Overview & Reviews
While today's minivans offer levels of comfort and performance on par with sedans, the Chevrolet Astro was a minivan from a different era. Born in the mid-1980s when full-size Chevy vans were still in style, the Astro modeled the looks of its bigger brothers. It also shared their tough body-on-frame construction and rear-wheel-drive layout. Compared to front-wheel-drive, car-based minivans, the Chevy Astro was a true workhorse with considerable towing and hauling capabilities.
However, it was nowhere close to more modern minivans when it came to day-to-day convenience and driving ease. Its old-school, box-on-wheels design located the engine within close proximity of the passenger compartment, resulting in cramped quarters for the driver and front passenger, and high cabin noise levels. Getting kids in and out wasn't easy either, thanks to the van's high step-in height and single sliding rear door.
Ride and handling characteristics weren't bad considering the Astro's rudimentary suspension components, though driving it was certainly more akin to a truck than a car. Fuel economy was similarly trucklike, given the engine's origins in GM's light truck line and the Astro's hefty curb weight. Chevrolet did offer the Astro van with an all-wheel-drive system, which made it one of the handful of vans, mini or otherwise, capable of tracking confidently through snow and ice.
To be sure, the Chevrolet Astro fulfilled the basic requirements for a minivan, given its accommodations for up to eight passengers, removable rear seats and considerable 170 cubic feet of cargo room. But given that car-based competitors like the Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna have long been far nicer to drive and easier to use, we don't recommend the anachronistic Astro as a used vehicle choice unless you're in need of a small tow vehicle or family/cargo hauler at a rock-bottom price.
Most Recent Chevrolet Astro Introduced for 1985, the Chevrolet Astro, and its twin, the GMC Safari, lived on through the 2005 model year without a major redesign. Along with Ford's Aerostar (which debuted the following year), the Astro was a stopgap response to the wildly popular Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager twins. Truck-based underpinnings put these late entries at a significant disadvantage alongside the front-drive Chrysler minis, and both GM and Ford eventually undertook clean-sheet minivan designs. However, a niche market emerged for the Astro, and Chevrolet sold it profitably to ordinary consumers and fleet customers alike for the next two decades. A 4.3-liter V6 was standard on all Chevrolet Astro passenger vans. (Early cargo versions came with a four-cylinder engine.) This engine went through several iterations, producing anywhere from 150 to 200 horsepower, depending on the year and model. It held steady at 190 hp and 250 pound-feet of torque from 1997-2005. Initially, GM offered a standard five-speed manual transmission, but almost all Astros were sold with a four-speed automatic that soon became the sole transmission offering. Early vans were exclusively rear-wheel drive; Chevrolet added the option of all-wheel drive in 1990. Towing capacity was right around 6,000 pounds with either drivetrain. Chevy Astros of the 1980s seated only five passengers in two rows. In 1990, Chevrolet created an Extended version that was 10 inches longer (190 inches overall) and could be equipped with a third-row bench, increasing capacity to eight. Notably, it rode atop the same 111-inch wheelbase as the standard van. From 1995 onward, Chevrolet sold only the extended-length Astro. Standard equipment varied over the years, but most Astros you encounter on the used market will have 15-inch wheels (16s starting in 2003), power steering, air-conditioning, cloth seating, an AM/FM stereo, power accessories and cruise control. Options included rear air-conditioning, leather upholstery, second-row bucket seats (reducing seating capacity to seven), upgraded stereos, towing preparation and a locking rear differential. The Chevrolet Astro changed remarkably little over the years, though there were some noteworthy developments. Four-wheel antilock brakes were made standard on Astro passenger vans in 1990. The brake system was upgraded again in 2003, when the van's rear drum brakes were swapped out for discs. A driver-side front airbag first became available in 1993, and Chevy made it standard the next year. Dual front airbags were fitted to all vans starting in '96. The addition of airbags improved the Astro's crashworthiness in government frontal-impact tests, but prospective buyers should note that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the van "Poor" (the lowest possible score) in its higher-speed, frontal-offset crash test -- hardly a surprise given the vehicle's aged structural design. A 1995 face-lift gave the Astro a fresher exterior look. The face-lift spread to the interior in 1996, bringing an all-new dashboard with easy-to-use controls. Speed-sensitive power steering was added to ease parking in 1997, and in 1999, Chevrolet adopted a new all-wheel-drive system that sent power to the front wheels only when the rear wheels began to slip -- thus improving fuel economy.
