2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo is an all-purpose, heavy-duty, work vehicle. It comes with a choice of several engines and power-train options. You can get an Express Cargo in a number of different body styles and trim levels as well. One of the best things about this vehicle is that you can customize it to your specific business needs. There's a version of the Express Cargo geared towards passenger transportation and another built for hauling around cargo. We will take a look at the top ten reasons to buy an Express Cargo and a few reasons why it might not be your best option.

What's New for 2019?

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo is almost identical to the 2018 model. This work van hasn't changed very much throughout the years. For 2019, we get a couple of new driver-assist systems. These are a Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo – The Pros

1. A Powerful Engine

A cargo or passenger van will need a lot of power and torque. Fortunately, the Chevrolet Express Cargo offers plenty of both. You can get an Express Cargo equipped with one of three different engine choices. The base engine is a 4.3-liter V-6 with variable valve timing and direct injection. It produces an impressive 276 horsepower and 298 pounds-feet of torque. If that's not enough for your needs, you can upgrade to a 6.0-liter, Vortec V-8 that cranks out 341 horsepower with 373 pounds-feet of torque.

Chevrolet also offers the Express Cargo in a diesel-engine model. This power plant is a 4-cylinder turbo-diesel that produces 181 horsepower. It can haul and tow with the best of them thanks to the 369 pounds-feet of torque. This can be a great economical choice that may save you money at the gas pump. The smooth-running diesel engine provides a low amount of vibrations and noise. This helps you to transport, load and unload your cargo with ease.

2. Great Performance and Handling

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo provides great overall performance. It also features excellent steering and handling. An available 6-speed, automatic, Hydra-Matic transmission system allows the driver to manually shift through the gears when needed. Braking power is smooth and strong to allow for safe stopping even when your van is loaded down with heavy cargo.

3. Reliability that Won't Let You Down

The Chevrolet Cargo Express has been a mainstay in the work-van market for years. It has one of the best records when it comes to toughness and reliability. These vans are mechanically simple in a good way. There's not much that can go wrong, and it's easily repaired when something does finally wear out. Many a company still has Cargo Express vans in their fleet from the very first year of production in 1995.

4. Customization and Flexibility

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo can be customized in a variety of ways. You can outfit the interior to accommodate passengers if your primary business need is human transportation. You can configure the interior for delivery services and hauling goods. You can even outfit the inside of the Express Cargo for tool and parts storage for any type of repair or service-oriented company. There are endless options such as ladder racks, sliding side doors, and equipment packages.

5. A Ton of Cargo Space

Cargo space is obviously one of the top priorities for this type of vehicle. The Chevrolet Express Cargo will not disappoint you in this category. You can get an Express Cargo in different lengths and heights, as well as in different configurations for cargo hauling. At the top end of the spectrum, you can have as much as 284.4 cubic-feet of storage space.

6. Plenty of Room for Passengers

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo can be configured to haul around tons of cargo or up to 15 passengers. This makes it ideal for a bus or transportation-oriented business as well as for delivery, fleet and work duties. Even when configured for cargo transport, you can have seats installed to accommodate up to five passengers. This can be handy if you need a lot of hands to load and unload your goods.

7. High Towing and Payload Capacities

All of the power and torque of the engine choices translates into impressive towing and payload capacities. The numbers will depend on which model, trim level and configuration you choose. At the top end of the field, you can get a hauling capacity of up to 4,282 pounds. When properly outfitted, the Express Cargo can tow up to 10,000 pounds. Those numbers are some of the best in this class of vehicle.

8. Modern High-Tech Features

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo may be a simple machine, but it still has a lot of high-tech features available. This van can be equipped with the Chevrolet Infotainment System. USB and Bluetooth connectivity is available for your smart devices. Calls can be made hands-free as you drive. You also get a navigation system and a 7-inch touchscreen display. The display is in color with sharp, easy-to-see graphics. A nice sound system is also available. Commercial Link is a great way to keep your business running efficiently with an onboard vehicle-management system.

9. Impressive Safety Features

Chevrolet has taken great care to make sure this is a safe vehicle for you, your passengers or your company drivers. You get some nice, modern driver assists in the 2019 Express Cargo. There's a Side Blind-Zone Alert. You also get Forward Collision Detection and a Lane Departure Warning. A Tire Pressure Monitor helps you keep tabs on the tires and a Rear-Parking Assist helps you to back into that unloading spot. This van is engineered for safety too. It has steel beams in each side and a sturdy frame. You can even opt for an Electronic Stability Control system with Traction Control from StabiliTrak.

10. A Proven Full-Frame Design

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo has a full-frame design that has stood the test of time. Not only does it increase the vehicle safety, but it helps make the van more customizable too. It's sturdy, stable and secure. It's one of the many engineering elements that makes the Express Cargo such a reliable vehicle.  

Reasons Not to Buy a 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo – The Cons

1. Outdated Looks

The exterior design is getting a little long-in-the-tooth for the Express Cargo. If it looks like something from decades past, that's because it literally is. Still, this may not matter too much for a work vehicle where utility and function are much more important than style.

2. Nothing New for Decades

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo is still considered a part of the first generation for this vehicle. The odd thing is, this first generation got its start in 1995. In all of those years, we haven't seen a major update for the Express Cargo. Some added tech and driver-assist features are the only additions we've seen in over 20 years.

3. The Touchscreen Interface

The touchscreen display features bright, crisp graphics. Unfortunately, the interface can be a bit clumsy to use. It's not the most intuitive system on the road in 2019. Still, it works well enough once you figure out all of its idiosyncrasies. Being able to use voice commands also somewhat negates this from being a major issue.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo has three major competitors out on the road today. These are the 2019 Ram ProMaster, the 2019 Ford Transit and the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The Ram comes in at around the same base price as the Chevrolet. It offers a slightly higher payload capacity. The Chevy gives you slightly more cargo space and a much higher towing capacity. The Chevy also wins out when it comes to sheer engine power and overall performance.

The Ford Transit is another fine work or fleet vehicle in the same general price range as the Chevrolet Express Cargo. It even offers more overall cargo space in its largest configuration. The Chevy once again wins out when it comes to engine power and performance. The Chevy gets more customization options and once again has a better towing capacity. Last of all, we come to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The Mercedes offers a lot of style and some nice interior-comfort features. The Chevy wins out in fuel economy, payload capacity and cargo space.

In Conclusion:

The 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo is a fine fleet vehicle. It is a great choice as your lone work van or for the needs of any small business too. The amount of customization options available means that it can fill a roll for just about any company. Its reliability and performance make it an excellent choice when compared to the competition.