Successful large long-liver
The GMC Savana is a full-size van or minivan that has been produced under the GMC brand since 1996. It can be both rear and four-wheel drive. The Savana is a passenger car for long journeys with a very large family, a group of friends or the whole office of business travelers. For 25 years of its existence, the car had only two generations due to the initially excellent build quality. Please note that in Israel, the official Chevrolet dealer represents the Chevrolet Savana van, which is the same model as the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express.
The GMC Savana remains popular in the United States and is well known in many countries, as it successfully fulfills its mission to provide comfortable and safe transportation of a large group of passengers. The car is simple, reliable, powerful and dynamic. These qualities have ensured such a long life for this car, which few models can boast of.
The first generation
It was produced from 1996 to 2003. The first GMC Savana was developed in 1995 based on the GMC Vandura, which had been produced since 1964! Initially, the car was produced in two versions: 1500 (half-ton) and 3500 (one-ton) and was built on a cargo spar platform with two wheelbases: 3,420 mm and 3,937 mm. Depending on the wheelbase, the car could be 8-, 12- or 15-seater.
The first generation Savana was presented in three trim levels: basic SL, medium SLE and expensive SLT. Moreover, the cars differed in the type of doors, which could be sliding or ordinary. With any wheelbase, the Savana could tow up to 4 thousand kg of weight. The short-wheelbase Savana had a cargo space of 7,560 liters, and the longer version had 8,976 liters.
Design and interior
The front panel of the Savana is wide, brutal and rectangular, featuring two rectangular headlights, which is a typical GMC design. In general, the body wasn’t graceful, as it was a simple impressively large van, which looked rather gloomy, especially if it was painted in standard black, whereas when painted in white it looked like a “maniac”s van”.
The interior is the main advantage of this car. Initially, the Savana was designed to meet all the needs of a large number of passengers, because it had four rows of seats, moreover, located so that you could easily stretch your legs (but not in the driver’s seat, which was considered quite tight). The van offered a lot cargo space, a standard air conditioner available on all versions, sliding doors, and rear hinged doors.
Engines and chassis
The first generation Savana was standardly equipped with a 4.3 liter V6 engine with of 200 hp, coupled with a standard 4-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the modification, the Savana could be equipped with one of the following engines: Vortec 5000 V8 with 220 hp, Vortec 5700 V8 with 255 hp and V8 GM Vortec 8100 with 340 hp. A 6.5-liter diesel engine with 195 hp was also offered. Power steering and ESP were standard.
In 2002, a more efficient starter and a more robust steering housing were installed on the Savana. In addition, models with the global maximum capacity of 3,900 kg and above and with a V8 petrol or 6.5-liter diesel engine were certified as Low Emission Vehicles in California, which was an excellent achievement for such a large vehicle.
The first generation GMC Savana was successful for its segment and performed its functions properly. Therefore, it managed to last until the second generation practically with no changes.
The second generation
It has been produced from 2003 to the present (as of 2021). The second generation GMC Savana has been greatly improved when compared to its predecessor. The car was built on the GMT800 platform, the same as the GMC Sierra. There is another modification, called the Savana 2500, with a carrying capacity of ¾ tons. Plus, the manufacturer presented an all-wheel drive modification. The maximum towing force on the 1500 models reached 2,857 kg, while the super-powerful 3500 models gained the ability to pull up to 4,445 kg.
Interior
The interior of the second Savana remained true to the idea of functionality, offering 12 seats as standard or from 8 to 15 passenger seats in other modifications. The Savana had two types of trim levels and finishes: LS and LT. The LS models were designed for business rather than out-of-town travel, so the standard equipment was limited to air conditioning, stereo and anti-theft systems.
The more advanced LT models had optional air conditioning and rear heating, power windows and door locks, cruise control, adjustable steering wheel and keyless entry. Optional equipment included power driver seats, alloy wheels and an upgraded sound system with a six-disc CD changer. Regardless of the trim, the dashboard remained flat and straight like that on a truck.
Engines and chassis
In 2003, the car featured Vortec engines by GM. The Savana range was standardly equipped with a V6 engine generating 200 hp, and the most powerful unit was the 6.0-liter V8 engine with 300 hp. In 2004, passenger models were equipped with the StabiliTrak system.
In 2007, the 2500 model was discontinued. The half-ton model 1500 came only with a short wheelbase, so the longer wheelbase is available only for the 3500.
In NHTSA frontal impact crash tests, the 2007 GMC Savana received a five-star rating (the highest possible).
Moreover, the V6 engine was excluded from the model range, the 5.3-liter V8 engine with 295 hp became standard for the 1500 model, whereas the 3500 model came with a 6.0-liter V8 engine with 300 hp. All 1500 models have a 4-speed automatic transmission that transfers torque to the rear wheels, while the 3500 models feature a reinforced version of this transmission.
Safety measures have been improved. Now all the Savana models are equipped with anti-lock disc brakes, and the Savana 1500 has a front passenger detection system, which deactivates the front airbag if it detects that a teenager or a child is sitting in front, while the 3500 models use a switch for manual deactivation of the airbag for the front passenger. The ESP has become standard on the 3500 since 2007, but is not available for the 1500. In NHTSA frontal impact crash tests, the 2007 GMC Savana received a five-star rating (the highest possible).
