The GMC Savana is a full-size van that General Motors has produced since 1996 as the GMC version of the Chevrolet Express. It replaced the Vandura and Rally and is offered as a passenger van, a cargo van and a cutaway chassis for ambulances, buses, motorhomes and small trucks.
GMC Savana at a glance
| Class | full-size van |
|---|---|
| Production | since 1996, a single generation |
| Twin model | Chevrolet Express |
| Replaced | GMC Vandura and Rally |
| Built at | Wentzville, Missouri |
| Cutaway chassis | from Navistar’s Springfield, Ohio plant since 2017 |
| Total Express and Savana built | more than three million |
| Front axle | moved forward 10 in for the 1996 design |
| Airbags | dual front airbags standard from 1997 |
| All-wheel drive | offered 2003-2014 on 1500 and light 2500 vans |
| Facelift | 2003, with a higher hood line |
| Gearbox | eight-speed automatic from 2024 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Chevrolet Express, which covers the Savana as its GMC twin. No free photograph of a Savana was found.
History of the GMC Savana
A new full-size van for 1996
For the 1996 model year Chevrolet replaced the G-series Chevrolet Van with the Express, and GMC replaced the Vandura and Rally with the Savana. It was the first all-new design for the GM full-size van line since 1971 and was offered as a passenger van and a cargo van, the latter initially keeping the Chevrolet Van name. In a major functional change the front axle moved forward 10 inches, taking the front wheels out of the passenger compartment, which improved front legroom and lowered the step-in height; the engine cover was also made smaller. Dual airbags were standard on vans below 8,500 lb gross vehicle weight from the start and on all versions for 1997.
The 2003 facelift
For 2003 the Express and Savana had a mid-cycle revision with substantial frame and chassis upgrades and new bodywork ahead of the windscreen. The higher hood line and new front fascia, developed as a better crumple zone, brought the vans closer to the GMT800 pickups and increased parts commonality between the two lines. The dashboard was redesigned with dual-stage airbags and multiplex wiring. Split 60/40 panel doors were offered on the passenger side, and for the first time since the Corvair van the driver’s side could have the same doors, an option limited to the standard-length body and available through 2014.
Changes since 2003
The light-duty 2500 vans below 8,500 lb were discontinued for 2006. For 2008 the passenger van gained side-curtain airbags and standard stability control, with a redesigned steering wheel, seats and gauge cluster; 2011 brought Bluetooth and a USB port, and 2013 an optional navigation system, rear-view camera and parking assist on higher trims. For 2015 all radios became digitally tuned and a 120-volt AC outlet was added to the dash. For 2018 sealed-beam headlights were dropped in favour of the four composite headlamps of higher trims, and blind spot monitoring became optional; 2019 added lane departure warning and collision alert on higher trims. An all-wheel-drive option was offered from 2003 to 2014 on 1500 and light 2500 vans, always with a 135-inch wheelbase and the 5.3-litre V8. For 2024 the vans received eight-speed automatic transmissions for both V6 and V8 engines.
Longevity
Over three million Express and Savana vans have been built, making the design one of the longest-produced in American automotive history alongside the Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Econoline and Dodge Ram Van. For 2022 the Express entered its 26th year of production, overtaking the 1971-1996 Chevrolet Van. The GMT610 platform is expected to continue in its current form through the 2026 model year, with an electric replacement based on the BrightDrop Zevo having been considered and then set aside in favour of a substantial revision.
Design and features
- Three body styles: passenger van, cargo van and cutaway chassis.
- Forward front axle: 10 inches ahead of the old layout for better legroom and a lower step.
- All-wheel drive: available from 2003 to 2014 on light-duty vans.
- Cutaway chassis: the base for ambulances, buses, motorhomes and small trucks.
- Long production run: one generation since 1996, with more than three million built.
GMC Savana versions
- Savana passenger van: the people-carrying version in several trims and lengths.
- Savana cargo van: the commercial body without rear seats.
- Cutaway chassis: a chassis cab for ambulance, bus and motorhome builders.
- All-wheel-drive Savana (2003-2014): 1500 and light 2500 vans with the 5.3 V8.
- Facelifted Savana (2003-): the version with the higher hood and revised dashboard.
The Savana replaced the GMC Vandura, was the larger stablemate of the GMC Safari and shares its role as a cutaway chassis with the GMC Motorhome‘s descendants. More vans are in the GMC collection.
Sources
- Chevrolet Express, English Wikipedia: introduction, facelift, model-year changes, all-wheel drive, production
