Is the Chevy City Express the same as the Nissan NV200?
The Chevy City Express is essentially a rebadged version of Nissan’s NV200 cargo van, built for North American buyers and sold under the Chevrolet banner for a brief period in the mid-2010s. The two vans share the same underlying engineering, with branding and trim differences rather than a different core design.
Origins and branding
The City Express was introduced to the North American market as a Chevrolet-branded variant of Nissan's NV200. GM sourced the van from Nissan’s factory in Mexico, marketing it as a Chevrolet City Express for model years around 2015 through 2017. In effect, it is the NV200 wearing Chevrolet badges and offered through Chevy’s commercial-vehicle channel.
Similarities between the City Express and NV200
The following points cover the core aspects the two vans share, reflecting their common engineering and design.
- Shared platform and powertrain: both use the NV200’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive and the same general drivetrain configuration.
- Similar cargo space and layout: both provide a compact cargo area and a boxy interior optimized for commercial use and easy loading.
- Comparable payload and exterior dimensions: both offer similar payload capacity and overall size, contributing to comparable handling in urban delivery duties.
- Unified exterior silhouette: the vans look nearly identical in shape, differing mainly in badging and trim cues.
In short, the City Express is the NV200 wearing Chevrolet branding and tailored packages for North American fleet buyers.
Differences and branding notes
While mechanically the same, the City Express and NV200 diverge in branding, equipment packages, and market strategy, which can influence option availability and service.
- Branding and marketing: City Express uses Chevrolet logos, grille styling, and interior accents aligned with Chevy’s commercial lineup, while the NV200 carries Nissan branding and design language.
- Trim and equipment specifics: GM and Nissan offered different option lists and features, reflecting each brand’s approach to a compact cargo van; exact packages varied by model year and region.
- Availability and market strategy: the City Express was sold in the United States and Canada for a limited period (roughly 2015–2017) as part of GM’s light-commercial offerings; the NV200 has been marketed in other regions and continues in various configurations outside the U.S.
- Service and support: buyers generally rely on Chevrolet or Nissan dealer networks for maintenance, depending on badge; many parts and services are interchangeable at the component level, but dealer support differs by brand.
For buyers, the practical takeaway is that you’re looking at the same fundamental van with branding-driven differences in options, warranties, and dealer support.
What this means for shoppers
If you’re comparing a used City Express to an NV200, treat them as the same underlying vehicle with branding differences. Always verify the exact equipment on the model year you’re considering and check which dealership network you’ll use for service and parts. Note that the City Express was discontinued after the 2017 model year in North America, while the NV200 persists in other markets under Nissan’s lineup.
Summary
Bottom line: the Chevy City Express and the Nissan NV200 are the same van at heart—a Nissan NV200 rebranded for Chevrolet. The main distinctions are branding, trim options, and market strategy, with the City Express fading from North American sales after 2017 and the NV200 continuing outside the U.S. in various configurations.
Is the Chevy City Express made by Nissan?
The van was a rebadged Nissan NV200, and that model will continue. Automotive News reports Nissan stopped production of the Chevy version in February at its assembly plant in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
What is the Chevy equivalent to the Nissan NV200?
The Chevy City Express was basically identical to the Nissan NV200 other than a unique front grille and exterior and interior badging (the infotainment systems, while the same basic system, were branded with the manufacturers' specific branding as well).
What did Nissan replace the NV200 with?
Townstar EV
In 2021, Nissan unveiled the Townstar EV, which will replace the e-NV200.
What is the alternative to the Chevy Express?
However, it faces competition from other full-size vans, including the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and GMC Savana. Here's how the Chevrolet Express compares to these alternatives.
