The Chevy Express line of full-size vans has been around for quite some time now, with 2023 marking the nameplate’s 27th year in production. Originally replacing the Chevrolet Van in 1996, the Chevy Express has seen just a single generation over the years, but now, GM Authority has learned that GM plans to overhaul the Chevy Express for the 2027 model year.
GM’s decision to keep the venerable Chevy Express van around for a little longer may come as a surprise, given The General’s move to EV powertrains and new all-electric delivery offerings like the BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400. However, despite all that, GM Authority sources report that GM is set to redesign the Chevy Express for the 2027 model year – with an internal combustion engine once again under the hood.
In addition to cradling an ICE powerplant, the next-generation 2027 Chevy Express is also expected to ride on a revised platform dubbed GMT 620. To note, the current Chevy Express rides on the GMT 610 platform. Further details include production at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri, the same facility where the current-generation Chevy Express is built. However, it’s currently unclear if it will still be manufactured by Navistar at the supplier’s Springfield, Ohio plant.
As a reminder, the current-generation Chevy Express is offered in multiple configurations, including the Chevy Express Cargo, the Chevy Express Passenger and the Chevy Express Cutaway, all of which are tailored to specific tasks. Engine options include the naturally aspirated 4.3L V6 LV1 gasoline engine, which is rated at 276 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 298 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm, as well as the naturally aspirated 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine, which is rated at 401 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 464 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 2.8L I4 LWN turbodiesel Duramax engine offered previously was dropped for the 2023 model year, as GM Authority covered previously.
It should also be noted that back in 2021, GM hinted at a fully electric van to be introduced in the Chevy product lineup.
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Comments
I heard a rumor of a new van being developed over a decade ago, but the project was cancelled. Wonder if they dusted off the old plans, or are starting from scratch? Maybe selling off Opel had some impacts on these decisions, they could have adopted an Opel van at the time vs making an entirely new model.
Also, I wonder if any changes in emissions or crash testing factored in to these decisions. Vans are selling as fast as they can build them, even with their aged design – no surprise GM is not ready to let go yet.
I hope GM considers keeping an I.C.E. Savana around… maybe til 2030. At least, until a suitable electric version for the service and repair industry has been stabilized in the market place. I don’t see the current plan to release a 400 version of the EV600 (that you see FedEx using/testing) is going to work well for the trade service and repair industry. I have two more vans to replace over the next couple of years. We can’t afford to do it all at once. We recently picked up a 2023. We have used Savana’s (and Predecessor) since 1988. Now, we’ll be forced to change to a different manufacturer.
Kinda sucks….
Don’t expect to see the ICE Savanna disappear this decade. Maybe mid 2030’s but reality is unless we all end up with a 4 hour work day, ICE will need to be made to keep American service workers able to WORK.
Steve G Poulos
This van seened 5 generations of the Silverado
Gen 1 ( 1999 – 2007 )
Gen 2 ( 2007 – 2014 )
Gen 3 ( 2014 – 2019 )
Gen 4 ( 2019 – 2026 )
And Gen 5 ( 2026 – 2034 ) and it’s good that the Express can See a 2027 Model year and I new Body style without it being a EV but I think it would be a Hybrid witch is actually very good! Happy Gm wouldn’t be a stupid Tesla Clone and still cares about there I.C.Es
Good move to keep it ICE, I predict strong demand for ICE utility vehicles from tradesmen (smart folks).
No one wants to run an extension cord out to their work van that doesn’t fit in the garage, every night. EV’s are a fad except for upper middle class commuters with garages.
It’s not super hard to wire a 220V dryer plug to the outside of your garage/house. But that said, GM already has Brightdrop to cover EV work vans. Hopefully this offers a hybridized 5.3L or 2.7T (if those prove durable enough) for easy motor-off site power, or at the least the 3.0L Duramax (perfect motor for this application).
How about those Americans who live in an Apartment, Condo, Or other such dense housing that lacks a designated parking space……There is a time and a place for everything under Heaven. For a Huge segment of the population the EV’s are not practical or affordable at the present.
