2025 GMC Savana 3500 Cargo

Focusing on one thing — work — the 2025 GMC Savana is a no-frills appliance dedicated to getting big things done. In the world of trucks and full-size vans, the Savana is classed as heavy-duty. It isn’t a multitasker as comfortable in the country club valet lot as parked in the mud at a worksite. Nope, its attention is devoted to hard work, like hauling lots of cargo, pulling big loads, or transporting a gaggle (if 12-15 people is a gaggle) of passengers. Affordably priced, it’s short on convenience bobbles but long on tolerance for dirty jobs. You will have no trouble finding costlier and more refined full-size-van alternatives, but none of them (other than Savana’s kissing cousin, the Chevy Express) provides Savana’s exact skill set.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size vans, including the GMC Savana.

With this generation of the Savana now more than 20 years old, GMC continues whittling down the availability of features. For example, we saw the demise of the V8 option in the cargo van last year. This year, most of the deletions are related to infotainment. Gone are Bluetooth phone connectivity, satellite radio and Wi-Fi capability, and steering wheel controls.

Not only is the heavy-duty Savana available as a Cargo or Passenger van, but it also comes rated as 2500 or 3500. The primary difference is the 3500 can haul a heavier payload (total weight of people and cargo) than the 2500. Moreover, the Passenger van comes in two trims (LS and LT). GMC also offers a Cutaway version of the Savana, which is almost exclusively for commercial purposes.

The GMC Savana is a more affordable alternative to bigger commercial vans like the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It’s priced similarly to the mechanically identical Chevrolet Express.

Before buying a Savana, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. GMC Savana resale value is about average for the segment. Recouping more of the original cost of a vehicle when you sell it means more to put down on the next one.

The GMC Savana is powered by a 276-horsepower V6 engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD). This engine is a good fit for a work van. We haven’t found the acceleration lacking, and it has the towing and payload capabilities to fulfill the needs of most drivers who need a commercial van.

The 6.6-liter V8, optional in the passenger van and cutaway, produces 401 hp and is linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The V8 uses more fuel, but this is the choice if considerable power and maximum towing muscle are needed.

A truck-like construction results in a truck-like driving experience. We found the ride quality a bit unrefined compared to more modern rivals. The steering is short on feel but the turning circle is wide. Then again, a new Savana is bought to get the work done, not typically acting as a family vehicle or a fun machine.

Fuel Economy

The EPA doesn’t give mpg ratings to commercial vehicles in the heavy-duty class. However, we can confidently say that the V6 is the more efficient engine option. We also feel safe in saying that most competitors squeeze at least a mile or two more out of a gallon of gas.

Because it’s a work vehicle, we didn’t get anything resembling pampering by the Savana, nor were we dazzled by any eye-catching design flair. The dash is a mosaic of hard plastics, and the seats in the base Passenger model are covered with vinyl. However, the center console conveniently houses three cup holders.

The maximum cargo area of the cargo van measures 283.6 cubic feet in the long-wheelbase model or 239.4 in the regular-length model, which is about 20 cubic feet less than the Ram ProMaster. Between the rear wheel housings is a width of 52.47 inches, easily enough clearance for a standard pallet. And the height is 55 inches. Unlike most rivals, the Savana doesn’t offer a high-roof version.

The passenger van seats 12 with the standard wheelbase and 15 with the extended wheelbase. We prefer the nicer LT trim in the passenger van, which adds some creature comforts like standard cloth seating, carpeted flooring, and a deluxe center console, but it’s still a pretty no-nonsense van with only a smattering of modern tech.

A “box on four wheels” pretty much sums up the Savana’s exterior styling. Not surprising since it is now 22 years old. In fact, it’s one of the most dated designs in the industry, yet it’s functional. If you require more cargo or passenger space, GMC offers an extended-wheelbase version of the cargo and passenger van.

Mighty V8
Along with the mechanically identical Chevy Express, the GMC Savana has the only available V8 engine in this class. Sadly, it’s only offered in the passenger van.

Class-leading towing
The GMC Savana uses old-school body-on-frame architecture and your choice of a V6 or V8 engine. It boasts a best-in-class towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds and can carry up to 4,280 pounds of payload. However, even the V6 can tug 7,500 pounds.

Affordable pricing
The GMC Savana is tied with the Chevy Express for the lowest starting price for a full-size van, making it suitable for a business on a budget or fleets.

Safety Package
An optional Safety Package for the cargo van adds some nice creature comforts, including cruise control, a tilt steering column, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors.

LT trim
The LT trim of the passenger van makes the Savana a more modern people-hauler. It adds chrome bumpers and exterior trim, cloth seats, carpeted flooring, a deluxe console, and extra safety tech like forward collision alert and lane-departure warning.

Seats up to 15
The Savana passenger van seats up to 12 with the standard wheelbase and 15 with the extended wheelbase. This generous seating capacity makes the Savana a solid choice if you need more seats than a minivan can offer.

The standard V6 powering the GMC Savana is the right pick for most buyers. However, we love that there is still a V8 available. Alongside the mechanically identical Chevy Express, this is the only V8 offered in this class, and it arms the Savana with a class-leading maximum tow rating of 10,000 pounds. The V6, however, is no slouch; it can tow up to 7,400 pounds. We wish all-wheel drive (AWD) was available in the Savana, but if you require the extra traction, all-wheel drive is optional in the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

The standard 4.3-liter V6 is rated at 276 hp and 298 lb-ft of torque. The bigger 6.6-liter V8 makes 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. Both engines employ an 8-speed automatic transmission. The V6 powers every cargo van, and the V8 is optional in the passenger van and cutaway variants.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The GMC Savana is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. It also comes with complimentary maintenance on your first visit. An extended 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is available for qualified fleet purchases. This coverage is about average for a commercial van.

Safety

Standard safety features in the GMC Savana are limited to the basics, like a backup camera, an electronic stability control system with traction control, and hill start assist. A few optional safety features include forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors.

No third party has crashed or safety tested the Savana.