Stretch out Chevrolet’s full-size (one-ton) Express Cargo 3500 van and add a potent turbodiesel to behold the 2012 Express Cargo 3500 Ext. Diesel. Sporting 244 inches of overall length and a 155-inch wheelbase, this lengthy hauler accommodates 2 people and some 319.9 cubic feet of cargo, the latter accessed by a rear passenger-side cargo door and a pair of rear swing-out cargo doors. Amenities are scarce, however, with 16-inch steel wheels, vinyl front bucket seats, a trip computer, air conditioning, phone pre-wiring and a pair of system-less speakers among the only standard concessions to comfort, convenience and appearance.
There are, however, a number of optional packages and standalone goodies to choose from for the Express Cargo 3500 Ext. Diesel. The Convenience Package and its supporting Power Package, for instance, can be combined to sport power windows, door locks and heated, turn-signal-integrated power-adjustable mirrors, while the Chrome Appearance Package endows the exterior with plenty of, you guessed it, chrome trim pieces. The Express Access Package, meanwhile, might be mated with the Enhanced Lighting Package for remote vehicle start, keyless entry, side bins with remote-opening doors and upgraded dash and cabin lighting. Utility and muscle, meantime, are ratcheted up with an available 3.73 rear axle ratio, heavy-duty trailer-towing equipment, a heavy-duty rear locking differential and a driver’s-side rear cargo access door. And then there are such standalone options as cloth upholstery, cruise control, tilt-wheel steering, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, Bluetooth-interfaced OnStar Directions and Connections with emergency services and a single-CD player with AM/FM stereo, to name a few.
Delivered with the 2012 Express Cargo 3500 Ext. Diesel is a standard 6.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine that combines with the standard 6-speed automatic transmission for 260-hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. This Chevy can tow some 9,000 pounds of trailer with the proper equipment, while mileage for the turbodiesel hovers around 10 mpg city/16 highway.
For 2012, standard safety features in the Express Cargo 3500 Ext. Diesel include 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front head airbags, dusk-sensing headlights, daytime running lights and a vehicle antitheft system.
