2021 GMC Savana 3500 Price, Review, Ratings and Pictures

The GMC Savana 3500 can be had as a cargo van, passenger van, and a cutaway van. Since our focus is on the cargo van, GMC offers the 2021 Savana 3500 in two different configurations; normal wheelbase and an extended wheelbase which costs an additional $800.

Both of the variants come with 16-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tires along with halogen headlamps and DRLs, a yester-year AM/FM Stereo with MP3 player, vinyl upholstery on the bucket seats, and other rudimentary things common to a vehicle of this class. Aside from this customers can add optional equipment to further aid in their utilitarian endeavor.

• Black heated power outside mirrors with convex- $115
• Rear Park Assist- $295
• AM/­FM stereo with MP3 player and USB port- $100
• Driver Convenience Package- $395
• Bluetooth- $50
• Driver and front passenger visors- $10
• Side Blind Zone Alert- $395
• Forward Collision Alert- $295
• Cloth front bucket seats- $70
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel- $185
• Auxiliary lighting- $85

Keeping an eye on doing things does question the work environment and the ethics at play. While consumerism takes a toll during unprecedented times, it’s workhorses like the Savana that ensures business never takes a back seat. Equally important as the gesture on offer is the reliability that the vehicles boast. If all that it stands for is questioned with poor reliability then it could go among the least favorable. Although J.D power is yet to comment on the Savan 3500’s reliability, it’s reassuring to know that the Savana hasn’t received any recalls for the past few years. We are pleased to hear modern-day GMCs refraining from dreaded reliability thanks to improved manufacturing techniques and quality control. 

Ownership costs for the GMC Savana total for $53,719 for a period of 5 years. It includes everything from repairs, taxes, fees, and even fuel costs. The almost $54,000 cost of ownership might seem a little bit over the top but isn't anything too steep given the Savana is a proper workhorse that can withstand all that you throw at it.

Warranty

Peace of mind and reassurance are highly important in the ownership experience of any vehicle. In the event of something unfortunate, before you start cursing your luck, bear in mind that GMC offers a slew of warranty packages. With the Savana 3500, GMC offers a limited bumper to bumper warranty for a period of 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

As the end-user, you have the option of extending it to a total of 5-years or 60,000 miles if you find the standard warranty unimpressive. Furthermore, various plans are included in the extended warranty program that ranges between $1,400 to $4,700 which can be customized to the user’s liking.

Miles per dollar

The GMC Savana 3500 will have an MPD ratio of 1.62. This means the Savana 3500 runs for 1.62 miles for every dollar you spend on it. This ratio is achieved by factoring all the running costs to the average distance covered in a year which comes to $9,216 and 15,000 miles respectively

Getting the standard Savana 3500 with a few of the optional extras would be the ideal move. Since GMC kept Savana the same for the 2021 model year, going ahead and looking for a few used examples wouldn’t be a bad idea considering they’re basically the same if not for some of the safety tech onboard.

How about a used GMC Savana 3500?

The GMC Savana 3500 is essentially the successor to the famous Vandura. Having appeared in 1996 for the first time, the Savana 3500 has received only minor facelifts. Add to that the sturdy and practical build, and you actually walk away with a very good prospect to pick up used. if you want to put your money down on a used Savana 3500, we would recommend you to pick up the 2018 model year of the van as it will not look any different from the present one and save you a ton of money. 

The optional 6.6L V8 under the hood has no problem handling the 5000-pound van This gigantic engine makes 410 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed transmission driving the rear wheels. As standard, you get a 4.3-liter V6 that’s good for 276 hp and 298 lb-ft of torque. The setup works quite well and elevates the overall driving experience. If torque is all you need then GMC offers the Savana 3500 with a 181 hp diesel engine that puts out 369 lb-ft for those intense and demanding situations.

The Chevrolet Express 3500 Cargo is the same van underneath like the Savana 2500 and hence has the exact same spec sheet. The goldfish looking Ford Transit 350 Cargo van is the strongest competitor here as it is the most powerful of the lot. In many ways, the Ford and RAM edge over the GM twins by a significant margin.

How much can the 2021 GMC Savana 3500 haul? 

The GMC Savana 3500 being a solid hauler is capable enough for most needs. The 2021 GMC Savana 3500 can tow up to 7,400 pounds and carry a payload of upwards of 4,200 pounds, which is adequate for most needs in our regard. Being a cargo van with a wide spectrum of needs the GMC seems to be a better choice if you plug in the numbers.

While Savana’s towing capacity is very impressive, the Chevy comes close with over 6,300 pounds of towing limit. The Ford takes a close third with 5,800 pounds. Payload capacity, however, differs with the RAM edging over. Here, the Savana and the Express 3500 does not reflect the same numbers, with the Savana having a slightly better hauling capacity.

2021 GMC Savana 3500 Acceleration And Braking Performance

The GMC Savana 2500 Cargo takes a relaxed 8.4 seconds to go from 0-60 mph and takes an equivalent time more to complete the quarter-mile at 16.5 seconds. For a cargo van, these numbers are kind of what is expected.

The brakes are also nothing out of the ordinary as well.

The Savana and the Express 3500 share the same engine and hence make the same power and similar acceleration figures. The Ford Transit 350 takes the first spot with the best numbers across the board overall. The Express 3500 manages to match the pace of its sibling but loses out slightly in terms of braking athleticism.

