2002 GMC Savana Cargo Review
2002 GMC Savana Cargo Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+30
Used Savana Cargo for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Powerful V8 engine choices, cavernous interior.
Cons
- Odd styling, cheap interior materials.
What’s new
GMC's full-size van gets only minor improvements, such as a more efficient starter and a stronger steering gear housing. Models with an 8,600-pound or above GVWR and either the 8100 V8 or 6.5-liter diesel engine are newly certified as Low Emissions Vehicles in California.
Edmunds says
How to you choose between a Chevrolet or a GMC full-size van? Which dealer is closest to your house? They're basically the same vehicle. And these GM vans stack up well against the formidable Ford Econoline and ancient has-been Dodge Ram Van. As long as the Savana provides what you need in this kind of vehicle, it's tough to go wrong here.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2002 GMC Savana Cargo 1500 3dr Van (4.3L 6cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$307/mo for Savana Cargo 1500
Savana Cargo 1500
vs
$322/mo
Avg. Midsize Van
Vehicle overview
When the then-new Savana arrived in small numbers for 1996, it had been 25 years since GM redesigned its full-size van. The old GMC Rally Van and Vandura were introduced way back in 1971 (when vans were still groovy) and sold steadily until they were finally discontinued. Competition and safety regulations had forced GM to redo the big vans for '96, but by then Ford had already re-engineered its Econoline twice! To help distinguish GM's all-new rounded-off design, GMC rebadged its new van Savana.
The Savana cargo van is available in 135- and 155-inch wheelbases and three weight series (1500, 2500 or 3500). Their stripped down interiors are ready for upfitting with tool racks, parts bins or whatever it is you need to haul in the comfort and security of an enclosed cabin. Two trim levels are available, SL and SLT (the latter only for fleet buyers looking to create conversion vans)
GM's full-size vans feature flush glass and door handles, hidden door hinges, standard four-wheel antilock brakes and dual airbags. Front foot- and legroom is adequate, and front seats offer a wide range of travel. Front air conditioning and rear heat ducts are standard. The center console contains two cupholders, an auxiliary power outlet and storage for items like CDs and cassettes. Inside the short-wheelbase Savana, you'll find 267 cubic feet of cargo area, while the extended version provides a whopping 317 cubic feet of volume. Rear hinged doors open a full 180 degrees for easy loading and do not conceal high-mounted taillights when opened. For hauling, gross vehicle weight ratings of up to 9,500 pounds are available on either wheelbase.
The base engine is a 200-horsepower Vortec 4300 V6. Optional motors include a 220-horse Vortec 5000 V8, the venerable 255-horse Vortec 5700 V8, and a powerful Vortec 8100 big block V8 that makes 340 ponies and a whopping 455 pound-feet of torque. Also available is a robust 6.5-liter turbodiesel V8 good for 195 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. All Savana 1500 and 2500 cargo vans use GM's 4L60-E transmission, while 3500 models get the heavier-duty 4L80-E.Savana's styling is rounded and bulbous, with a broad front end that mimics GM's truck family and a high-arched rear with tall, thin taillights mounted up along the D-pillars. The round-topped rear end and sheer size of this van make it seem as if you are looking at the back end of some sort of commuter train car. But since most retail buyers have moved to minivans and much of the full-size van business has centered on converters and fleet use, Savana's styling takes a back seat to its modern mechanicals and long service life.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2002 GMC Savana Cargo.
5 star(11%)
4 star(33%)
3 star(34%)
2 star(11%)
1 star(11%)
9 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
1.25 out of 5 stars
Junk
Mr. Jimmy, 04/26/2003
2000 GMC Savana Cargo G2500 3dr Van
I purchased my Savana 2500HD Van and
Serviced it at regular intervals
myself, (oil changes, lube). The brakes
on these trucks wear out after about
18000 miles and thats mostly highway.
At 52k miles the trans started giving
me problems to which I was informed
that the Torque Converter was
defective. As always "GM could not do
anything as far as any warranty
coverage". … Also you may want to note
that the Truck was less than 1 1/2
years old when this happened. Also the
front end had some kind of "looseness"
that the dealer could never find or fix.
I'm very disatisfied with this truck
and would not buy another even with the
so called "0" percent financing.
2.88 out of 5 stars
5.7 engine fails after warranty
David Shirk, 12/29/2002
2000 GMC Savana Cargo G3500 3dr Ext Van
With an oil change documented every 3-
5 thousand miles, my trusty GMC
Savanna extended 1-ton cargo van came
to a grinding halt at 60,600 miles
(less than 2 years old). I had the
old 5.7 engine replaced with a new one
by a GMC dealer. Out of pocket was a
total of $6,400. GMC said it was not
their problem. I am stuck. I am now
persuing samll claims court. How long …
should an engine last? I usually can
have upwards of 200,000 miles without
incident. After owning 14 GM vehicles,
I found the loyalty stops with me.
