2020 GMC Savana Review

Price Range: $24,995 - $25,795

GMC Savana LT 3500 Passenger Van Exterior Shown

2020 GMC Savana LS 3500 Passenger Van Exterior

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2020 GMC Savana Review

byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

Three available engines all have enough torque to move a fully loaded van
Towing and payload capabilities are at or near the top of this class

Cons

No high-roof cargo option
Harsher ride than most rivals
Dated touchscreen interface and interior styling

What's new

A new torque converter for the optional diesel engine's eight-speed automatic
Part of the first Savana generation introduced for 1996

Overview

The 2020 GMC Savana is a passenger van that values utility over all else. The Savana's underpinnings are body-on-frame rather than unibody, making it the only van left on the market with that setup (aside from its twin brother, the Chevy Express). That setup, however, sacrifices comfort, leaving passengers with a stiff, bumpy ride. On the inside, the interior is cheap and dated. There aren't any roof-height options to choose from like you get from more recently redesigned rivals.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 GMC Savana LS 2500 3dr Van (4.3L 6cyl 8A) 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 N/A undefined in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

Not EPA tested

$262/mo

Avg. Midsize Van

Calculate my fuel costs

If you're looking for sheer capability, though, the 2020 Savana stands out for its available 12- and 15-passenger seating configurations (thanks to two body lengths). The heavy-duty underpinnings also mean it's capable of towing as much as 9,600 pounds. And depending on configuration, you can take the rear seats out and you've got 255 cubic feet of cargo space. The 2020 GMC Savana is lacking in the modern-charm department, but it makes up for some of its drawbacks with a bit of brute force and some old-school tenacity.

Which Savana does Edmunds recommend?

Since there are a wide variety of configurations available on the Savana, it's best to choose based on your needs first, then your desired equipment. For maximum towing, we recommend the optional 6.0-liter V8 engine. From there, if additional cargo or passenger space is a priority, you can upgrade to the extended-wheelbase model. And finally, for trim-level selection, we recommend the LT for its added convenience and safety features.

Compare 2020 GMC Savana trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2020 GMC Savana models

The 2020 GMC Savana is available in 2500 and 3500 load ratings. The 2500 is short-wheelbase only, while the 3500 is available in a short or long wheelbase and has a higher GVWR. The longer wheelbase also means that 3500 increases seating capacity from 12 to 15 passengers. All Savanas come with a choice of three engines:

A standard 4.3-liter V6 (276 hp, 298 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic
An available 6.0-liter V8 (341 hp, 373 lb-ft) matched to a six-speed automatic
A 2.8-liter Duramax diesel four-cylinder engine (181 hp, 369 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic

GMC offers the Savana in two trim levels: LS and LT.

LS
Starts you off with:

Vinyl upholstery and single-zone manual air conditioning
Power windows and locks
A rearview camera
A 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot and a 120-volt household-style power outlet
A two-speaker stereo system with AM/FM radio and an auxiliary port
Tilt-only steering wheel and cruise control (standard on 3500, optional on 2500)

LT
Comes with the above plus:

Cloth upholstery, carpeted floors and chrome bumpers
Remote locking and unlocking
Lane departure warning and forward collision alert

Options (available in bundled or stand-alone form) for both LS and LT models include:

A larger touchscreen infotainment interface with a CD player and a USB port
A navigation system and satellite radio
A heavy-duty trailering package
Rear parking sensors and a blind-spot monitor
A heavy-duty locking rear differential
A sliding rear door (instead of swing-out)
Power-adjustable front seats and power-adjustable mirrors

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Above Average

#1 out of 24 among Commercial Vans

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the GMC Savana from 2008-2022.}

$695/yr

vs. $851/yr
for Average Commercial Van

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.15x/yr

vs. 1.96x/yr
for Average Commercial Van

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

17.3%

vs. 17.8%
for Average Commercial Van

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

GMC Savana Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.4

27 reviews

5(52%)

4(41%)

3(7%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

GMC Savanna - A nice ride

Northern Driver, 08/24/2003

2003 GMC Savana 1500 AWD 3dr Van (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

My Savanna is a conversion that looks and performs up to expectations and turns heads. I would not have purchased one of these vans based on standard features/factory trim. The dashboard and interiors are too flat and plasticky and the bumpers/mirrors are black plastic. Both of these detractions were remedied by the conversion - wood dash trim and painted …

1999 Savanna Cargo Van

Kevin, 12/02/2017

1999 GMC Savana G1500 SLE 3dr Van

Gets 16 Mpg with or w/o load. Handles balanced on Highway. Brakes well but get overheated easily in traffic lights. Stay away from Los Angeles commuting in rush hour. Very safe driver visibility like an aircraft. 400,000 on my chassis with one time ball joint and center link replacements. Second engine has a hundred thousand miles on it and purrs like a kitten. It has 450,000 miles on …

2500 PRO PACKAGE

Don Schwartz, 02/22/2016

2003 GMC Savana 1500 AWD 3dr Van (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

I'm very surprised doing the value, comparison there is NO 2500 3/4TON AWD model to choose from. Only a 1500 series. Also the Pro Package has 2 double long air assisted opening panels, one on each side where the windows would normally be. Custom 12 volt interior lighting. Electronic transmission towing switch on instrument panel. The 5.3L Vortex engine is to die for. As with all …

Excellent Family Alternative to SUV's

hurstcastle, 08/04/2008

2001 GMC Savana SLT 3dr Van (5.7L 8cyl 4A)

Vehicle has proven very reliable over the past 6+ years, rides exceptionally and served our family very well. Would pick this vehicle any day over a SUV. Tons of features in SLT package!

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 GMC Savana, so we've included reviews for other years of the Savana since its last redesign.

See all 27 reviews of the GMC Savana

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2020 Savana Highlights

Trim:

LS 2500

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$34,900
Engine Type	Gas
Seating	12 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Savana models:

OnStar: Provides third-party assistance in the event of a collision, vehicle theft or other emergency.
Rear Vision Camera: Displays a view of the area immediately behind the Savana in the rearview mirror or in the central display when the touchscreen is ordered.
Rear Park Assist: Sounds an alert when the rear of the Savana is close to an object.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover29.2%

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2020 GMC Savana Review

Pros