GMC SAVANA G1500
Built: 1997-2013 · Series: SAVANA
More machines from model year 1997
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
GMC Savana – the full-size van from General Motors' truck brand: V8 engines from 4.8 to 6.6 litres, 184 to 231 kW, gross weights up to 4.4 tonnes in passenger and cargo form
The Savana is GMC's full-size van, since 1996 the technical twin of the Chevrolet Express and successor to the GMC Vandura; both ranges share a platform and are built at the same plant in Wentzville, Missouri. The G1500, G2500 and G3500 designations denote payload class under the US half-ton naming scheme, while EXT. marks the extended-wheelbase version.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 13 versions with eight-cylinder engines from 184 to 231 kW and 4,807 to 6,600 cm³, kerb weights from 2,177 to 3,180 kg, gross vehicle weights from 3,500 to 4,355 kg, lengths from 5,645 to 6,230 mm and widths from 1,890 to 2,120 mm.
As a classic full-size van, the Savana serves the US market as a tradesman's and fleet vehicle, a passenger minibus, and the basis for camper and wheelchair-accessible conversions by body builders such as Starcraft; its main rivals are the Ford E-Series and the Ram ProMaster, and it holds most firmly to the traditional ladder-frame, rear-wheel-drive layout.
When buying used, check spark plugs and ignition coils on the V8 engines, transmission and transfer-case fluid on AWD versions, corrosion at the frame and brake lines, and on converted vehicles the quality of any body cutouts. Parts are well supported through the broad GM dealer network in North America and the independent market.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: GMC Savana, GMC (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 228 kWcorrect |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 8correct |
| Displacement | 5,300 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 5,730 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,020 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 3,430 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,870 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 3,549 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 79.4 kW/t (228 kW / 2.9 t)
Stronger than 35% of the trucks in the register — out of 25,242 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the GMC SAVANA G1500 have?
The GMC SAVANA G1500 delivers 228 kW.
How much does the GMC SAVANA G1500 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,870 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the GMC SAVANA G1500?
3,549 kg.
What engine does the GMC SAVANA G1500 have?
8 cylinders, 5,300 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the GMC SAVANA G1500?
5,730 mm × 2,020 mm.
When was the GMC SAVANA G1500 built?
Production years: 1997-2013.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 12 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
SAVANA 1500
SAVANA EXPLORER VAN
SAVANA G 3500
SAVANA G2500
SAVANA G3500 EXT.
SAVANA VAN AWD
Savana
Savana 2500 Starcraft
Savana 3500
Savana Van
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
