Used 2017 GMC Savana Passenger for sale 

GMC Savana is being offered in the LS and LT variants. LS variant is the base in the 2500 and 3500 and gets features like the front A/C, padded visors, AM/FM radio, and many more. Upgrading to the LT variant will give you a few additional features like an 8-point digital compass, rear A/C, and few others. A long list of additional features is available with this car, you can equip your Savana with an LCD, a DVD Player, Recliner Seats, and whatnot. Savana is a small house on wheels. We will talk about this more ahead.

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Since there isn’t much difference between the two available trims, we would recommend the higher LT trim as it would not only add a few more features but also improve the overall feel of the otherwise bland vehicle.

Powering the 2017 GMC Savana LS 2500 is a 4.8-liter V8 engine that can run on both gasoline and ethanol. Although you might feel disappointed after knowing that this big engine produces just 285 horsepower 295 lb-ft of torque. But don't let your hopes down as this engine is able to pull a fully loaded Savana along. This passenger van gets the power to its wheels through a 6-Speed automatic heavy-duty transmission.

The Savana and Express are essentially the same cars with a different name from the two sister companies and both leave the competition in the dust with their more powerful engine at a lower price. Nissan NV is an odd-one-out here as it is powered by a 5-speed automatic transmission compared to 6-speed automatic transmission in other vans and also has the least engine output.

What is the 2017 GMC Savana Passenger Van's 0-60 mph Acceleration Performance?

Even though the car is powered by a V8, it still does 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds. This van is humungous with a weight almost double that of your regular car. So it is actually impressive that the Savana manages to reach 60 mph in under 9 seconds. The quarter-mile strip is also covered in a respectable 16.7 seconds which is not bad for a van at all.

The first thing you might notice here is that the Ford Transit is quicker than the others, because of its small size and less weight. The Nissan NV might be the slowest to 60 mph, but it covers up ground to cover the quarter-mile faster than the GMC-Chevy twins, half a second behind the Ford Transit Wagon

What is the 2017 GMC Savana Passenger Van's Braking Performance?

With a heavy curb weight, these vans need larger brakes to make them stop at a particular distance. Savana gets 12.8-inch front brakes and 13.0-inch brakes at the rear and has a braking distance of 122 feet despite the over 6,000 lbs curb weight.

Take the Nissan NV for an instance, it is almost 600 lbs heavier than the Savana and so has even bigger 14.2 and 14.4 inches brakes at front and rear. Whereas the relatively lighter Ford Transit comes with smaller brakes but disappoints in terms of stopping distance as it travels the farthest before coming to halt when braking from 60 mph.

Has the Ride and Handling of the 2017 GMC Savana Passenger Van improved?

GMC Savana needs a patient driver to get accustomed to its heavy steering but with a large turning radius, it keeps the van under the driver's control. Body roll is like a parasite to vans and sticks with this body-type because of the shape of the vehicle. The suspension is set up on the softer side and the ride gets a bit bouncy in some cases which also adds up to the body roll.

What is the Towing and Payload Capacity of the 2017 GMC Savana Passenger Van?

One thing that the GMC Savana is going to benefit from the big V8 is that the vehicle can tow a maximum of 9,800 lbs. The grunt from under the hood may not felt in the acceleration or driving dynamics of the van, but there is a competition to it in terms of sheer tugging power.

To put things into perspective, Savana can tow another Savana along with a Prius tied at its back. The Nissan NV has a much lesser towing capacity at 6200 lbs while the Ford Transit Wagon can only tow 4,200 lbs which is the lowest in this comparison.

It would really be unfair for the Savana for anybody to expect it to be fuel efficient while providing such impeccable grunt. The GMC Savana with its big V8 engine gets gas mileage of 11 miles on the city roads and 16 miles per gallon on the highway. But the 31.0 gallons of gas tank should make up for it and one can have enough fuel when going camping in the woods, and happen to get lost.

There is no data available for the Nissan NV, while the Ford Transit Wagon is the most efficient van here with the only downside being the small-ish fuel tank. The Savana-Sierra twins have a similar driving range as that of the Ford, thanks to their larger gas tank.

GMC has a standard capacity of 12 people but that can be upgraded to a max of 15 people. The same is with the Chevrolet Express. Even in the Nissan NV Passenger, you get space for 12. Ford Transit though can let only 8 people sit in it, more like an SUV. GMC Savana is so big that space is not an issue. You get exceptional legroom in this car and the vehicle's roof is high enough that you have to half-stand to bang your head against the roof.

