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2008 GMC Savana 1500 Cargo

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 GMC Savana 1500 Cargo

Overview

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2008 GMC Savana 1500 Cargo Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

The 2008 GMC Savana is a favorite of small business owners and working people everywhere. No pickup or SUV can match the Savana's cargo-hauling capabilities, nor can they be so easily retrofitted to serve specific needs. Be it a rolling carpenter shop or a 15-passenger transport, the Savana serves an important role in an ever-more-mobile society. GMC, however, can no longer afford complacency, now that Dodge has replaced its long-running Ram van with the European-inspired Sprinter Van. An excellent work truck, the Sprinter cannot rival the Savana in the luxury conversion van field, although Ford does offer a full-size van that can go toe-to-toe with the Savana.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you have a business and need a substantial amount of room for tools or storage, the 2008 GMC Savana is hard to top. A choice of two powerful V8 engines on passenger models, a Duramax diesel on certain cargo vans, varied towing ability and optional all-wheel drive make the Savana a suitable choice for business and family use.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you are used to driving a minivan, the Savana may prove to be too much vehicle. The V8 can be fuel-thirsty, especially when the vehicle is loaded with passengers or heavy equipment. And the Dodge Sprinter makes better use of its interior space.

What's Significant About This Car?

The Savana receives a revised interior with an expanded driver information center and standard head-curtain airbags.

Driving the Savana 1500 Cargo

Driving Impressions Although hardly the vehicle you'd want for running laps at the race track, the 2008 GMC Savana is not as truck-like to drive as one might expect. GM has paid...

due diligence to the steering and brakes, giving them a firm feel that instills confidence even when fully loaded. Cornering and braking do differ depending upon cargo weight, but with the heavy-duty upgrades for the brakes, transmission and suspension, the Savana can be outfitted to deal with the heaviest loads and still remain quite comfortable.

Favorite Features

Side-Access Doors
Side-access doors allow you to reach tools and equipment without having to climb inside.

Seats 15
Available seating for 15 makes the Savana one of the most desirable commuter vehicles on the road.

2008 GMC Savana 1500 Cargo Details

Interior

The Savana's interior makeover gains it new instrument switches, steering wheel, radio and fabrics for the seats. The Savana's vast interior can be configured to seat up to 15 people, or it can be outfitted to provide storage racks suitable for holding equipment and hardware. On Passenger models, the big glass side panels make it easy to see what's around you, and their deep tint keeps prying eyes away. A Fuel-Operated Heater (FOH) is available on models equipped with the Duramax diesel. The FOH system rapidly heats the vehicle's interior when the weather turns cold.

Exterior

The Savana is about as contemporary as a rolling box can be. It features rounded edges, high-mounted side taillights and flush side-glass. Large side mirrors aid in parking and lane-change maneuvers and the tall side glass makes it easy to see vehicles traveling close by. Cargo vans can be equipped with small doors for accessing interior storage compartments and there are a number of rear-door configurations from which to choose, including the industry's first 60/40-split left-hand hinged side door.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The Savana 1500 Cargo Van has a 195-horsepower V6 engine, while the 1500 Passenger Van is fitted with a 5.3-liter V8. Other standard features include air conditioning, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), swing-out side doors, dual side mirrors and, with the Passenger Van, eight-person seating.

Optional Equipment

The Savana can be equipped with a number of engine options including a 5.3-liter V8 (standard with all-wheel drive and on Passenger Vans), a 6.0-liter V8, a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 and a FlexFuel 5.3-liter V8. Other popular options include all-wheel drive, a cold-climate package, tow package, dual heated power mirrors, six-way power driver's seat, rear air conditioning, auxiliary transmission oil cooler and aluminum wheels. The Pro Plus Package (Cargo Vans) includes additional interior lights, side access panels with remote release, heated power side mirrors and keyless entry.

Under the Hood

Power for the Savana is given a promotion with a series of new Vortec V8 engines. Buyers who must haul heavy loads will probably opt for the new Vortec 5300 with its 301 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. For the larger 3500 series, a potent Vortec 6000 offers customers the most powerful V8 engine in its class. Also available later in the model year will be a FlexFuel 5.3-liter V8 capable of running on either gasoline or E85.

4.3-liter V6
195 horsepower @ 4600 rpm
260 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20

4.8-liter V8
279 horsepower @ 5200 rpm
294 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

5.3-liter V8
301 horsepower @ 5200 rpm
335 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/16 (gasoline, Passenger), 14/18 (gasoline, RWD, Cargo), 13/17 (gasoline, AWD, Cargo), 9/12 (E85, Passenger), 10/13 (E85, RWD, Cargo), 10/12 (E85, AWD, Cargo)

6.0-liter V8
323 horsepower @ 4600 rpm
373 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

6.6-liter Turbodiesel V8
250 horsepower @ 3200 rpm
460 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

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2008 GMC Savana Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.6

Out of 10

Based on 29 Ratings for the 2003 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.8/10

Quality

8.7/10
Reliability

9.1/10

Performance

9.2/10
Comfort

8.7/10

Styling

8.5/10

Best work van ever

By kos (MA) on Thursday, January 26, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 67,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "realiabilty"

Cons: "none"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Bought this new ...67k miles all i have done is change tires at 57kmiles I use this van daily.... Im a contractor and i have used it to tow etc heavy loads... no problems.. Worth every penny i paid for it..."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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Good utility and family van

By Dano (MI) on Thursday, January 05, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 140,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "interior room, towing"

Cons: "exterior door hinges bind and rust over time"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Only major complaint is I bought the "6-door" model with the dual passenger doors on either side. Great access but the exterior hinges are prone to rust and bind as the years add up... Remedy is lots of WD-40 and silicon spray applied frequently but they are still balky and stiff... In retrospect the sliding doors might have been a better choice. The AWD is a blessing in northern MI and I can tow things without a hassle with this rig. Interior is huge but the bench seats in the rear are not easy to remove or replace single handed. That said, you don't pack the interior in one of these, you just "load away". Mileage is good (19ish) at a steady all day 55mph but I average 15-16 most of the time. No glamor here but tons of utility and passenger room."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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