Used 2016 Chevrolet Express 3500 Base for sale 

The Chevrolet Express 3500 Van comes in a single trim. There are 3 engine options to choose from, and also, you have 2 wheelbase options to choose from. As standard 60/40-split swing-out right-side doors, air-conditioning, 16-inch steel wheels, power locks, vinyl upholstery, power windows, six D-ring cargo tie-downs, a 120-volt household-style power outlet, and a trip computer are available on the 3500.

The 3500 comes with a lot of optional features. A few major options include 17-inch steel wheels, heated power mirrors, a variety of combinations for the rear door and window, a three-person rear bench seat, and a towing package. You also have the Convenience package that adds cruise control and a tilt-only steering wheel.

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As a van for cargo transport, the 3500 does get a lot of optional equipment. We suggest that the engine option for the van should be based on your needs of cargo. We found the V8 4.8L engine sufficient enough. The Convenience package is a must according to us. You also should get the optional safety equipment as well.

The 3500 gets 3 engine options. The base engine is a 4.8L V8 that pumps out 285 hp @5400 rpm and 295 lb.-ft @4600 rpm. There is a more powerful V8, a 6L V8 meant for some heavy loading work. This engine outputs 329 hp @5400 rpm and 373 lb.-ft @4400 rpm. There is also a CNG version that pumps out 282 hp @4800 rpm and 320 lb.-ft @4400 rpm. The most powerful engine on the 3500 is a turbocharged 6.6L V8 that returns 260 hp @2800 rpm and 525 lb.-ft @1600 rpm. A 6-speed automatic is standard. The car is a rear-wheel-drive car. The van touches the 60 mph mark in 8.9 seconds and completes the quarter-mile in 16 seconds.

The Vans perform well considering what they hold, with 0-60 mph times between 8-9 seconds. The 3500 is slower than the other two in 0-60 but catches up the pace at the quarter-mile. Drivers prefer the Ram’s driving dynamics over the other two. It's easy to turn, easy to move around, and not a cumbersome thing while parking too. It’s the car that’s most suited for in-city movement. The other two, especially the 3500, feel heavy and better for inter-city transport.

These vans made for heavy load carrying work are not rated by the EPA for any fuel efficiency numbers, but all the three vans are not good with the real-life scenarios and do drink a lot of gas, especially when loaded up according to feedbacks and drivers experiences. The fuelling on the vans is precise, but they suffer from the engine noises. The vans have close tank sizes. The 3500 has the most capacity at 31 gallons, followed by the NV that gets a 28-gallon tank, while the Promaster gets the smallest 24-gallon tank.

From our sources, the Chevrolet Express 3500 with the 4.8L engine can return a fuel efficiency of 11 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. These are not great numbers at all, as when loaded, these numbers will reduce even more. The “fuelly” website claims a combined average of 13 mpg from these minivans in the segment.

The Express has a very basic interior. The interior is very old school with the kind of layout it has. The hard plastics used for the interior are substandard, and Chevrolet could’ve surely used better materials on the inside. The roof height is short, restricting free movements. The buttons and the gauges are simple to use and easy to understand. Sadly, some features that come as standard on other vans are extra-cost options on the Express which should not be the case. The van comes with a cargo capacity of 239.7 cubic feet.

The standard roofing and the protruding engine cowling eat up the legroom in the front, and this causes a lot of discomforts, and movements inside have to be made by pushing over to a side or in other uncomfortable ways. The other two vans have very functional interiors that are well made and offer better comfort with good finish levels. The Express is not good on seat comfort as well and does not offer much support also. Few interior features are:

• Air conditioning
• Vinyl upholstery
• Power windows
• Heated power mirrors
• 120-Volt household-style power outlet
• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2016 Chevrolet Express’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system of the Chevrolet Express is rather basic and comes with an FM/AM radio, auxiliary audio input, and a 2-speaker system. Although the optional electronic equipment is vast, which includes Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. There is also the optional Chevrolet MyLink system that includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen, a CD player, Bluetooth audio, navigation, and voice controls. Some infotainment features include:

• Navigation system
• Auxiliary audio jack
• Satellite radio
• Chevrolet MyLink system
• Voice controls
• 4G LTE WiFi hotspot

The Express 3500 has a very boxy structure, which is not at all appealing but very functional. The squarish shape allows for a ton of items of various shapes and sizes to fit in without any problems. The front has a very short hood, which does not interfere with the visibility at all. It's rather simple, with two rectangular headlamps and long horizontal indicators. The side of the van shows some long length with tiny wheels and a box frame. The rear is plain, but the location of the taillights is very clever as it allows for vehicles far behind to see them. 

The other two vans have very modern exterior designs and are somewhat attractive. All three vans are very different in proportions. The NV is the longest with a 240 inches length, whereas the Express has the least length of 224 inches. The Ram has the most width, but still, the width did not become a problem as we rode on narrow roads. The long wheelbase of the Ram allows for some better interior seating space compared to the other two. All in all, the Express’s design does not interfere with its more manageable exterior dimensions. Some of the exterior highlights on the van are:

• Swing out ladder rack
• 17-inch steel wheels
• Heated and powered mirrors
• Sliding passenger-side door
• Removable roof rack

The Express has not received any safety rating for 2012, but we expect the last year’s rating to be carried forward. As standard safety equipment, the car has anti lock brakes, front side airbags, front side curtain airbags, and stability control. Optional features include a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, and the OnStar emergency communications system. Few salient safety features include-:

• Daytime running lights
• 4-wheel ABS
• Ventilated front and rear disc brakes
• Stability control
• Engine immobilizer
• Tire pressure monitoring system

The Express 3500 has gotten old, really old, and not a fierce competitor as it once was. The rivals offer much better equipment, better performance, better usability, and a better option over the Express overall. The option of a high roof is very much missed on the Express. And also, there is just a lot of extra cost by adding some major standard interior and safety features as optional. But even then, why does the Express sell so much? It's because of the V8 engines, the reliable body frame, and the massive hauling capacities. It manages to make a strong case on that front, and hence people do not mind making a few interior sacrifices. Even then, we suggest you look at some other vans if budget is not your concern.