The Chevrolet Venture is the definitive family van; it provides the required service yet remains affordable. The Venture has everything one would require of a van, it has good looks and rates great in performance. Powered by a 185-horsepower 3.4-liter overhead-valve V6 engine matched to a four-speed automatic transmission, the Venture may not exactly be the fastest ride in town but the V6 does its work well enough.

 

It seems like the best features of the Venture are all hidden within for aside from the engine, another fantastic feature of this van is its large seating capacity and immense interior. The bucket seats can be adjusted to cater to the owner's need for either passenger or cargo space. The Venture comes in three trim levels (Plus, LS, LT) and there are two length choices available-- the standard 112-inch wheelbase and the extended 120-inch wheelbase.

 

The standard features on the Plus are power windows, an overhead console, cruise control and a chrome grille. The LS gets bumped up with side-impact airbags for front occupants, antilock brakes, remote keyless entry, a 60/40-split bench seat for the second row, a 50/50-split bench in the third row, a CD player, a rear-window defogger, floor mats, cloth seating and power rear-quarter windows as its standard comfort features.

 

Power driver seat, a power passenger-side door, second-row captain's chairs, rear audio and climate controls, traction control, satellite steering wheel controls and a parking distance monitor are a regular on the LT trim, and as if these were not enough a sport appearance package is available with a variety of colors to choose from. It also drops in a rear spoiler, body-color side moldings, 16-inch aluminum wheels and an upgraded suspension.