2018 GMC Savana Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Having first appeared on the market in 1996, the GMC Savana has not changed much over time. Of course, this causes the full-size passenger van to appear rather dated. On the positive side, the 2018 GMC Savana maintains its powerful engine torque and almost-best-in-class payload and towing capacities. When you break it down, though, the GMC Savana needs to see more substantial changes made for it to keep up with the evolving competition.

What's New for 2018?

Essentially, nothing is new on the 2018 GMC Savana. Save for a few minor features, the new Savana is the same as the outgoing 2017 model.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 GMC Savana – The Pros

1. Towing Capacity

One of the most notable features that distinguish the 2018 GMC Savana from its competition is its massive towing capacity. When you properly equip the Savana 3500, you will get a max towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, which is one of the best capacities you will find in this class.

2. Payload Capacity

In addition to towing, the Savana has a huge payload capacity that puts it above many of its competitors. The maximum payload on the 2018 GMC Savana is about 3,500 pounds.

3. Plenty of Torque

The GMC Savana 1500 and 2500 models both have a 4.8-L V8 engine that generates 285 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 3500, however, has a strong 6.6-L V8 diesel engine that generates 260 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. This amount of torque feels just right for getting the 6,000-lb vehicle going.

4. Seats 15 Passengers

The 2018 GMC Savana 3500 model's long wheelbase adds an extra bench seat. While most competitors can only seat 12 passengers, this additional bench allows the Savana to seat up to 15 passengers.

5. Standard 4G LTE WiFi

4G LTE WiFi hotspot connectivity now comes standard on the GMC Savana. This allows you to get 4G speeds on all devices that have WiFi enabled inside of the vehicle.

6. Controls Are Easy-to-Use

All of the physical knobs and buttons located along the dash and center stack are well-labelled, easy to reach, and easy to use. Even non-tech-savvy drivers will have an easy time figuring out which button performs what function, and everything operates as expected.

7. Plenty of Legroom

Whether you're seated up front or in the rear, the 2018 GMC Savana offers a generous amount of legroom. This can be difficult to find in some vans in this class. The seats on the Savana are well-spaced-apart and are placed at just the right height for most passengers.

8. Good Forward Visibility

Forward visibility can often be an issue on full-size passenger vans. This is not the case, however, on the GMC Savana. The Savana has a rather pointed nose that has a blunt shape to it. This keeps the grille somewhat close to the driver and allows for a sufficient amount of frontal visibility. Drivers do not need to guess just how close the front bumper is to a curb or another vehicle.

9. A Diesel Engine Option

The diesel engine option adds a bit of weight to the GMC Savana, but it has a massive amount of torque. It is more fuel-efficient than the 6.0-L V8 engine that is available, and since the V8s are known to be gas-guzzlers, the diesel option is definitely the better of the two.

10. The MyLink Infotainment System

The MyLink infotainment system is one of the easier-to-use systems out there, especially when it comes to its smartphone app integration. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard. The interface is set up in a logical manner with large, well-labelled digital buttons.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 GMC Savana – The Cons

1. The Engines Are Gas-Guzzlers

Unfortunately, the engines are gas-guzzlers. The 2500 with the 6.0-L engine only gets 13 mpg combined (11 mpg city/16 mpg highway), while the 3500 with the same engine manages to do slightly worse at 12 mpg combined (11 mpg city/16 mpg highway). If you need something with decent gas mileage, you can opt for the V8 diesel, but there are no EPA ratings available since the EPA doesn't rate vehicles that weigh over 6,000 pounds.

2. Lacks a High Roof Cargo Option

For some reason, the 2018 GMC Savana still does not have a high roof cargo option. Almost every single competitor out there has added the high roof option to their list of body configurations, so it just doesn't make sense that the GMC Savana doesn't have one. This would make getting in and out of the vehicle a lot easier for rear seat passengers.

3. An Outdated Infotainment Interface

The MyLink interface works well enough, but it does look a bit outdated. The screen just isn't as crisp and clear as some of the competitors, and it gives the center stack a bulky and antiquated appearance.

4. Interior Looks Cheap

While some aspects of the cabin look nice (for example, the leather-wrapped steering wheel), a lot of the hard surfaces just look too plastic-y. Even the cloth upholstery looks dowdier than what you might expect to find in a full-size passenger van. There are competitors out there with more refined and contemporary-looking cabins.

How it Stacks up to the Competition:

2018 GMC Savana vs. 2018 Ford Transit

The 2018 Ford Transit is one of the top competitors in the class for this model year. Although it has a busy dash and does not come with a four-wheel drive option, the Ford Transit has a massive list of standard features. It is also highly customizable with three different strong engine options and a number of different body configurations.

2018 GMC Savana vs. 2018 Nissan NV

The 2018 Nissan NV is one of the rising stars of the full-size passenger van segment. While it lacks a totally refined ride quality and some active driver aids, the Nissan NV has a powerful V8 engine option, a massive amount of cargo space in its cargo versions, and variety of seating arrangements in the passenger versions.

Conclusion

The 2018 GMC Savana leaves a few things to be desired, many of which will likely be subject to changes in a few years when the next generation of Savanas is launched. However, for now, the diesel engine option is the way to go if you are settled on buying a Savana.