Used 2014 GMC Savana

Long the favorite of companies and individuals needing to move big loads, the aging GMC Savana van is still as capable as it is popular. But, the Savana is no longer the best vehicle for the job when it comes to moving people. Newer vans from Nissan and Ford employ all-new architecture offering more interior space and better fuel economy, not to mention a more modern skeleton. But, there are so many things to like about the Savana’s design, chief among them the vast number of aftermarket parts for customization. Sharing its platform with GMC’s full-size pickups, the 2014 GMC Savana comes in a number of sizes and abilities, including a 1-tone 3500 model, a number of engine choices including diesel and CNG and optional all-wheel drive.

If the last time you remember driving a full-size van was when you were wearing your brand new Rush t-shirt and sporting long hair, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. A substantially stiffened body and improvements in suspension, steering and engine/transmission operations make GMC’s 2014 Savana van as comfortable and easy to drive as any modern full-size pickup or SUV. A high seating position and, on passenger vans, a broad expanse of side glass make for nearly unhampered 360-degree visibility. Cargo vans get big side mirrors to help the driver navigate, as well as available sonar park assist and a rearview camera. As for power, it’s best to have one of the Savana’s available V8 engines under the hood, as the base V6 is not suitable for anything beyond light-duty work.

As expected, the Savana’s interior design stresses function over beauty. Sturdy plastics comprise most of the austere dash and door panels, with thick vinyl covering the seats and floor. Gauges in the instrument panel are large and easy to read, and the heating controls and radio are in reasonable reach for the driver. In Cargo Van form, the 2014 GMC Savana is a 2-passenger vehicle with the world’s largest trunk. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Savana Passenger Van that allows for such luxuries as bench seating, power windows, rear air conditioning and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.

If the GMC Savana’s exterior styling looks familiar, that may be because the basic box shape hasn’t evolved much in 30 years. It’s a van, after all, so the rolling breadbox shape is what is needed for the interior to be so roomy and versatile. Of course, there are some distinctions, such as the rounded corners, flush headlights and high taillights. Available door configurations include sliding or split swing-out passenger-side doors and GM-exclusive swing-out doors on the driver’s side. Useful exterior accessories include a roof-mounted ladder rack, roof-rack cross-rail system and mudflaps.

SIDE ACCESS
When it comes to gaining access to the Savana’s massive interior, GMC gives owners multiple choices. The standard passenger-side double swing-out doors can be replaced by a sliding door, there’s a GM-exclusive swing-out-doors arrangement available on the driver’s side, and lift-up panels can provide access to side storage bins.

CAPABILITY
Few vehicles can offer the versatility of 15-passenger seating, a tow rating of 9,900 pounds, and a cargo area measuring 284 cubic feet behind the front seats. And the view out over traffic is terrific.

These are often work vehicles, remember, so the base specification is quite Spartan. The 2014 GMC Savana Cargo Van starts with a V6 engine (4.3 liters, 195 horsepower), air conditioning, power windows and door locks, manual exterior mirrors, and vinyl upholstery and floor covering. The basic Passenger Van takes one step up with a 4.8-liter, 280-horsepower V8 and cloth seat fabric. Full instrumentation and a Driver Information Center (trip computer) are included across the line. Standard safety features include 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, StabiliTrak electronic stability control and dual front airbags (plus head/side-curtain airbags for the first three rows in the Passenger Van).

Since standard fare is lean on the GMC Savana, the options list provides a lot of creature comforts and equipment upgrades. There’s a selection of V8 engines (including the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel), an all-wheel-drive system, a towing package, plus such items as cruise control, upgraded audio systems and power windows and locks. Also available are rear-area heating and air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and six months of OnStar “directions and connections.” Note that the aftermarket offers all manner of specialty equipment, including tool racks and work benches and special-needs mobility provisions, and GM actively cooperates.

With one V6 and five V8s on its roster, the 2014 GMC Savana offers buyers an engine for most any need. On the low end of the range is a 195-horsepower 6-cylinder mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, which is suitable for light-duty applications but not heavy-duty hauling. For big burdens, the optional 6.6-liter turbocharged diesel V8 is hard to beat, with its massive 525 lb-ft of torque. Between those extremes are 4.8-, 5.3- and 6.0-liter gasoline V8s, and also a CNG (compressed natural gas) conversion for the 6.0 that includes hardened valve seats and a special 3-tank fuel-storage configuration. All of the Savana’s 8-cylinder engines are paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

4.3-liter V6
195 horsepower @ 4,600 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 2,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg

4.8-liter V8
280 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
296 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/17 mpg

5.3-liter V8
310 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
334 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/17 mpg

6.0-liter V8
323 horsepower @ 4,600 rpm
373 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/16 mpg

6.0-liter V8 CNG
279 horsepower @ 4,700 rpm
320 lb-ft or torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

6.6-liter turbodiesel V8
260 horsepower @ 3,100 rpm
525 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A