Hello everyone, I am thinking of buying a Chevrolet Express 2500 or 3500 for my family. I have 7 kids, so I need the room. I've been looking at Nissan NV's, but the Chevy's are a lot more available. My biggest concern is my wife drives the kids to and from school only a couple miles everyday 3 times a day. But gas mileage rated at 11, it's pretty killer with either the 6 liter or the 4.8. I'm curious what everyone's really getting with their vans. The Nissan comes with a v6 which I think would be great for the city but when I'm on the highway it would be struggling a little bit. I like the space of the Chevys but, I don't want to have my money just pouring into the gas tank if I don't have to. Which engine is the best to get for city gas mileage, and what are some realistic numbers? Thanks for the help.

 

The 6.0 needs a refinery to go with it. It is under 10mpg. 4.8 and 5.3 will do 16 mpg around town

 

That's kinda what I figured about the 6.0 thanks for confirmation. The 4.8 liter is what I'm looking at in the other van it is a 12 passenger 3500 extended

 

16mpg in town? I don't know how anyone gets that. I have a two month old 2015 and I am averaging 19.7L/100Km, which I believe calculates to 12mpg.

Well, maybe you guys actually are in a town, I am in the city. Lots of lights, traffic, hills, etc. I am watching my consumption close, it's tracked to the km every week.

 

Our minivan we had only got about 18 to 20 mpg, and my express gets 13.....not a huge diff, but its there.....

 

This is a good web site www.fuelly.com to get accurate real world mileage figures for different vehicles. If that doesn't work try this http://www.fuelly.com/car/

 

I just towed a 6x12 fully loaded u haul trailer 1500 miles from Va. to TX with my 04 with the 4.8 and got about 11-12 doing 75 on the highway .Mostly in 3rd gear till i got on good flat ground.

 

Unloaded 8-10 mpg city 12-15 highway 2003 Express Cargo 6.0.

 

Thanks for all the responses. Everyone is getting what I kind of figured, but is nice to hear actual things not just EPA estimates. Still have to find a good one at the right price abs go from there. Thanks again!

 

I have a 3500 with the 6.0 in mine and I average around 13-14 or so Highway, less in town of course.

No chance any of these vans get 16mpg in town, no matter what they are.

here is my fuelly page,

Express Van (Chevrolet Express 3500) | Fuelly