Used 2022 GMC Savana

The 2022 GMC Savana full-size van comes in Cargo, Passenger, and Cutaway forms. This GMC is so tough that people describe tanks as being built like a Savana.

We’re joking, obviously, but the Savana is nevertheless put together in the old way, as a body-on-frame vehicle, like a pickup truck. This gives it strength and the necessary wherewithal to tow up to 10,000 pounds, which is a lot for this category.

The advantage a Savana (or a Chevrolet Express, the GMC Savana’s mechanical twin) has over some rivals is that it’s a General Motors product, with a sprawling dealer network. So servicing and acquiring spare parts is exceptionally easy.

Vans are put to all sorts of uses. The Savana offers a hotel shuttle package as well as an ambulance package. But it cannot be said that the Savana is so versatile that there could be a variant for every need. For example, it doesn’t offer a high-roof option or all-wheel drive.

There are just two wheelbases and three engines to choose from, as well as separate body styles. There’s also a good chance that this year or the next could be the Savana’s last. For this generation, at least, since it debuted back in 1996.

However, if a business just needs something simple, durable, and affordable, then checking out the GMC Savana could be a smart move.

A truck-like construction results in a similar driving experience. There’s nothing particularly sophisticated about the ride quality. The steering is short on feel, but wide in turning circle. Then again, a new Savana is bought to get the work done, not act as a family vehicle or a fun machine.

The base V6 engine can probably please most buyers and deal with the majority of duties for which a full-size van is employed. The optional diesel engine is not cheap — $3,995 — but provides a decent amount of thrust from low engine speeds and will have the smallest fuel bills. The optional 6.6-liter V8 ($1,695) will obviously use the most fuel, but if big power is needed, this is the choice.

The maximum cargo area of the Cargo van measures 283.6 cubic feet, or 239.4 in the regular-length model. Between the rear wheel housings is a width of 52.47 inches, easily enough clearance for a standard pallet. And the height is 55 inches. Unlike some rivals, the Savana doesn’t offer a higher roof.

Maximum payload for a 2500 version with the standard wheelbase is 3,280 pounds. The 3500 equivalent can handle 4,280 pounds. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit can do better.

This is a work vehicle, so the GMC Savana doesn’t pamper its occupants or provide any eye-pleasing design flair. The dash has hard plastics and the seats in the base Passenger model are covered with vinyl. The center console houses three cup holders, however.

Whether it’s a Cargo van with metal panels or the Passenger van with windows down each side, both versions have an additional passenger-side door that swings out. A sliding side door and side steps are both on the long options list. The Cargo version also offers windows for the double doors at the back.

In standard form, the GMC Savana is 224 inches long with a 135-inch wheelbase. The extended wheelbase is stretched by 20 inches, bringing the overall length to 244 inches.

Standard paint choices are white, black, or red. Silver is an extra $495.

V8 ENGINE
A new V8 came in last year to replace a less powerful unit. This 6.6-liter engine develops 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. That’s a lot of muscle and one of the components required to achieve the maximum towing ability of 10,000 pounds.

5-SEATER CARGO VAN
One of the many options for the 2022 GMC Savana Cargo van is a 3-person bench seat installed behind the front seats. This allows the Savana to take a work team and all their tools to a site. It does mean losing the standard-issue six D-ring lashing points in the cargo area floor, though.

Whatever goes on behind the front seats is mostly down to what the buyer has selected. Concentrating more on the what’s around the driver, the 2022 Savana has basic appointments.

Vinyl flooring is accompanied by cloth upholstery, air conditioning, manually adjustable side mirrors, power windows and locks, a domestic-style 120-volt outlet, and a 2-speaker audio system with AM/FM radio, but no smartphone integration or Bluetooth. A hint of luxury comes with a self-dimming rearview mirror.

The Passenger model has vinyl upholstery as standard, tinted glass, rear air conditioning with an auxiliary rear heater, plus seating for 12. The side curtain airbags only extend as far as the first three rows.

All 2022 Savana versions run on 16-inch steel wheels.

We mentioned above that some small extras are no longer available in the 2022 Savana. That means no more CD player, transmission oil cooler, or power window delete option.

The bigger picture remains rich with choices. A heavier-duty 3500 version is available with the standard or extended wheelbase. There are different engines (detailed below), plus cargo management tools, trailering features, spray-in cargo floor liner, heated/power-adjustable side mirrors, 6-way power-adjustable front seats, keyless entry, remote start, Wi-Fi (for up to seven devices), OnStar subscription, and a steering wheel — leather-wrapped if desired — that adjusts for height (but not reach).

Infotainment features include a USB port, Bluetooth, and satellite radio.

Driver aids on offer include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors.

The Passenger van offers a 15-seater configuration and cloth upholstery.

The base engine in a 2022 Savana is a 4.3-liter V6 making 276 horsepower and 298 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic handles the transmission duties and rear-wheel drive is the only setup across the Savana range.

One option, and the most muscular, is a 6.6-liter V8 generating 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. This engine links to a heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission.

For useful torque with lower fuel bills, the other option is a turbocharged 2.8-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine. It makes a meager 181 horsepower, but the magic of a turbodiesel is torque production. In this instance, it’s 369 lb-ft, great for getting a heavy load moving. This engine is linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The gasoline V6 and V8 engines are fine with regular 87-octane juice. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not provide fuel economy estimates for full-size vans like the GMC Savana. Naturally, the diesel engine will be the most frugal. The Savana has a big 31-gallon tank, so it can run for many miles before a refill is required.

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

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

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