Cargo vans have been exempted for mileage testing by the testing agencies in the nation, hence, we do not have any official figures for the Savana 3500, or any of its rivals, however, from what we have come to know by user reviews, we can say that you can easily expect somewhere around 13-14mpg, under normal circumstances.

Since the information of vans is not available, it is pretty hard to compare and get a distinct result, as the information jumps from the situations in which they are being tested. A standard result would make it easier for us to decide which one of the trucks would be a better choice.

The interior layout of the GMC Savana 3500 is quite conventional and old-fashioned compared to modern-day cars. The dashboard is all-analog with lots of buttons, and an old-school stereo system taking up most of the center stack. There are two bucket seats that can either be in vinyl upholstery or cloth depending on your choice of customization.

As is, the seats are quite comfortable and practical, as they allow a lot of adjustabilities regardless of size.

The interiors of the vehicle are meant to be utilitarian and they do the job pretty well. Unlike all of the gadgetry and interior bling common to most vehicles on the road, these vehicles are not meant for luxury, but practicality and convenience, and it fares pretty well in those departments. The other stand-out features of the Savana 3500’s interiors are:

• Air conditioning
• Airbag deactivation switch, frontal passenger-side
• Assist handle
• Cargo tie-downs
• Cloth headliner
• Console, engine cover with open storage bin
• Cupholder
• Driver Information Center
• Driver and front passenger high-back bucket seats
• Driver and front passenger visors
• Front and side window defogger
• Inside rearview auto-dimming mirror
• Interior lighting
• Power windows
• Power door locks
• Rubberized vinyl floor covering
• Trim panels
• Vinyl front bucket seats

How’s the 2021 GMC Savana 3500’s infotainment system?

Being a utilitarian, GMC was short-sighted in this aspect as they have provided a basic MP3 stereo player as the choice of the in-car entertainment system inside the Savana 3500. The stereo system comes flanked by 2-speakers, one in each door, which reflects the minimalistic arrangement befitting a product of this nature.

Additionally, you can add Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports for about $150 extra which rounds the optional bits of kit. The highlights of the system are:

• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capable
• AM/FM stereo with seek-scan and digital clock
• MP3 playback capability
• Auxiliary jack connects portable media devices
• 2 front door speakers
• OnStar & GMC Connected Services capable

There aren’t any visually attractive exterior design elements in vans to talk about. The GMC Savan comes with a regular, extended wheelbase option. The wheelbase ranges from 135.15 to 155.15-inches and GMC has managed to keep the basic form factor intact despite having a choice of body lengths. The front grille is a customized version from the found in the Chevy Express.

When compared to the rivals, the GMC Savana Cargo Van complements the segment standards when it comes to the exterior dimensions and wheelbase. If cargo is not to your taste GMC offers different configurations of the Savana 3500 ranging from a passenger van to a cutaway chassis that can be customized according to the customer’s business needs. The exterior highlights of the 2021 GMC Savana 2500 are:

• 16-inch steel wheels with all-season tires
• 16-inch spare tire with spare tire carrier lock
• Manual adjustable black outside mirrors
• Black Bumpers
• Daytime Running Lamps
• Dual-halogen composite headlamps
• Variable Speed Front intermittent wipers
• Front license plate kit
• Solar-Ray light-tinted glass
• Swing-out passenger-side door
• Aluminized stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe

The standard safety suite is pretty bare-bones in the GMC Savana 3500, however, if you options some of the driver assistance techs on offer, you can get away with a safe and sound vehicle that feels a lot more reassuring as opposed to how it looks from the outside. Here are the safety features offered in the 2021 GMC Savana 3500:

• 2 airbags
• Airbag deactivation switch, frontal passenger-side
• Airbag system
• Daytime Running Lamps
• Door beams, steel-side
• Forward Collision Alert
• Hill Start Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• OnStar & GMC Connected Services capable
• Rear Park Assist
• Rear Vision Camera
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• StabiliTrak, an electronic stability control system with traction control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Transmission/brake shift interlock
• Warning tones
• Theft Alert Notification
• Oil-life monitoring system
• Electrical theft-deterrent system (engine Immobilizer)

2021 GMC Savana 3500 Vs Ford Transit 350

The Ford Transit 350 proves that a cargo van does not need to be boring or mundane. While it does offer a performance advantage, the better ride quality, bigger cargo space, and the option of higher roofs (which can increase the overall hauling capacity) are some of the reasons that could attract you towards the Ford.

That being said, it does miss out on the towing capacity in which the Savana 3500 excels significantly.

2021 GMC Savana 3500 Vs RAM Promaster 3500

The RAM Promaster comes with the maximum cargo volume, fairly modern interiors, an adequately powerful engine, and the most room with a sizable payload capacity. So, if you want a true upgrade in terms of value for money, the RAM Promaster 3500 possesses all that a fundamental utilitarian needs and in many ways feels the right buy here.

That said, the GMC has better towing capacity and gives slightly better fuel efficiency.

It's high time for GMC to ramp up on its van game, the competitors offer a lot for the asking price and feel a lot more modern than the outdated GMC. One of the many highlights of the GMC and the Chevy in our regard would be their ability to withstand intense scrutiny given the line of job. However, not everything is about being robust, a certain degree of appeal should also be factored into the mix. GMC fails in that respect. There are certain salient features that favor the GMC but for the most part, it’s still a 20th-century piece of kit.