Used 2017 Chevrolet City Express LT Minivan Review

The 2017 Chevrolet City Express belongs to the new class of compact commercial vehicles built with the small-business owner in mind. Much smaller than the typical full-size van, the City Express delivers carlike maneuverability but still has 122.7 cubic feet of space to satisfy your larger hauling needs. 

Propelled by a 131-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the City Express isn't meant to replace full-size, V8-powered cargo vans like the Chevrolet Express. It also isn't designed to be a passenger hauler because it only comes in a two-seat configuration. So though the City Express will hold a surprising amount of cargo, there are limitations to its capabilities.

The segment for small utility vans such as the City Express has been expanding, so there are a few options to consider if this is the type of vehicle that fits your needs. The closest competitor to the City Express is the slightly less expensive Nissan NV200; the Express is actually a mechanical twin of the NV200, so the two vans are very similar. If you're looking for a vehicle with more refinement and flexibility, you might consider the 2017 Ford Transit Connect. It's available with two engine options and two wheelbase lengths, and it can be configured as a cargo van or a passenger van. There's also the 2017 Ram ProMaster City, the largest of the bunch with a slight power advantage, the most cargo capacity and highest payload.

Estimated city fuel economy is one area in which the 2017 City Express excels, though each vehicle in this segment has its strength. Any one of them could prove to be an ideal fit for your needs.

Standard safety equipment on the Chevrolet City Express includes antilock brakes (front disc/rear drum), traction and stability control, and side curtain airbags. Rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are optional.

During Edmunds testing, the Chevrolet City Express came to a stop from 60 mph in 143 feet, which is a poor performance for any class of vehicle.

The 2017 Chevrolet City Express is a small cargo van that comes in two basic trim levels: LS and LT.

Standard equipment on the LS trim includes 15-inch steel wheels, 40/60-split rear cargo doors, sliding rear side doors, power front windows, power door locks, keyless entry, cloth upholstery, vinyl flooring, a height-adjustable driver seat with manual lumbar adjustment, a fold-flat passenger seat, a tilt-only steering wheel, air-conditioning, and a two-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. Cruise control, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and rear parking sensors are available as stand-alone options for the LS.

The LT includes all of the above, plus heated power mirrors, an additional rear 12-volt power outlet and rear parking sensors.

Optional on both the LS and LT are two Glass packages and an Appearance package. The Glass packages add privacy glass to the rear and passenger-side windows, as well as a rearview mirror and a rear defroster. The Appearance package adds wheel covers, a chrome grille with black accents, and body-color bumpers, mirrors and door handles.

The Technology package is available only on the LT trim and adds a 5.8-inch touchscreen display (a Nissan system, not Chevrolet MyLink), a navigation system, satellite radio, a USB audio jack and a rearview camera.

The 2017 Chevrolet City Express comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 131 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives the front wheels. EPA-estimated fuel economy for 2017 wasn't available at publishing time, but last year's van posted 25 mpg in combined driving (24 city/26 highway), which is better than average for the small-van segment.

During Edmunds testing, the City Express LT went from zero to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds. That's not especially quick, but it's about average for a small van. The maximum payload for the City Express is 1,500 pounds.