2003 Chevrolet Van Express Cargo 2500 review from North America

To early for anything to have happened yet.

I do need to replace the inner ball joints, seems as though the previous owner enjoyed going over bumps and through dips with a little too much enthusiasm. Also, I have heard it is a Chevy trademark to go through them regularly.

The power of this 5.3L V8 even with the van fully loaded is nothing short of amazing. My 94 2500 work truck with the 5.7L had nothing on this van. I have it fully loaded with electrical equipment, spools of wire, and tools and it rides and accelerates as if its empty. It has a power rating of 285HP and 325lbs/ft. but feels stouter than that. The torque curve is excellent.

Where this van falls short is in the handling department, it is every inch the ponderous beast that it looks like. Sloppy around corners with tremendous rebound, it doesn't inspire much confidence, my truck was much better in this regard.

The interior is very noisy with no insulation or sound deadening to speak of, so on the highway it gets very loud. But having all my tools in one space and dry when its raining is a HUGE plus. I don't have to worry when I'm on a job, just lock the doors and everything is gravy.

Overall, its everything I expected out of a van, and everything I knew it wasn't. If you value flexibility and cargo safety over a luxurious cabin and style, than this van will do the trick, otherwise, a truck with a cargo body will suit you better. If I didn't work out of my vehicle so much, I would have chosen a Sierra or a Silverado, but this van is perfect for what I do.