Used 2017 GMC Savana Cargo for sale 

The base model includes basic necessities at a price of $30,745, which is good enough for most fleet businesses. For the people buying the van as a personal vehicle, GMC offers add-ons in LS and LT trims, which makes some crucial upgrades to the scanty cargo van. This full-size van offers you a host of versatility which makes sit one of the most popular cargo vans in the States. 

The van comes equipped with a 4.8-Liter V8 gas engine mated to a 6-speed automatic as standard. Alternatively, you could even go for a heftier 6.0-Liter V8, which churns out 342hp and 373lb-ft torque, or a more efficient 2.8-Liter Inline-4 diesel engine paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and producing 181hp and 369lb-ft.

The Savana is unequivocally a powerful van, and the transmission is capable enough to complement that. The 8-speed optional gearbox is smoother at lower speeds compared to the 6-speed. In comparison, the rivals employ a V6, which may have a reduced power output but catch up in terms of torque figures.

2017 GMC Savana Cargo Van Acceleration

This may not be the best measure for judging the prowess of a cargo van, but when you're spending your whole day in hauling, you sometimes feel the need for the extra oomph when you're pulling away from a stoplight. The Savana 2500 from GMC feels slow to wake up, but at highway speeds, the engine keeps up with the expectation.

Comparatively, the Nissan is much slower to 60mph, taking 9.6 seconds in the process, while the Ford is much faster clocking in at 7.5 seconds. The Ford also keeps the pace throughout the rev range and sharply pulls the van across the standing quarter-mile in just under 15.9 seconds.

2017 GMC Savana Cargo Van Braking

The Savana 2500's brakes are adequate enough to bring this 5000+ pound van to a halt, but unless your 10,000lb trailer has a built-in trailer brake, the discs would struggle to keep up the performance. The brake pedal feels firm and direct, however, the van lurches forward upon heavy braking.

The Nissan NV 1500 is the heaviest in the lot and weighs almost 5,800 lbs. However, the NV also comes with the largest brakes in the comparison with almost 14.4-inch discs at the rear. The Ford Transit is the lightest in the lot and it does offer great braking performance. The sophisticated electronics do ensure that you come to a safe halt whenever required.

2017 GMC Savana Cargo Van Ride and Handling

The Savana's nimbleness can be best compared to a boat. In terms of parking and maneuvering tight spaces, this van may not be the sharpest tool in the shed. The boat-like handling stems from the outdated 2-stage multi-leaf spring mounted on the rear. Take a corner too fast and you'd feel van wanting to tip over, because of the body roll.

The antiquated van is not meant to speed around corners, but neither is it made to be comfortable. The suspension deserves better damping and every undulation in the road is carried through to the cabin. The competition, such as the Ford Transit has a more modern approach to driving dynamics.

2017 GMC Savana Cargo Van Towing Capacity

Despite all the drawbacks, in terms of sheer hauling power, the GMC Savana 2500 eviscerates the competition. With a whopping capacity to pull 10,000 pounds, you'd never find the capability lacking, when you hook up your trailer or camper to the van.

The Mercedes Sprinter, meanwhile, has the lowest towing capacity of the lot despite having the highest torque figures. The Ford and Nissan have a decent capability, although unmatched against the GMC. EPA has not tested the GMC Savana Cargo Van or its competitors for their fuel economy.

The vinyl front seats and plastic-clad interiors are built to be functional not premium. The seating position is quite high up, aiding visibility from the driver's seat while parking and turning. The lack of a door behind the driver, along with the low roof height, hurts the van's practicality. Another one of the features that GMC should've gotten rid of is the protruding engine in the footwell.

Comparatively, the Sprinter van has a much better head and legroom. The seating is more comfortable as well as ergonomically better designed. Even the Nissan and the Ford have a more modern and better laid-out interior. Some of the features GMC has included inside the van are:

• Vinyl bucket seats
• Spray-in bed liner
• Air Conditioning
• OnStar 4G LTE networking and WiFi hotspot
• 6 cargo tie-downs

2017 GMC Savana Cargo Van Infotainment System

The infotainment feels just as antique as the GMC's design. The standard equipment includes a 2-speaker setup with AM/FM and an aux input. You can add an optional CD player and a touchscreen panel, to keep you entertained if you're planning to spend a lot of time in the vehicle.

