The 2021 Chevy Express is a hard-working van. It can move plenty of people or cargo and has an impressive tow rating. Plus, this full-size Chevrolet van offers a diesel powertrain option.

Though the 2021 Express isn’t winning innovation awards, it’s a capable workhorse. It could benefit any number of businesses or organizations with transportation needs.

The 2021 Chevy Express at a glance

If you need a reliable cargo or passenger van, the 2021 Chevy Express offers plenty of perks.

The new Express is highly customizable. Available in a cargo or passenger configuration, the latest model offers three powertrain options, including a diesel. There’s also a nice array of towing and payload capacities to choose from.

You also get a choice of body style with either a regular or long-wheelbase version. According to Car and Driver, the long-wheelbase model can seat as many as 15 people. That’s hard to beat even for the more modern Ford Transit and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter work vans.

Car and Driver highlighted the engine change Chevrolet made to the van’s lineup for 2021. The automaker yanked the 6.0-liter V8 and replaced it with the 6.6-liter V8 that powers the Silverado HD. You can still get the standard 4.3-liter V6 and 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Chevy Express has a strong work ethic

The hard-working 2021 Chevy Express is well-suited for those who need to move cargo and equipment. According to Chevy, the base model is the 2500 Cargo Van, starting at $32,500. It has a 135-inch wheelbase, 16-inch steel wheels, and halogen headlights. A two-speaker AM/FM stereo system also plays MP3s. And all models have Wi-Fi integration and a backup camera.

The Express packs the muscle for big jobs. Car and Driver explains that when equipped with the new 6.6-liter V8, the long-wheelbase 3500 models boast a 9,990-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The rating encompasses the total maximum weight of the vehicle plus any cargo, fluids, or people.

The Express can haul as much as 4,280 pounds and tow up to 7,000 pounds. Its lineup of competent engines gives it the power it needs to get the job done. 

However, Car and Driver points out other new vans are more modern and upscale.

Maybe it’s time for an update

Automakers don’t update full-size vans as often as they redesign their more popular vehicles. But with everything the Chevy Express has going for it, a refresh could make it the star of its class. 

The Express debuted in 1996, and that fact is obvious when you take a look at its interior. It’s still on its first generation, Car and Driver reports. Unlike some of its rivals, the Express offers few contemporary features because it has gone a quarter-century without an update. It also doesn’t offer the popular high-roof cargo option like its competition.

Furthermore, the Chevy Express could use a new entertainment system. If you want Bluetooth, you can add it through a package that brings a CD player and SiriusXM Satellite Radio too. You can also get an optional 6.5-inch touchscreen and a navigation system. But compared to the tech in cars nowadays, its age really stands out.

Still, it offers relatively updated driver-assist features as options. You can get blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and lane-departure alerts.

Overall, the 2021 Chevy Express is a capable work van that can help you get big jobs done. And with an update, it could go from competent to class-leading.