The GMC Savana full-size van is one of GM's oldest designs by many years. Parent company General Motors appears thus far uninterested in rolling out a newer design to better compete with Ford and Ram's more modern, Euro-based vans, the Transit and Promaster, not to mention the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
The Savana also competes with another GM van, the Chevrolet Express, which is covered in a separate buyer's guide entry.
GMC does add a few new standard features to the Savana for 2019: all versions now come with lane departure warning, forward collision alert and a theft deterrent system.
The Express comes with a choice of three engines. There's a 4.3L V6 that makes 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque; a 5.3L V8 makes 341 hp and 373 lb-ft; and a 2.8L diesel four-cylinder cranks out 181 hp and and 369 lb-ft. All three use an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 6.0L V8 is on the options list, too.
All Savana vans start out as half-ton, 2500 models, skipping over the quarter-ton 1500 designation used on the Sierra pickup; a three-quarter ton 3500 model is also available. The 2500 vans come on an extended wheelbase, while the 3500 can be had in regular and extended wheelbase forms.
For cargo models, both 2500 and 3500 vans can be had in either wheelbase.
Standard equipment includes a mirror-mounted backup camera, blind spot alert and hill start assist. Passenger vans in base trim come with vinyl floors and seats while the uplevel package adds cloth front buckets, keyless entry, full carpeting, rear air conditioning, cruise control and tilt steering.
Cargo vans come with a shorter list of kit that consists of vinyl seats, front A/C and power windows.
Towing and payload capacity is what sets 2500 and 3500 models apart. By the way, the ratings tend to be higher than what the competitions' Euro vans can handle, but you'll find those vans drive with a little more sophistication and feel less portly from behind the wheel.
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