THATS GREAT NEWS !!!!!!!!!!! NOW HOW ABOUT FULFILLING THE PREVIOUS ORDERS ! Again, I ordered a Chevy Express extended van April 30 2021 ! I finally spoke to the dealerships’ owner’s right hand man on Jan 10,2023 ,(so I was told). I was informed that the holdup was that I ordered the 8cyl . He told me that I would have better luck if I ordered the 6cyl. And I would need to change it to a Savana. They have dealerships in Florida ,( I live in R.I.), and they could “possibly” get me an allotment from their dealership there . Here is the kicker…………………… After reviewing the options I noticed Bluetooth was absent ? When I went to the dealership to specifically go over the build, I was informed that Bluetooth only comes with the 8cyl WTF ? Bluetooth should be as standard as a steering wheel ! That’s like buying a TV without a remote control ! Now I’m not sure if I want to drop down to a 6cyl. I can get along without Bluetooth as I have for 65 years of my life! Does any one have an opinion on the 6cyl. The extended van is more for the room not so much the weight. It would allow me to transport 6 dishwashers instead of 4 . It would only add about 225 lbs. for the cargo , plus the weight of the extended van which is 224 lbs more.
My son has two work trucks with the 4.3L that he uses in his lawn are business. They are used to pull trailers with lawn equipment. He is well satisfied as that have adequate power and get decent mileage.
Thank you for the info! That helps.
I also am waiting on my 6.6 v-8…No info what so ever if i,ll get it,,, ALWAYS had a V-8 in all my Dodges but had to switch to Chevy as the new ford-dodge vans are a joke… They say the output rating for the V-6 is more than my 351 1990 Ford though…..
Not only a joke they are UGHLEE as SIN! Wouldn’t be caught DEAD in them.
Good to see GM will continue to build something that makes money. There is no bigger cash cow than the full size van.
Given the model designation, I tend to think that this may be more of a MCE than an all new van. I m thinking updated chassis, dash and engine choices and a front to match the current silverado. Probably like what Ford did with the E series in the 2000s.
Will the Savana make it to the next gen as well? Or is Chevy going to be the designated work fleet brand as we saw with the 4500/5500 series models.
The single most change GM absolutely must do with this van is to raise its roof. Offer three versions – standard roof height as per current vans; mid-high roof; and max-tall roof height. Anything less just won’t cut it against the competition – Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz and the Ram Promaster vans.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Why would Chevy refuse to update this van for all these years and then, in the midst of the electric revolution – which seems perfectly suited to vans – decide to not only keep the Express going – but actually FINALLY go to the trouble of redesigning it?
I hope they do – I love this van – but I’ll believe it when I see it.
I wish we knew more about what they’re thinking….
How is this van sales? Is it sales compareable to the build capacity of the plants? Are the vans still very profitable? What is the projections for future sales for this old body Van when most newer vans are built on the European style? What are the advanages for this style over the newer styles? – GM must have done their studies to continue to build this old style van.
THey must be thinking something. I think vans are more and more important as delivery vehicles. Their niche would be big, powerful van that could tow more I guess. They would have to provide a high top. It’s going to be interesting.
I like EVERYTHING about this current design. Don’t do too drastic a change. Work around this design and improve and I think you got a winner. FORD and RAM are just too UGHLY. The Ford from the side is jut irritating to look at and the other from behind. The RAM got nothing behind. It’s like a Tonka toy truck in the rear. Stamped metal and tabs or something to hold it together.
I truly hope that the camaro seventh generation with a v8 engine, if this final version becomes of the 6th generation becomes a success, the companies are gonna regret going ev after seeing the fires.
Doubt it would ever happen because of fitment issues, but maybe they could do an interior refresh and use the Silverado WT dash. Maybe on the next gen…
WOW! This changed my whole plans. I’m going to fix my old truck to keep it running a few more years as I wait to see if this van will be good. Don’t do too drastic a change. I kinda like the way it looks now and I need a low-roof one since I have only a low-roof garage.
I was planning on buying one as soon as this phony supply-chain issue was resolved but if I could get a gist of the change I’ll wait a little while longer to see. I’m only interested in the GMC version.
I”m never gonna buy a FORD or RAM as they are just too ughly and cheap looking. I mean WHEELY (it’s a car site) ughly. Was reluctantly going back to a truck or just using a bus.
I also hope they put a inline-6 diesel or a V-6 diesel. 4 cylinder diesel is just too small for me.
