Chevrolet Astro car: description, specifications and reviews

Over the years, motorists are looking for a more practical car. It should contain more things than just a sedan. Some go to the station wagon. Others prefer minivans. But for many this word is associated with the ubiquitous "Transporters" and "Vito". And it never even occurred to anyone to buy Chevrolet Astro Van. But in vain. What is the difference between this car and its European counterparts? Yes, almost everyone. But first things first.

Characteristic

Probably, each of us represents, as a true American car should look like. Rough, large, massive. It is designed to carry something more than just passengers. In the US, such a car should contain a lot of load and be as comfortable as possible. And so much so that it does not cause fatigue in the many thousands of miles. To cross an entire continent in such a car? No problem! And most of us learned about such minivans from American films. Remember at least the legendary comedy "Alone at home." Americans are very fond of cars like Chevrolet Astro. Feedback from Russian owners is no less positive. It's really a good and practical car.

But why are there so few in our country? Many are afraid of the big charge of fuel, after all Americans simply are not able to do economic cars. Even on passenger cars they, without hesitation, put 4-liter motors, and it is considered the norm. In addition, many are afraid of lack of spare parts. After all, officially this car was not delivered to Russia. Hence the stereotype that you can get the right part only from disassembly, and not the fact that it is in your city or region. But for some reason, the owners' reviews describe it as an excellent minivan, comfortable, roomy, on which you can find any spare parts.

Chevrolet Astro and its design

At first glance you can see: a typical "American". Huge, tall, with large wheels, almost a truck. In the design immediately strikes a familiar grille, which Chevrolet uses on many frame off-road vehicles. Rectangular headlamps, a large emblem and a massive bumper are all characteristic features of the American Chevrolet Astro. Tuning this car is not needed. It has already been finalized from the factory. He just says: "Buy me, drive and enjoy!" Everything is good in this car. And the most characteristic feature is the lack of modesty in design. This feature distinguishes all "true" American models. With maximum simplicity of the lines, the designers succeeded in creating a formidable, combat vehicle. Practically an armored car. No elegant, smooth lines, bevels. Square silhouette and wide moldings on the rapids - more than this car does not need anything. And he looks really rich. Where is the modest "Volkswagen" and "Mercedes"? Here it is, real American luxury and practicality, and for little money. By the way, the two top lights burn constantly when the ignition is switched on. These are safety requirements. And in the courtyard was then the 95th year.

Interior

Americans do not like close lounges. This can be seen in any car that is made in the US. Even two-door "kupeshki" will give odds to the longest universal. A tight saloon and an American car are incompatible concepts. The same goes for Chevrolet Astro. The salon is designed for 7 seats. And even the rear row is able to accommodate three adult passengers in a well-fed complexion. European competitors have everything in order already. The third person will be cramped. The first thing I want to note is the level of comfort. Even the rear passengers have an armrest, not to mention the cupholders and various niches. In general, the cabin "scattered" a lot of boxes, niches. Front - two glove box and also cup holders. Everything is located as comfortable as possible, so as not to cause discomfort during the ride. And if you are going to go a long way (which, in fact, and calculated "Chevrolet Astro"), ergonomics in the salon plays a significant role. By the way, landing this car is slightly higher than that of the "Vito" - this is a big plus. Also it should be noted the great visibility. Another feature - velor sheathing. Sitting in such a salon, you feel "at home". The car does not repel you by "American" - you want to sit in it again and again. The ceiling heights, like the general space, are more than enough. By the salon you can walk literally "on foot". And if seven people leave for the trip, each of them will feel as comfortable as possible. A characteristic feature of the "Americans" is a hard, rumbling plastic. But this is not about Chevrolet Astro. The only sound you will hear is the melody from the speakers. But in the sink here - a cassette player. Alas, the 90's make themselves felt. Also there is air conditioning, power windows, steering wheel and seat adjustments in different directions. The interior of "Chevrolet Astro" turned out to be a solid "five". Here everything is for the convenience of the driver and passengers. And what else is needed for a car of this class?

Chevrolet Astro: specifications

Under the hood of the minivan is a 190-strong six-cylinder engine with a volume of 4.3 liters.
In 90% of cases, having heard this, Russian motorists once and for all delete Chevrolet Astro from their list, giving preference to "Germans" and "Frenchmen".

Consumption

Despite such a large volume, fuel consumption in the city, say the reviews, is between 15 and 17 liters. And he "eats" the 92nd gasoline. The transmission here is only automatic. It is very reliable and does not require attention. By the way, despite this heavy weight, this car is very dynamic. Up to a hundred it accelerates in 11 seconds - this is the passport data for Chevrolet Astro. The characteristics of the engine allow you to safely go for overtaking, not being afraid for the fact that the machine suddenly "does not pull." By the way, on the highway this 4-liter "monster" consumes 11 liters. Some translate it into gas and generally forget about the problem of expenditure, although it is not at all. This is a normal figure for the average minivan.

Suspension

For what they love this car - so it's for smooth running. Large wheels with a high profile literally swallow all the irregularities, and knocking and vibration almost do not reach the driver. If we take into account the conditions of our roads, then this is just an excellent choice. Clearance is also great, however, due to the long overhangs, it will not be possible to run it off-road. Still, it's a conqueror of great roads. As for the repair of the suspension, over 20 years of operation only the consumables are changed. They are springs, shock absorbers, silentblocks and steering tips. In general, everything that an ordinary car requires. In rare cases, the ball is changed. Reviews say that all the details of the suspension are designed for a long life. And to be afraid that something "unknown" will suddenly break, that it's simply impossible to get to Russia, it's not worth it. In extreme cases, you can write out parts directly from the US, through the well-known "Ebay". Therefore, there are no problems with the search for spare parts during the operation of Chevrolet Astro.

Price

Depending on the condition of the car can be purchased at a price of 170 to 400 thousand rubles, which is quite cheap at the current exchange rate. Year of release of cars - 90th. And despite this age, very good copies are found on the secondary market. The quality of the paintwork is high. These cars rot rarely.

Conclusion

As you can see, Chevrolet Astro is an excellent alternative to European minivans. On the forums there was not a single response that would say that this is a bad car, useless and expensive in service. The American justifies his price by 100 percent. And if you need an inexpensive, practical, roomy and at the same time comfortable car, then you definitely need to consider the option of buying Chevrolet Astro. And with HBO, this machine will be more economical than any "diesel". For Russian realities this car fits more than.

So, we found out what Chevrolet Astro has design, interior and technical characteristics.