Merc will cut a hole through your pockets when it comes to maintenance and servicing. The chevy is a big sturdy van with good dependability and low service cost making it easy on pockets. The Chevy also has better power and way better towing and payload capacity when compared to the Merc.

Choosing the chevy will be the right decision if you don't mind the looks and the lack of features, with the best in class power output and towing capacity this easily beats the Merc but struggles a little against the Ford transit cargo. Being priced low the Chevy is very easy on pockets and super sturdy, but you should also consider the Ford Transit keeping the future in mind as the Chevy seems outdated already. You should definitely go for the ford if you are going to spend a lot of time in the cabin.