Overview & Reviews
At its introduction, the Chevrolet Venture and its corporate siblings were top-notch examples of the hot minivan class. We went so far as to describe it as "outstanding," impressed with its communicative chassis, sharp steering and nimble handling. Well, in a "the 320-pound left tackle was surprisingly nimble" sort of way.
At the time, the Venture matched Chrysler's innovative new minivans by offering a driver-side sliding door and two wheelbases, then added a few tricks of its own to entice families. We weren't so impressed with its toothy chrome grille and uncomfortable modular seating, but in general, we considered the Chevrolet Venture a good buy.
Time and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was not kind, however, as newer minivans and a poor offset crash rating conspired to sink the Venture's favorable opinion marks. The downturn of all minivan sales also torpedoed Chevy's entry, forcing General Motors to throw together a replacement van using the Venture's body, a long aardvark-inspired nose and raised ride height to create the supposed SUV-like Uplander. Nobody bought the idea of a crossover minivan and for that matter, nobody bought the vehicle either, signaling the eventual end of Chevy's participation in this mom-mobile segment.
Most Recent Chevrolet Venture
The Chevrolet Venture was sold from 1997-2005. Buyers could choose from standard and extended wheelbases, and three- and four-door bodies. The three-door body disappeared in 2000, while only the long-wheelbase model was available in 2005. Seven-passenger "modular" seating with individually removable chairs was standard, while eight-passenger capacity and middle-row captain's chairs were optional.
Standard features included antilock brakes, front side airbags (starting in 1998), a tilt steering wheel and an acceptable quota of cupholders and storage bins. Traction control, a power-sliding door, rear seat audio and climate controls, and a load-leveling suspension were options. As its life progressed, features like leather seating, rear parking assist, OnStar and satellite radio became available. A Warner Bros. special edition featuring special badges and a VHS entertainment system (later DVD) was offered from 2000-'03. Although initially satisfied with Venture's fit and finish, we eventually saw it as increasingly cheap and as just one area where Chevy's minivan was being outclassed by a new generation of competition.
The Venture's safety was also put into question by the IIHS' frontal offset crash test, which slapped a poor rating on the minivan's Pontiac Trans Sport clone. Although it did just fine in the NHTSA's full-frontal crash test, other minivans at the time did better at handling the added structural stresses of an offset collision. However, the Venture was the first minivan to offer front side airbags as standard equipment, while standard antilock brakes and optional all-wheel-drive improved traction.
During its first few years on sale in the late-1990s, the Venture was our top pick in the minivan segment. But once the next millennium dawned, so did other, more attractive family haulers particularly those from foreign manufacturers. Although a well-equipped Venture could present a good bargain, it would be a wise idea to shop newer minivan designs that have better safety ratings.
Past Chevrolet Ventures
There was only one generation of the Chevrolet Venture. It replaced the Lumina minivan.
User Reviews:
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Love it! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
By g-cat - September 14 - 2:00 amWe love it! It is comfortable and drives well. We have driven it from WA to Mexico several times and it was great. The kids kept busy with the videos and we were happy listening to the radio and cds.
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2000 Chevy Venture - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
By krohn - September 9 - 2:00 amI love the Chevy Venture!! Its easy to drive, use options and comfortable. Its very roomy. The bench seat in back has lots of leg room!
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Chevy venture van - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
By airplane - September 6 - 2:00 amthis van i have had has been somewhat reliable but from now on i would not buy anything but honda or toyota unless they really made american cars more reliable.
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My van - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
By jsray - September 5 - 2:00 amIt has been a very good car, up until this past year minor things are starting to go wrong with it.
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1997 Chevy Venture - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
By pod43 - August 29 - 2:00 amI love this van. Very roomy.
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a great family vehicle - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
By JLA - August 29 - 2:00 amA great family vehicle, not fun to drive-but comfortable.The suspension needs to be firmer.
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Bang for the buck Minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
By qamarmu - August 19 - 2:00 amReplace my 2000 Chevy blazer with 2002 Venture WB edition. Nice minivan, saw all other vans and found every thing in this van and then some. With 2 kids its fun to go out for long drive in this DVD equiped van and carying all the bags and toys in not a problem. Chevy enginers should consider the windsheild wipers, Odometer rest, cruise contol and center consoule as improvements to the van.
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Always Chevrolet - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
By American Buyer - August 17 - 2:00 amFirst minivan. We love it! Gas milage averages all around in the mid to upper 20s. Plenty of room. Very convienient. Very comfortable, just got home from a 1500 mile road trip. Have had zero problems with our power sliding door.
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Happy with Chevy Venture WB Edition - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
By chevy fan - August 17 - 2:00 amWe wanted more room, so we traded in our Chevy Blazer for the Venture. We were close to buying the Montana Vision Van, but were able to get a better deal from Chevy. The Venture has loads of features geared toward families on the move...DVD player w/remote, in-dash 6 CD changer, air compressor, rear organizer, seating for 8...I could go on and on. We are extremely pleased!
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love it - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
By jennifer liedel - August 14 - 2:00 ami love my van i am so comfertable in it my kids absolutly love it also i have so much room to put things in it and it can get up and go. our gas milage is wonderful we get about 24 miles to the gallon. i would buy another one again.
