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.
Good running used to commute to and
from work.
Bought the Astro new in 1995 and
planned to drive it 30K on company
business. Things changed and I have it
seven years later. I have not done
anything to it other than maintenance
in 126000 miles. I love sitting up
above most other
vehicles including the rest of the mini
vans. The Astro is responsive and
solid and gets great milage on the
highway 20mpg. We have camped in it
with the back seats out, my son and I
have driven it several time to Colorado
to ski (just through everything
includings downhill skis in the back
and go) and I drive it everyday to work
Not many vehicles can do all that.
Absolutely no leg room for the front seat passanger. The wipers had several
problems mostly stemming from cold solder joints on the control board.(this
is a $45 fix from the dealer if you change it yourself) The AC fan switch is
under-rated for the blower and burns out often. There is also a check valve for
the AC system that plugs up about as often and causes the AC to blow out
the heater vent when accelerating or driving above 55 MPH. I have also found
out that the front seats do not provide enough back and shoulder support on
long trips and there is a sharp edge under the front seat foam that will
eventually cut a hole in the driver and front passanger seats.
I bought my Astro new. The biggest
repair I have ever had on the van was
the locks failing. All I have had to
do is normal repairs. The back door
just failed last year at 185,000
miles. I havent had it fixed. It
almost has 200,000 miles on it and I
still has get up and go. It doesnt run
like it has 198,500 miles on it. Im
looking at getting a newer one.
We have had Bertha for eight years. She
has hauled, kids, dogs, lumber, trash
and everything in between without
complaint. She has over 170000 miles on
her. We plan to keep her till the
wheels fall off.
Ive had this van 2 years, and its the
most comfortable, reliable vehicle Ive
ever had. Im a big man at nearly 300
lbs with a very bad back. This is the
first vehicle I could drive for hours
without much stress on my back. Engine
is strong, mileage about 20. Problems,
heater control knobs are two weak and
expensive to replace. Feet are cramped
by fender well protruding inside
floorboard too much. Classic chevy
prob. Large min have difficulty getting
comfortable on passenger side. Van
rides like a dream. 60 series tires add
stability over 75s. Would consider
bying another Astro. Family loves it.
We like this vehicle overall. We have
had minor things go wrong with it, such
as battery, (twice in 2 years, with
dealership battery), the motor in the
door for the windows went out, and a
clip that was attached to the motor
that made the back window open broke.
All things my husband was able to fix.
Finally, the van depreciated REALLY
quickly. Im not sure if its because
there are so many of them out there
now, or what but for the $21,000 we
paid for it when it was less than a
year old, and very low miles, it
depreciated over $10,000 in two years.
This is a dependable rugged van. The AWD makes all the difference. Moves
through snow and slippery roads with ease. Sitting high makes visability
great. Pulled my 2000 pound boat like it wasnt there.
We sold our 1995 Astro only to buy
another one for 2000. This van is the
most under rated family vehicle on
the road. It is more roomy than the
Full Sized Expensive SUVs. The 4.3
6 cyclinder engine delivers a very
good performance, despite what the
horsepower rating of 190 says. This
van is very smart.
Great vehicle. I bought it new.
Altinator went out at 79K but so what?
Good on fuel, good on tires. Can fit 7
people in my van. I paid 21k in 95.
This vehicle is the biggest bang for
the buck.
The 4.3L engine is Chevrolets best
engine. I have a friend that has 237K
on his 91 Astro and not problems expect
for AC....and normal maintenance stuff. User Reviews:
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