2004 Chevrolet Express 1500

The Express is Chevrolet's full-size work van, the one you see hauling cargo and people for fleets and small businesses. It drives like a truck, with a tall seating position and a heavy, solid feel that makes highway cruising easy. The cabin is plain and functional, with hard plastics and a simple dashboard, but there's plenty of room up front. Cargo space is enormous, and the boxy body means you can load it right up to the ceiling without worrying about curves. This is the cargo version, so you give up the passenger van's rear seats and windows for a flat load floor and solid panels. The 4.3L V6 makes 195 horsepower and works with a four-speed automatic, which is adequate for light hauling but feels strained when fully loaded. Expect a firm, bouncy ride when empty, which is the trade-off for the heavy-duty springs that let it carry a real payload.