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The Astro and Safari vans were very successful, especially with large families, conversion companies, and commercial companies. Companies liked the vans because they were also available as very roomy cargo vans, while converters used them as the basis for some very desirable small conversion vans. Both Pontiac and GMC have used the Safari nameplate (GMC is part of the Pontiac/GMC division); Pontiac used the nameplate on several of its station wagon models from 1955 through 1989. The two Safaris, both Pontiac and GMC, were on the market together (often sold by the same dealerships!) from 1985 through 1989. Most people refer to the Astro as a minivan, although it slotted in size between the Chevrolet Venture/Lumina APV unibody minivan and the full-sized Chevy Express. Similar to the Ford Aerostar, it was based on a traditional truck frame. A lot of people agree that since the van is so large, its true classification would be considered a mid-size, or "midi" van, like the Toyota Van or Ford Aerostar. Due to their truck-based platform, the Astro and Safari were oriented more for cargo and towing; a properly-equipped Astro could pull 6,000 lb with ease. This is opposed to the car-based, front-wheel drive minivans which are considered more passenger-friendly but do not have the ability to pull as much weight (3,500 lb is the usual maximum among these). Initial advertising boasted that it was a vehicle that will "make you realize that life is too big for a minivan", referring to the Chrysler minivans. Its specifications included a 160 to 190 hp (119 to 142 kW) V6 engine, depending on options and/or model year. It seated up to 8 passengers with optional towing capabilities. In addition to being sold in North America, it was exported to Japan, where the van enjoys a cult following. In 2005, to celebrate the last year of Astro production, Chevrolet of Japan offered a limited edition run of the final production models. The Astro's popularity in Japan was despite the fact that it was only offered in left-hand drive. Chassis featuresMuch like the second-generation GM F-body and X-body vehicles, the GM M-van (Astro/Safari) had a bolt-on subframe incorporating the front suspension from a GM B-body station wagon (Chevrolet Caprice, Cadillac Brougham) with a leaf-spring rear suspension. The lower ball joints were larger than their B-body counterparts, however. These ball joints were later used in the final Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 (police package) cars manufactured in 1995 and 1996. They also shared many mechanical similarities to the GMT 325/330 midsize S/T Pickup/Utilities. As mentioned above, the Astro and Safari were rear-wheel drive vehicles, but in 1990 a new full-time all-wheel drive (AWD) system, designed and developed by FF Developments (FFD), was made optional. This would prove popular in areas where snow was common, giving an extra measure of traction. By the end of the vans' run, many buyers were selecting all-wheel drive despite the significant penalty in fuel economy (17 miles per gallon highway versus 20-21 for rear-drive vans).
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