4.25 out of 5 stars
2001 makes additional quality improves
Proshooter, 01/11/2003
2001 GMC Savana Cargo 2500 3dr Van (4.3L 6cyl 4A)
The 2001 2500 was the first vehicle I
factory ordered as soon as it was
available. Although it took nearly 10
weeks to deliver I found that the
quality is even higher than my 1997.
The Savana 2500 gives me a smooth ride
and power to spare. While the mileage
could be better, at 16 MPG it's way
better than the 10+MPG I was getting
my the used mid '80s vans. The only …
problem I've experienced is that the
seat belt does not always retract and
sometimes gets caught in the door. I
ordered the power heated mirrors which
are helpful having no rear windows.
For the money I will definitely be
looking at the GMC again next time
around.
3 out of 5 stars
MY 2000 SAVANA
realgearhead, 05/26/2004
2000 GMC Savana Cargo G2500 3dr Van
PURCHASED NEW 9-2000 TRANSMISSION
FAILED AT 18000 MILES DEALER CLAIMED
THAT THEY NO LONGER REBUILD
TRANSMISSIONS IN HOUSE ,HAD LOCAL
TRANS. SHOP REBUILD UNIT UNDER
WARRENTY , NOW HAVE 35000 MILES SO FAR
NO PROBLEM . GAS MILEAGE IS POOR 10-11
LOCAL 15-16 HIGHWAY . ALSO HAD
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS .STARTER REPLACED
2XS. THIS IS MY 4TH CHEVY /GMC VAN IT
RIDES AND HANDLES … LIKE A CAR, BUT
SEEMS TO HAVE MORE MECANICAL PROBLEMS
THAN ALL OTHERS PUT TOGETHER
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2002 GMC Savana Cargo, so we've included reviews for other years of the Savana Cargo since its last redesign.
2002 Savana Cargo Highlights
1500
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $22,570 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 15 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $307/month |
Seating | 2 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 267.3 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
People who viewed this also viewed
Starting at $44,900 |
Starting at $40,700 |
3.5 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $37,700 |
Related Used 2002 GMC Savana Cargo info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Toyota Camry 2020
- Used Land Rover Discovery 2018
- Used Lincoln Corsair 2022
- Used Cadillac CT5 2021
- Used Toyota C-HR 2019
Shop similar models
- Used Ram Promaster-cargo-van
- Used Ford Transit-van
- Used Ford Transit-wagon
- Used Ford Transit-connect
- Used Nissan Nv-passenger
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used GMC Savana Cargo 2016
- Used GMC Vandura 2012
- Used GMC Vandura 2015
- Used GMC Savana Cargo 2017
- Used GMC Savana Cargo 2022
- Used GMC Vandura 2013
- Used GMC Vandura 2010
- Used GMC Vandura 2011
- Used GMC Vandura 2014
- Used GMC Vandura 2018
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 15 Grand Cherokee
- Altima Car
- Kia Kia Sorento
- R8 Audi R8
- Hyundai Tucson
- M4 BMW F82
- 2024 Toyota Tacoma
- 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee News
- Nissan GT R
- Honda Odyssey
Research other models of Gmc
- 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2024 GMC Sierra 3500HD
- 2023 Sierra 1500
- Denali GMC 3500
- GMC Sierra 1500 2024
- 2023 GMC Sierra 2500HD
- GMC Savana 2500 Van
- 2023 S-15
- 2023 Terrain
- Hummer Ev SUV
Research similar vehicles
- Chevrolet Express Vans For Sale
- Promaster Van
- Ford Transit
- Windows For Promaster Van
- MBZ Sprinter Van
- 2023 Chevrolet Sportvan
- 2024 Ford Transit Passenger Van
- 2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- Chevrolet Express Cargo
Other models
- New Land-Rover Discovery for Sale in Norwalk, CT
- Used Cadillac CTS-V in Brookline, MA
- Used Mercedes-Benz Slk-Class in Hightstown, NJ
- Used Hyundai Kona-Electric in El Paso, TX
- Used Mazda CX-90 in Saint George, UT
- Used Infiniti QX30 in Easton, MD
- New Lexus Is for Sale in Crossville, TN
- New Genesis G90 for Sale in Franklin, OH
- Used Ford Escape-Hybrid in American Canyon, CA
- Used Buick Park-Avenue in Madison, AL