• 12-passenger, 2-3-3-4 seating configuration seating
• Front bucket seats with custom cloth trim
• Single zone air conditioning with rear AC vents
• Heating functionality for both front and rear
• 120-volt power outlet
• Interior lights with 2 dome lights

Inside the car, you get the option for standard cloth material or leather for seats. Or you can even go for heated and cooled massaging recliners. Or the option which can turn the last row into a bed, in case you live in the car. There are big cup-holders on the doors. The tilt-adjustable power steering wheel is leather-wrapped. Front and rear air conditioning is something that seems standard nowadays. There is lighting on the roof. Or you can equip your Savana with a large LCD TV and Blu-Ray DVD by Samsung. Options to customize the Savana just doesn't have a limit.

How is the 2017 GMC Savana Passenger Van’s infotainment system?

Infotainment is not the greatest in the car. And the lack of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay only adds up to it. There is the availability of SiriusXM radio and OnStar radio along with the trial membership for a few months. The infotainment system comes with CD Player and USB ports to sync the music files from your device to the Infotainment system. Or you can connect your device via Bluetooth. There are buttons on the steering wheel to control the media. And that wraps up the infotainment system in the van.

• Driver Information Center
• OnStar 4G LTE connection with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
• OnStar Data Trial for 3 months or 3GB
• Color Touch Nav Radio with IntelliLink
• 2 front door speakers

How much is the 2017 GMC Savana Passenger Van’s Cargo capacity?

With a big vehicle comes great cargo space. Savana gets you a cargo space of 92 cubic-feet as standard which is increased to a heavenly 216.2 cubic-feet which is more than enough to haul an entire household and then save some space. 

Comparing those numbers to the Nissan NV, the maximum capacity you get is 281.9 cubic feet. And somehow the rather smaller Ford Transit has the maximum cargo space of 292.7 cubic feet. It is safe to say that spacious front seats and a big V8 engine took up most of the space that the Savana could have.

For the exterior, you get everything from the big headlights to the big front grille to the GMC lettering upfront in extra-large format to match the humongous size of the vehicle. You have the option of either opting for the black or chrome front and rear bumpers. The Savana still has the halogen lamps. But you do get the daytime running LED lights along with the automatic dusk-sensing headlights

The Savana (and the Chevy Express) is undoubtedly a bit bigger than the Ford Transit. It falls 16 inches shorter than the Nissan NV in length. And that extra 16 inches of material account for the 600 lbs. of the extra weight of Nissan NV. Savana comes with the 11.0 inch of ground clearance, and I can assure you that off-roading is not a problem with this car. Not even the harsh ground of the woods will scratch this car.

GMC Savana Passenger Van has not been rated for safety yet by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The GMC Savana offers airbags on the front for both the driver and front passenger. While the features like Stability Control and Traction control will make sure the vehicle doesn't lose traction.

• Post-Collision Safety System
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• OnStar Basic plan for 5 years
• StabiliTrak traction assistance
• Vehicle stability enhancement system
• Traction Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Nissan NV Passenger 3500 S vs GMC Savana

Nissan's passenger van comes at a price range similar to the GMC. Although the engine is a little weaker than the Savana, performance is relatively better. Both cars offer similar fuel economy. The seating capacity remains the same although is 16 inches longer than the Savana. Those extra benefits in the almost 60 cubic feet of extra cargo space when all the seats are folded. If you want extra space in your van, Nissan NV Passenger is a clear choice.

Chevrolet Express LS 2500 vs GMC Savana

Comparing the Chevrolet Express with the GMC Savana doesn't make any sense. Both are actually the same cars with different names. To target a different market where Chevrolet couldn't reach, General Motors decided to launch the Express in those markets under the name GMC Savana. Both cars are available in 2500 and 3500 load ratings in both LS and LT trim levels.

Ford Transit Wagon 150 XL vs GMC Savana

Ford Transit is a rather smaller vehicle offering seating for 8, while you get seating for 12 in the Savana. Ford also gets a smaller V6 engine compared to GMC Savana's V8. As a result, GMC does produce some extra power but the lighter curb weight of the Transit Wagon helps to accelerate faster than the Savana. And Ford offers almost 300 cubic feet of space in the Transit compared to the 216 cubic feet in the Savana. It is really hard to choose a winner when one has extra power, the other has extra space.

GMC Savana Passenger van offers great utility and towing capacity. And it doesn't drive bad either. The cargo space up to the first row is good enough but when compared to Ford Transit and Nissan NV, it feels smaller. Fuel economy is a major shortcoming. But not only the GMC Savana but other vans also suffer from a subpar fuel economy. GMC without any second thought is a great vehicle to own.