On the contrary, Ford's modern take on the interior fit and finish. Even the Mercedes has decked out the van with features that make the GMC look 10 years out of place. The system is from the previous generation, which lacks the sickness and usability of the modern-day GM systems. 

• 2-speaker system
• AM/FM Radio
• CD player
• Touch Screen Interface

2017 GMC Savana Cargo Van Cargo Capacity

The mediocre cargo volume will help you out with most of your transportation needs, but if you feel the storage is lacking, you can opt for an extended wheelbase version of the van. You get up to 239.7 cu-ft of cargo room which is a bit lower than the segment standards. However, the large opening makes it easy to pack in more stuff. The lack of a high-roof variant makes it a notch-less practical for professional cargo movers. 

The Savanna competes well with the vans like the Ford and the Nissan, but it can't hold a candle against the Mercedes' Sprinter, whose cargo bay is almost 90 cu-ft more than the rest.

The GMC's utilitarian design has yet to receive an update since it was conceived 30 years ago. The black front and rear bumpers can be replaced with a chrome-clad fascia and front grille, along with composite headlamps. The 60/40 opening passenger side doors, or a sliding doorway with an optional swing-out ladder rack, improve the cargo bay's accessibility by a wide margin. You get 16-inch wheels as standard which makes it more of a rugged workhorse. 

It is has a narrower profile than the competition as well as a lower roof height than most, which makes it quite difficult to stand up straight inside. Also available in an extended wheelbase format which gives the cargo area a huge upgrade. The lower ground clearance gives it an imposing stance, which compliments the rugged looks. The features on the outside of the Savana Cargo van are:

• Swing-out 60/40 passenger side doors
• Sliding side doors
• Optional Chrome bumpers
• Optional Dual composite headlamps

The new GMC Savana comes with a host of modern-day tech. The van gets all-around disc brakes as standard, which also comes with a 4-channel ABS. Without having any crash testing such as NHSTA or IIHS, you'd have to place your trust in GMC's safety features, which seem too less for a cargo van of this magnitude. The safety features included are:

• Anti-lock disc brakes
• Stability control
• Front-side airbags
• Side-curtain airbags
• Backup camera and rear parking sensors

2017 GMC Savana Cargo 2500 vs 2017 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Cargo 2500

The reliable Sprinter from Mercedes' inventory is a much better handling and maneuverable van than the Savanna. With a 3.0-Liter V6 under the hood, the Mercedes-Benz Metris produces more torque at a better fuel economy. The cargo bay can hold more luggage and has the roomiest interior than any of the rivals. Although these features come at a premium of almost $7000, the upgrades are worth the extra money, especially if you intend to spend all day in the vehicle.

2017 GMC Savana Cargo 2500 vs 2017 Ford Transit Cargo Van T-150 130

The new Ford Transit Cargo Van is quite a modern van equipped with features that most vans skip out on to keep the costs down such as Lane keep assist and blind-spot assist. The interior is ergonomically designed to feel comfortable throughout the day and the ride quality is smooth and pleasant. The cargo capacity is nearly identical to that of the GMC, but it lags when it comes to towing capacity. For roughly the same price you get a much better van from the Ford.

2017 GMC Savana Cargo 2500 vs 2017 Nissan NV Cargo 1500 S

The Nissan's heavier V6 powered cargo van is an affordable alternative to the GMC Savana. Although its engine is a bit weaker than the Savanna and as a result loses out on towing capacity. Despite the length advantage over the GMC, the Nissan NV Cargo still has a smaller cargo bay. The interior quality, as well as ride quality, are comparable, but Nissan's handling is better through corners.

Apart from the mammoth towing capacity, the GMC Savana 2500 Van has no redeeming qualities going for it. Scanty interior, old-school infotainment system, thirsty engine, barely adequate brakes, subpar cargo capacity, and an uninspiring fuel economy renders the van virtually incompetent versus the rivals.

The new inline-4 diesel engine meant to reduce fuel consumption fails to prevail. Hopefully, GMC would improve upon this heavy-hauler in 2018. Meanwhile, we recommend you either choose the Mercedes Sprinter or the Ford Transit van.