2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo remains one of the preeminent cargo vans on the market today. With a variety of engine configurations, as...

The 2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo remains one of the preeminent cargo vans on the market today. With a variety of engine configurations, as well as fuel options, along with a massive amount of cargo space, the Express has a lot to offer to commercial buyers, as well as those who need a strong-running van with plenty of cargo space. The 2013 version of the Express is unchanged from the 2012.

The 2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo van is available in 10 different trims: 1500, 2500, 3500, 2500 Ext., and 3500 Ext., all of which are rear-wheel drive and can handle Flex Fuel—except the 1500, which runs on regular gas only; 1500 AWD, which is all-wheel drive and can take Flex Fuel; and 2500 Diesel, 3500 Diesel, 2500 Ext. Diesel, and 3500 Ext. Diesel, which are all rear-wheel drive. The 1500 trim with RWD comes equipped with a 4.3-liter V6 engine that makes 195 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 1500 AWD trim comes built with a Vortec 5.3-liter V8 SFI engine that makes 310 hp and 334 lb-ft of torque. The 2500, 3500, 2500 Ext., and 3500 Ext. are all factory equipped with a Vortec 4.8-liter V8 SFI engine that achieves 280 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Finally, all diesel trims are configured with a Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 engine that achieves 260 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. All except the 1500 trims are mated to a Hydra-Matic 6-speed heavy-duty automatic transmission. The 1500 trims are paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

As far as hauling capability goes, the 2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo van configured with the standard wheelbase—135 inches—has 239.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while ones with the Extended wheelbase—155 inches—have 284.4 cubic feet of space available. As far as fuel economy goes, 4.3-liter V6 engine-equipped trims are estimated to get 17 mpg city/20 highway; 4.8-liter V8-equipped trims are estimated by the EPA to achieve 13/17 ; and 5.3-liter V8 trims are rated up to 15/18 on regular gas and 11/13 with Flex Fuel. Those with the 6.0-liter V8 engine are estimated at 10/15 on regular gas and 7/11 using Flex Fuel. As of publication date, the diesel engines had not been rated.

As with most cargo vans, the 2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo is not loaded down with amenities. All trims come with front seat air conditioning, 4-way manual adjustable driver's and passenger seats, vinyl seating surfaces, power locks, power steering, a 2-speaker audio system with AM/FM radio, halogen headlights and 16-inch steel wheels. Options include bucket seats with cloth seating surfaces, power-adjustable driver's and passenger seats, cruise control, tilt-and-telescopic steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated exterior mirrors, AM/FM radio and in-dash single-CD player, voice-activated navigation, remote keyless entry, rear window defogger, rear air conditioning and a roof rack.

The competition is fierce in the cargo van market, as the 2013 Chevrolet Express Cargo faces off against the likes of the Ford Econoline Cargo and the GMC Savana, which is built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Express. For those looking for a powerful cargo van with ample space, the Chevrolet Express Cargo is a solid choice.