This is the first good news on what is happening to the beloved Express and Savana vans. I have owned many different brands over the last 55 years. For many years I was a Dodge devotee but then they went to Freight liners and then Mercedes.
The Econoline van was pretty good on a full frame with 6, 8 and 10 cylinder engines both gas and diesel. The new euro type vans all have unibody type construction and are more SUV type vehicles. It would be wonderful if GM would build a van just like the one they have now on the current truck frame with all the features of a modern pickup and engine options. My current savana is a 2015 with the 6.0 LS engine and the 6 speed Allison transmission. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned. Would love to have a 2023 Savana with the new 6.6 L8T and the 6 speed Allison. I hope that GMC will build a van just like the one they have with possibly a high roof option and a real truck style 4X4 and the new 10 speed Allison that is in all their HD models. That would be easy to do and the cost savings of having the same frame and engine options as the pickups would seem to me to be a wise move.
I’m 80 years old and my wife and I would like to have one more new vehicle to travel in. Please build me a standard wheelbase 3500 Savana cargo van with all the options and a V8 L8T with windows in the barn doors in black. Will have Advanced 4X4 in SLC Utah convert it to a 4X4 and drive off into the sunset. GM full size vans ROCK!!
4×4 with hi-top – that would be the cat’s meow. Wish this was coming sooner than 3 years.
I had a 80’s GMC bought used and that I used for my business for 10 years. NEVER gave me any trouble and except for defective part (ignition coil by NAPA that went belly up after 6 months) and a flat tire that damn thing ran and started 6 days a week with dozens of stops everyday in stop and go traffic and freeway sprints. NOTHING EVER went wrong with it. Not even the sliding door!
To this day, I’m floored. Always started. I sold it when we shut down our business. My dad got me the van and I don’t know where he got it. It had the V-8 in it.
I AM 80 YRS THIS MONTH. I AGREE EXACTLY. I WANT A GM VAN. I WANT REAL GOOD SEATS AWAYFROM THE DOOR , MORE FOOT ROOM TOO. A V8 NOT NECESSARY FOR ME.MAYBE AN INLINE 6
Wow, ive been waiting what seems like forever for something new. I have had chevy vans since 1976, my first was a 65. I guess like others i will believe it when i see it. there still is a huge following of these vans on this platform, easy to manuever, get into drive thru’s , and car washes to. Im lucky enough to have a 2017 ext 6.0, and just scored a 22 ext with the 6.6. These vehicles are so reliable, but in such a need just for some basic upgrades. I hope im here to see the new arrival.
Does anyone know when GM will make V8 vans again, or is the V8 Chevy van gone for good? 6.6 is supposed be an option still and a lot of us have orders with dealerships. None are being picked up. I’ve been tracking inventory coming from Wentzville and it doesn’t look like they’ve built a single V8 Express/Savana since end of summer 2022. If some engines don’t find their way to the Express line during the inventory control shut down at Fort Wayne, the V8 Chevy Van might really be a done deal.
UPDATE………………… NO Production date set for the 2500 Chevy Express,8CYL, extended cargo van I ordered on April 29 2021……..That’s not a typo 2021 … 2 YEARS AGO ! ORDER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. THATS ALL THE INFO I CAN GET !
I have been looking to purchase a late model used Express for a couple of years now. It is not uncommon to see these vans less than 4 years old with north of 200K on them. There is no way the customers for those vans can put up with the range issues of any EV. Gm can read the ads as well as I can.
I’ve been delivering bread for 26 years with Chevy box trucks (1 ton chassis). 25,000 miles a year. They have held up well.
Not everybody is on board with BEV’s. These vans have been around forever and have a proven record. If I had to make a guess, they will just make the V8 the sole engine. I thought the 4.3L V6 was supposed to be gone long ago so having only the 6,6L V8 makes sense form a cost standpoint. The cutaway version has that engine as standard anyway.
If I had to guess. The 6.6L V8 will become the sole engine. From a cost stand point, it wouldn’t make too much sense to keep the 4.3L V6(I thought GM stopped building them) just for this. Most of them are going to have the V8 anyway.
The 2.7 Gas Turbo matched with the 10-Speed is one I’d like to see. Plenty of torque and good mpg’s.