Oh, there will be smart alecks out there who will make their wry exaggerations about the 1994 Chevrolet G20 Sportvan Beauville, They'll say that with all its traditional big-van styling, the Beauville looks like something that should be in the Smithsonian rather than in a yuppie's driveway.Very funny. And very misleading. Sure, the '94 Beauvilles a typical, high-clearance, high-center-of-gravity van that's not exactly sleek or aerodynamic in style. But remember that this van has a different mission in life. It is, fundamentally, a van designed for carrying people and cargo as effectively, comfortably and efficiently as possible. And within that broad context, this vehicle is solid and consistent. The Sportvan Beauville owes its G20 designation to its eight-passenger capacity and 125-inch wheelbase, while the extended-body G30 model seats 12 and has a whopping 146-inch wheelbase. A 4.3-liter V6 was standard on our Beauville, but we opted for a littlemore muscle with an optional 5.7liter V8 that meshed well with the electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The engine was rated as putting out 200 hp at 4,000 rpm, as well as 310 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. For added convenience, we chose an option package that included front and rear air conditioning, reclining front seats, power windows and locks, a tilt steering wheel, speed control,tinted glass, auxiliary lighting and stainless-steel exterior mirrors. We also added the heavy-duty towing package and steel-belted tires, bringing our tally to $24,315. Many of the G20 models that Chevrolet builds are earmarked for conversion companies, while the rest, such as the one we tested, are sold through dealerships to be used as basic passenger vans. In fact, our Beauville reminded us of a bus, albeit a nicely finished bus. Unfortunately, some of the interior was lacking, either in functional convenience or in a contemporary feel.
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