The Chevrolet Uplander is a van built from 2005 to 2009 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Uplander is
The Chevrolet Uplander is a van that Chevrolet built from 2005 to 2009 — 5 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2008. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest sibling in the Chevrolet range: Venture.
Where the Uplander is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 473 Uplanders on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1GN, 1GB | 2005-2009 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Chevrolet VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Uplander belongs to. What every character in a Uplander VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Chevrolet Uplander adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Uplander generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Uplander's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Uplander that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2007 | 519 cm | 307 cm | 1769 kg | - | - |
| 2008-2009 | 502 cm | 297 cm | 1896 kg | -17 cm | +127 kg |
Between 2005 and 2009 the Uplander gained -17 cm in length (-3.3%) and 127 kg in weight (+7.2%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Uplander that is 127 kg against -17 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Chevrolet Uplander tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Uplander owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Chevrolet Uplander have? Power & range
The Chevrolet Uplander is offered with 1 powertrain — 3.9L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Chevrolet Uplander, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.9L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Chevrolet Uplander tow? Towing & payload
As a van, the Chevrolet Uplander is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Uplander's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Uplander by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Chevrolet Uplander. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Uplander | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 12 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 583 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,099/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 115 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Chevrolet Uplander?
The Uplander is a van, built from 2005 to 2009 across 2 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the Chevrolet Uplander made?
Across 473 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Uplander have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2008. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Chevrolet Uplander warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Uplander reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Uplander?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Chevrolet
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1999–2026 | 444 | 27 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2005–2026 | 64 | 109 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1981–2026 | 204 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 2009–2026 | 75 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 1995–2026 | 169 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 1981–2026 | 153 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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