Absent from the mid-size commercial van business since the 2005 demise of the Astro, Chevy is set to return with this answer to Ford’s Transit Connect. Revealed at the Chicago Auto Show, and due in showrooms this fall, the City Express is a unit-body design, putting power to the pavement via the front wheels. And in a departure for a General Motors commercial vehicle, that power routes from engine to front halfshafts through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The only other vehicle in the Chevrolet inventory with a CVT, added as a 2014 option, is the Spark minicar.

Like the Transit Connect, power is modest: 131 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0-liter DOHC 24-valve four. Curb weight is yet to be published—expect it to be about 5000 pounds—and max payload will be 1500 pounds. EPA fuel economy ratings are TBD.

Naturally, Chevrolet bills the City Express as all-new—which it is . . . to Chevrolet. But if you’re experiencing a little déjà vu, there’s a good reason. The new van is supplied by Nissan, and aside from a few cosmetic and interior details, is Chevy’s version of the Nissan NV200, introduced just last year at this same show.

Cargo Quotient

Unlike Ford’s Transit Connect, which is available as a family wagon, the City Express is strictly utility, with two seats up front, and a tall cargo hold that’s wide enough to accommodate a 4x8 sheet of building material flat on the vinyl-clad floor. It’s 82 inches from the vertical rear doors—which open 40/60—to the front seatbacks, and the passenger seatback can be folded flat to accommodate longer items (up to 116 inches) inside the van, like ladders and such.

View Photos MARC URBANO, THE MANUFACTURER

The maximum cargo capacity is listed as 122.7 cubic feet. There are 20 cargo mounting points in the hold, six D-rings set into the floor for tie-downs, and six mounting points up top for a roof rack. In addition to the rear doors (windows optional), the new van has sliding doors on both sides, a center console with a file folder bin, and the front passenger seatback doubles as a work table when it’s folded flat.

The City Express will be offered in two trim levels: LS (base) and LT. Standard fare on LS models will include such comforts as power windows, a 12-volt power outlet, 15-inch wheels, anti-lock brakes, and stability control. The LT adds heated power side mirrors, keyless remote entry, cruise control, and back-up sensors.

Chevy will also offer a Technology package for the LT version, including a navigation system with 5.8-inch touch screen, a rear-view camera, satellite radio, a USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity. Pricing, like EPA ratings, is not yet announced. Look for a base price just north of $22,000.

MARC URBANO, THE MANUFACTURER

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