This is my 3rd Astro, a 2002 LS model.
I hope that GM comes to its senses and
redesignes the ASTRO. There is no
other package like it on the road -
good cargo and towing ability and room
for my family and still has room for
more stuff behind the 3rd row!). Mid-
sized SUVs scrunch a 3rd row (if you
can even get it in the highest costs
models) right up against the back
glass. Full sized SUVs cost 10-15k
more and drink more fuel with no more
space. This is a great package. GM -
youve redesigned the s-10
replacement. Now its time to do the
same for the ASTRO!
Maybe the dealership sold us a lemon,
but we have had problems from day one.
We had to replace our tires the first
time at under 10,000 miles because we
could not keep the alignment in check.
This van is on its fourth set of tires
and I have lost count of the alignments
we have had done. We take good care of
our cars as far as preventive maint.,
but this van has been nothing but
trouble. By the way, it only has
49,000 miles on it. Other problems
included air conditioning problems. I
have rthe safety reviews of this van
and it is listed as "poor". My
suggestion is if you want a minivan,
get a minivan.
PURCHASED I OWNER ASTRO W/50000 PUT
110000 ON IT SINCE NEVER A MAJOR
PROBLEM
JUST BRAKES TIRES AND FLUID
DID ONE COMPLETE TUNE UP AT 100000
RUNS GREAT
CARRIES HEAVY LOADS W/ EASE
I love these vans.
Theres nothing like a beefy Chevy Van, makes all those wussy looking minis look like they came from the Barbie factory. 4.3 V6 rules the road. I hope in the future they will make a dual slider on the Drivers side, and thats the only negative.
Possibly the ultimate utility vehicle --
8 passenger advertised capacity (ive
had 13), towing capacity comparable to a
pickup, great for camping, etc. In
other words, great if you need to move
large numbers of people and large/bulky
stuff. If your people/stuff fit into a
regular minivan (Caravan or Odyssey),
buy that -- easier to drive and requires
less gas. Dont go in the mud, and
forget working on the car yourself --
the engine is rather inaccessible.
My 1st was a 89 w/160000mls. Traded in
for my 95. Ive put 35,000mls in 2 yrs.
This is by far the best van ive owned.
Tune ups are tough. Outside of routine
stuff & fuel pump, no major mechanical
problems. its got 108,000mls now. I
have 6 kids, not too big- not too
small. Not a luxo-van, but nice car for
the money. Lots of power and drives
nice for a van. Drove to Florida,
filled gas in NJ, VA & GA( round trip
3,000mls @ 130 gals.).
This is my 3rd Astro van, having
driven my previous vans 160,000 and
99,500 miles, I am obviously very
impressed with the reliablility and
quality of these cars. Interior design
is very utilitarian and practical. 170
cubic feet of cargo space! Cant beat
that with a Chrysler minivan. All-
wheel drive is very good in the snow.
Engine has torque galore...very fast
off the line and when towing a trailer.
The van is a bit ugly but it gets the
job done it have expictnial take off
power and maxes out aroung 130mph.
There hasnt be any majour problems
with it and it workes good to tow a
trailer.
I bought my Astro with 15,000 miles on
it. It has run well, although Chevy
has had a prpoblem with the drive
train clunking for 9 years and hasnt
fixed the problem yet. I dont like
the fact that you can choose to
recirculate the air. Also If the fan
is blowing on head and feet at the
same time it autmatically uses the
AC. I never could get the heater to
heat my feet and not my face. The
resale value is a joke. But I do like
the power and being able to take the
seats out for hauling things. Overall
Ive been just satisfied, not
overjoyed and not completely unhappy. User Reviews:
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