Used 2021 GMC Savana 2500 Passenger

The GMC Savana, the mechanical twin of the Chevrolet Express, is a full-size body-on-frame van. Available as a Passenger Van or a Cargo Van, the Savana has been around since 1996, and it looks much the same as it did back then.

No problem, really. With vans, it’s more about what they do than how they appear. And the Savana does a lot, whether it’s a Cargo Van schlepping tools and materials to the job site or a Passenger Van hauling a large family to, say, the Grand Canyon.

The Savana comes with a 135- or a 155-inch wheelbase, and overall lengths of 224 and 244 inches. The standard-length Savana Passenger Van seats 12 in four rows. The extended Savana seats 12 in four rows or 15 in five.

As a Cargo Van, the standard-length Savana has 124.6 inches of load floor behind its front seats, along with 239.7 cubic feet of cargo volume. In the Extended Savana Cargo Van, there’s 146.2 inches of load floor with an impressive 284.4 cubic feet of total cargo volume.

Three engines are available in the Savana. The base powerplant continues to be the long-lived 4.3-liter V6, which sends 276 horsepower and 298 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Significantly better and stronger is GMC’s new heavy-duty 6.6-liter V8. With variable valve timing and a forged crankshaft, this iron-block engine produces 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. That’s 11 percent more horsepower and 21 percent more peak torque than the 6.0-liter V8 it replaces. It teams with a heavy-duty 6-speed automatic.

Also available is a 2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-4. Although it puts out only 181 horsepower, the diesel sends a substantial 369 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic.

Always check the KBB Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your are paying for their 2021 GMC Savana.

Although it’s an old-school truck-based van with an engine beneath a doghouse-style cover below the dash, the GMC Savana has remarkably pleasant driving manners. The view through the windshield is excellent, and the steering offers a good feel with a natural level of assist.

All three of GMC’s available engines put out good low-end torque, so they feel relatively relaxed while moving the big Savana about town, aided by the smooth-shifting 8- or 6-speed automatic gearboxes.

While it may feel like you’ve stepped back a decade when you climb into the Savana, it can be equipped with available modern touches such as a blind-spot monitor and a forward-collision-avoidance warning. Unfortunately, the GMC van does not have automatic emergency braking, and its rear passengers don’t get the safety-enhancing head restraints found on most of its competitors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not provide fuel economy figures for big vans like the GMC Savana. We do know that the Savana has a large 31-gallon fuel tank, so it can go a long way between fill-ups. What’s more, the V6 and V8 run just fine on regular 87-octane gasoline.

The GMC Savana Cargo Van basically is an empty shell waiting for whatever shelving or racks the buyer seeks to install. It’s also available with an optional rear bench for three.

As a Passenger Van, the standard-wheelbase Savana in 2500 (three-quarter-ton) and 3500 (one-ton) forms seats 12 in a 2-3-3-4 arrangement. With the extended wheelbase, the Savana 3500 seats 12 (2-3-3-4) or 15 (2-3-3-3-4). The Max payload for the Savana 3500 is 4,503 pounds.

Rear air conditioning is available in the Savana, as is an auxiliary heater and a WiFi hotspot that provides an internet connection for up to seven devices at a distance of up to 50 feet.

The 2021 GMC Savana Cargo Van is available in four colors: Summit White, Onyx Black, Cardinal Red, and Quicksilver Metallic, the last a $495 option.

Chrome front and rear bumpers also are an option, as are white-painted wheels and heated rearview mirrors with black housings.

THE 6.6-LITER V8
This is a new engine in the GMC Savana. An iron-block pushrod V8, the 6.6 puts out 11 percent more horsepower and 21 percent more peak torque than the 6.0-liter V8 it replaces. It’s the engine you want in your Savana if you plan to do any serious towing.

5-PASSENGER CARGO VAN
You can order your Savana Cargo Van with a rear bench seat for 3, enabling you to take your small crew with you to the job site. Be warned, however: When you get this $1,965 option, the Savana’s six D-ring cargo tie-down anchors are removed.

Standard features on the 2021 GMC Savana Cargo Van include the 4.3-liter V6 and 8-speed automatic transmission, plus high-back bucket seats with armrests, power windows, air conditioning, swing-out passenger-side doors, an AM/FM stereo, and seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the two front seats.

The Savana Passenger Van has the same V6 powertrain, and it comes standard with 12-passenger vinyl seating and air conditioning. It also has 16-inch wheels, a 3.42:1 rear-axle ratio, and the same basic AM/FM stereo with an MP3 player.

Options abound on the 2021 GMC Savana Cargo Van. Both the 6.6-liter V8 and the 2.8-liter turbodiesel are optional, as is Quicksilver Metallic paint.

Almost all options on the Savana Cargo Van come in packages. Two of the most notable are the $3,105 Safety Package (the 6.6-liter V8, blind-spot monitor, rear park assist, heated side-view mirrors, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, OnStar) and a $3,055 Enhanced Convenience Package (that doesn’t have heated side mirrors but does include keyless entry and remote start).

There’s also a simple Driver Convenience Package on the Savana; it combines cruise control and a tilt steering wheel for a reasonable $395.

The 2021 GMC Savana Passenger Van also is available in Quicksilver Metallic, and you can order it with upgraded cloth seat upholstery for $255.

Similarly, the Passenger Van is available with the same $3,105 Safety Package, as well as the same $3,055 Enhanced Safety Package and $395 Driver Convenience Package.

Stand-alone options on both Savanas include a heavy-duty second battery ($225), a 220-amp alternator ($75), a locking rear differential ($325), a heavy-duty towing kit ($280), and a sliding passenger-side door ($195). Rear park assist is also available for $295.

Stand-alone safety options on the 2021 GMC Savana include a blind-spot monitor ($395) and Forward-Collision Alert ($295). And if you want your extended-wheelbase Savana Passenger Van to have 15 seats instead of the standard 12, that’s an extra $475.

We’re also happy to report that both 2021 GMC Savanas are available with an upgraded AM/FM stereo that includes a USB port and a CD player. Don’t throw away your old CDs!

Three engines are available in the 2021 GMC Savana.

The base powerplant is GM’s trusty 4.3-liter V6, which produces 276 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 298 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. This engine gets the job done with minimal fuss, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

In the most significant Savana news for 2021, GMC has replaced last year’s 6.0-liter V8 with an all-new heavy-duty 6.6-liter V8 developed specifically for trucks. This iron-block engine – with a forged crankshaft and fuel-saving cylinder deactivation – produces 401 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 464 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Max tow capacity with this new 6.6-liter V8, which is teamed with a heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission, is an impressive 10,000 pounds.

Continuing to be available on both GMC Savana models is the 2.8-liter inline-4 turbodiesel, which mates to the 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces 181 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and a substantial 369 lb-ft of torque at only 2,000 rpm.

The EPA doesn’t provide fuel economy data for these large GMC vans. If you’re looking to squeak out some extra fuel economy out of your Savana, the diesel looks like your best choice.

All GMC Savana models are rear-wheel drive. If you need all-wheel drive (AWD), look to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

4.3-liter V6
276 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
298 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

6.6-liter V8
401 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
464 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

2.8-liter turbodiesel inline-4
181 horsepower @ 3,400 rpm
369 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A