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.
We are on our second Astro. We love
the room, comfort & ease of movement,
(important when you have to get back to
little kids in car seats quickly no
center console to trip over). Most of
all we found that this van is reliable,
powerful easy drive, sits high for
great visibility. Lots of cargo room.
There isnt a minivan that can compare!
It is like an SUV w/minivan price
w/better gas mileage and
manuverability. Astros are only for the
economically minded who need a reliable
work horse to tote a family.
139,000 mi on this van,stil runs
excellent all maintenance performed by
owner,great family
hauler/traveler,17/22 MPG replaced
engine seals,timing chain,oil cooler
lines and all brake componets exc.brake
lines at approx.120,000 mi.,water pump
tensioner pulley at 90,000 mi.,major
tune-up at 100,000 mi.including o2
sensors,two previous minor brake jobs
at 45,000 and 70,000 mi. window motors
replaced 100,000 mi.,fuel pump
replaced, 75,000 mi.,other than too
many brake jobs this has been a very
reliable van,no rust yet and is
operated in northwest Ohio.
Chevy has left the challenge in place
for any other manufacturer to put as
much value in a van as the Astro. It
may be an old design, but it continues
to fill a niche in the NA market. The
room, fuel mileage and towing are
great! The styling may seem boxy, but
when you are looking for reliability,
you cannot beat this combination.
Everything went to hell at 60,000
miles... with me in it! Its been in
the shop 6 times in the last two
months. Every time I make any money
it goes to my mechanic. As soon as I
get back from SCIs New Years run I
get to get the tranny fixed. Anyone
want buy an Astro?
The Astro has been a good family van.
It is big, boxie, and rides like a
truck but that is a trade off that is
OK with us. We feel safe, have a good
view from all of the seats, and have
plenty of room for the kids. Have only
replaced the alternator and battery.
Make sure the doors are closed, with
all the interior lights it does not
take long to run the battery down.
This is more like a truck than a car,
but is holding-up better than the
smaller mini-vans. We have 60+k after
five years and plan on it lasting
another five years well past 100k.
Got the LS AWD (with leather and every
available option) for family trips. No
aftermarked flip-down video made for
the model. Owned vehicle 6 months and
has been in the shop 7 times, once to
re-attach the gas tank! Rattles like
garbage truck and parts coming apart on
the interior. Had a 93 Astro that we
drove all over the US with no problems.
Get the impression that all the
attention goes into SUV design and
production. This could be a great
vehicle.
Many problems after the first 2 years
(35000 miles). Transfer case was rebuilt
twice, 35000 miles apart because of
locking up on cornering. Cant keep
brakes in it - rotors keep warping -
brake system is to small for the weight
of vehicle. Power steering pump, 1 door
lock actuator, 2 sets of idler arms, oil
cooler lines, ignition coil, ignition
switch housing and pinion oil seal all
replaced. Right now at 76,000 miles my
Astro is in the shop with the engine out
because of a coolant leak. I am amazed
at Chevys lack of concern for this
lemon!!!
HOPELESS,EXPENSIVE, HIGH RESIDUAL
VALUE, LOW RESELL VALUE, HIGH
MAINTAINANCE, HIGH GAS CONSUMTION, UGLY
DESIGN
I bought my Astro LT Wagon new, and
have accumulated over 133,000 miles to
date. No engine or transmission
troubles, no air conditioning
problems, only a power window motor
and wiper relay have failed in
service. This is a great work record,
for a reliable and strong van. Plenty
of 4.3 V-6 Power for any driving
condition too!
GREAT VAN! The only thing this van
needs is more horsepower and torque! User Reviews:
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