The Oldest New Car You Can Buy In The Us

The GM platform is over 30 years old and you can still buy it brand-new, but is the price right?

April 8, 2026 - 6:06AM EDT
By: Dimitar Angelov

When it comes to buying brand-new cars that offer an old-school feel, your options are extremely limited. Toyota still makes the 70 Series Land Cruiser, but that isn’t available in North America. But what about something even more utilitarian? GM has the answer. It comes in the form of the Chevrolet Express or as the slightly more upscale GM Savanna. The former offers more engine options. In its current iteration, the van has been around since 1995, and GM has been making continuous revisions, which have mostly to do with the engine and transmission.

There are configurations available

While other carmakers are throwing tech and large touchscreens in newer models, GM still offers a model that offers old-school simplicity and proven tech. The Chevy Express comes in two different wheelbases - Regular (135 inches) and Extended (155.1 inches). It can also be had as a cargo or passenger van, in both wheelbase options.

Unrivalled interior space usability

Chevy Express van offers up to 10,000 pounds fof towing capacity with the big V-8 engine

This also means you have plenty of options for seat configuration, ranging from two to 15 seats. For the cargo van, you get two seats as standard, with an optional five-seat configuration available. The passenger van comes with 12 seats as standard (driver included) while extended wheelbase models can seat up to 15.

It is hardly a surprise that cargo capacity is also impressive. The regular wheelbase allows for 239.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity while extended-wheelbase models offer up to 283.6 cubic feet. Moreover, the cargo floor can span up to 173.6 inches, which is ideal for hauling long items.

The powertrains are geared for utility, but pack a surprising amount of punch

The Chevy Express van can be had with a 4.3-liter EcoTec V-6 or a 6.6-liter L8T V-8, while the GMC Savanna is only available with the 4.3-liter unit. The smaller engine produces 276 horsepower at 5,200 RPM and 298 pound-feet at 3,900 RPM.

The larger, 6.6-liter unit packs 401 horsepower at 5,200 RPM and 464 pound-feet at 4,000 RPM. This allows for a 0 to 60 mph in around 6.9 seconds. The combined fuel economy is not great, as it typically sits around the low-teens, but you can tow up to 10,000 pounds with the bigger engine (7,400 pounds with the 4.3-liter V-6). Payload capacity is also impressive at 4,280 pounds, making it a durable workhorse.

Both engines are mated to a heavy-duty eight-speed automatic, which sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. And get this, the Chevy van also comes with a mechanical, limited-slip differential. Just keep in mind that the body-on-frame platform isn’t the most athletic, but it is a durable and proven design, and that’s all this van is about.

Charmingly utilitarian

I love that GM is still making a practical vehicle without fancy electronics. The headlights are still the old halogen-bulb type pieces, and there are no touchscreens to freeze, lag, or age the car after a few years. It’s a time machine. The standard bumpers are black, but you can opt for the chrome exterior package. The bumpers are also made of steel, and that’s standard.

The plain cloth seats are a nice change of pace, and they are all manually-adjustable. Each of them has a retractable armrest. With 245/75R16 tires, the rubber will be cheap to replace. The mechanical components are tried and tested, so breakdowns are highly unlikely. The only downside is that the engines (especially the 6.6-liter) are shoehorned far into the engine bay, making even basic maintenance challenging.

The most divisive aspect of the Chevy/ GM van may be the price

The Chevrolet Express starts at $44,605 (MSRP) for the regular wheelbase cargo van. The GM Savanna starts at the exact same price. The Express 2500 passenger van starts at $50,345. Prices can go up to $53,480 for the Chevy and $54,290 for the GM Savanna, despite the latter not offering a V-8.

Things you can buy in the same price range: Toyota 4Runner (from $43,565), Mazda CX-90 (from $40,330), Honda Pilot (from $42,195), Toyota Sienna (from $40,420), Chrysler Pacifica (from $44,445).

What are your thoughts on the Chevy/GM van? Would you buy a back-to-basics, old-school utilitarian van with unmatched practicality? Or would you go for one of the more modern equivalents?

About the author

Dimitar Angelov has been an automotive journalist since 2014. His passion for cars and motorcycles led him to take up classic car restoration at the Classic Car Museum in Malta. While living there, he also graduated with a Master's in Media and Communications. Aside from Torquenews, his work can also be seen on Topspeed.com, HotCars.com, Motorheads.com, Jalopnik.com, and his own website, Ridereverie.com, where he also includes motorcycle content.

Other relevant experiences in the automotive scene include working at a Toyota dealership, professional driving, and automotive insurance. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Experience

2012-2017 and 2025-Present: Insurance Advisor - ANG Univers and Generali Insurance Group
2016-2016: Car salesman at Toyota dealership
2014-Present: Automotive journalist, blogger, vlogger, test driver

Education