| Minivan; Built in USA |
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| Good condition price range: $1,300 – $7,100* |
1998 Chevrolet Venture
1998 Chevrolet Venture LS
1997 Chevrolet Venture
1999 Chevrolet Venture
1999 Chevrolet Venture
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Critical shoppers are likely to find a lot to like about the GM trio of minivans, despite the discomfort endured by some backseat riders due to the low seats.
Overview
Redesigned from the ground up, Venture was one of a trio of second-generation, front-drive GM minivans. Except for styling and trim levels, Chevrolet’s minivan was similar to the Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac Trans Sport. Plastic body panels were replaced by steel skins, and a passenger-side airbag became standard. Standard-length Ventures rode a wheelbase 2.2 inches longer than their predecessor, but measured 4.6 inches shorter overall. The new extended-length model was 8 inches longer in wheelbase, and 14 inches longer overall. GM’s exclusive power sliding passenger-side door was optional only on the long-wheelbase version. Also limited to extended-length models was the optional manual sliding door on the driver’s side. Both sizes came in base or LS price level. All models used a 180-horsepower, 3.4-liter V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission. Standard safety features included dual front airbags, antilock braking, and daytime running lights. Traction control and built-in child safety seats were optional. Standard 7-passenger seating in short-wheelbase models included two front buckets, a 2-person bench seat for the middle row, and a 3-person rear bench. Modular split bench seats were standard on extended-wheelbase models, with modular bucket seats optional.
Yearly Updates
| 1998 Venture Seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the front occupants became standard this year. Regular-length Ventures could now be equipped with the optional sliding door on the driver’s side. A cargo version of the long-wheelbase Venture joined the lineup, fitted only with two front bucket seats. |
| 1999 Venture Eight-passenger seating became available this year. Heated power mirrors and a rear-window defogger became standard. |
| 2000 Venture No more 3-door Ventures were available; all were now equipped with dual sliding doors. A new Warner Bros. edition held a rear-seat video entertainment system, including a video player, TV monitor, and an audio system with separate second- and third-row headphone jacks. A child safety seat built into the second-row bench was standard on the Warner Bros. and optional on other Ventures, except the Value edition. Venture’s V6 engine gained another 5 horsepower. Traction control became standard on the LT model and GM’s OnStar communications was dropped from the options list, at least temporarily. |
| 2001 Venture 2001 additions included a stowable third-row seat, driver-side power door, 6-disc in-dash CD player, and rear parking aid. The cargo version was dropped after 2000. |
| 2002 Venture Optional all-wheel drive and a DVD rear-entertainment system were the top additions to the 2002 Venture. |
| 2003 Venture Antilock brakes and front side airbags are now optional instead of standard on Value and Base. |
| 2004 Venture The regular-length Ventures comes only in the Plus model for ’04, and satellite radio is also available as an option on the LS and LT this year. |
| 2005 Venture Venture loses its regular-length and all-wheel-drive models for a shortened 2005 season. It’s being phased out for a restyled replacement, the ’05 Uplander, expected by early calendar 2005. |
