Having been around since 1996, there is no denying that the GMC Savana (and its Chevy Express twin) are very old, nearly archaic vehicles. For the 2015 model year, GM discontinued the half-ton Savana 1500; the automaker is now giving the remaining Savana 2500 and Savana 3500 some updates for the 2016 model year. The changes to the 2016 GMC Savana mirror those of the 2016 Chevy Express.
Every model — from the Savana Passenger and Savana Cargo to the Savana Cargo Paratransit and Savana Cutaway — receives at least the following updates:
- New, more powerful 220-amp alternator (optional)
- Dual isolated battery system (optional)
- AM/FM radio with auxiliary port remains standard, but an optional GMC IntelliLink radio with navigation (not available on Savana Cargo Paratransit) plus NavTraffic traffic info for navigation system replaces the legacy AM/FM stereo with MP3 CD/DVD player and navigation system
- Inside rearview mirror with Rear Vision Camera display
- Black outside heated, power-adjustable, manual-folding with single pane glass mirrors (optional)
- OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi
- Six standard air bags, including frontal, side curtain and seat-mounted thorax
Here are the changes to the individual 2016 GMC Savana variants:
The 2016 GMC Savana Passenger van does away with the 8-passenger, 2-3-3 seating configuration and replaces the archaic AM/FM stereo with MP3 CD/DVD player and navigation system with a proper IntelliLink radio with navigation. What’s more, the 160-amp alternator is replaced with an optional 220-amp unit.
New features include NavTraffic navigation traffic service for the IntelliLink navigation system, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi, and an optional isolated second battery system. Rounding out the new features list is a new inside rearview mirror with an integrated rear-view camera, and optional new black single-pane outside mirrors that are heated, power-adjustable, and manual-folding.
Deletions
- (ZP8) Seating, 8-passenger, (2-3-3 seating configuration)
- (UYS) AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD/DVD player and navigation
- (KW1) Alternator, 160 amps
New Features
- (UI8) Audio system, Color Touch Navigation radio with IntelliLink
- (UBS) NavTraffic
- (VV4) OnStar with 4G LTE provides a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet at 4G LTE speeds
- (DRJ) Mirror, inside rearview, includes Rear Vision Camera display
- (DEB) Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, Black, manual-folding with single pane glass
- (KW5) Alternator, 220 amps
- (TP2) Battery, isolated 2nd
The 2016 GMC Savana Cutaway swaps its archaic AM/FM stereo with MP3 CD/DVD player and navigation for a proper IntelliLink radio with navigation, and replaces the 160-amp alternator with a 220-amp unit.
New features include NavTraffic navigation traffic service for the IntelliLink navigation system, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi, an optional isolated second battery system, a new inside rearview mirror with an integrated rear-view camera, and new optional single-pane black outside mirrors that are heated, power-adjustable, and manual-folding. Rounding out the new features list is a routing grommet in the front instrument.
Deletions
- (UYS) AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD/DVD player and navigation
- (KW1) Alternator, 160 amps
New Features
- (UI8) Color Touch Navigation radio with IntelliLink
- (UBS) NavTraffic
- (VV4) OnStar with 4G LTE provides a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet at 4G LTE speeds
- (DRJ) Mirror, inside rearview, includes Rear Vision Camera display
- (DEB) Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, Black, manual-folding with single pane glass
- (KW5) Alternator, 220 amps
- (TP2) Battery, isolated 2nd
- SEO (RGI) Routing grommet, front instrument panel
The 2016 GMC Savana Cargo Paratransit gets six new features, including a 220-amp alternator, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi, an isolated second battery, a new inside rearview mirror with an integrated rear-view camera, new single-pane black outside mirrors that are heated, power-adjustable, and manual-folding, and a routing grommet in the front instrument.
New Features
- (VV4) OnStar with 4G LTE provides a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet at 4G LTE speeds
- (DRJ) Mirror, inside rearview, includes Rear Vision Camera display
- (DEB) Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, Black manual-folding with single pane glass
- (KW5) Alternator, 220 amp
- (TP2) Battery, isolated 2nd
- SEO (RGI) Routing grommet, front instrument panel
The 2016 GMC Savana Cargo replaces the archaic AM/FM stereo with MP3 CD/DVD player and navigation with a proper IntelliLink radio with navigation, and swaps the 160-amp alternator with a 220-amp unit.
New features consist of NavTraffic navigation traffic service for the IntelliLink navigation system, OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi, an optional isolated second battery system, a new inside rearview mirror with an integrated rear-view camera, and new optional single-pane black outside mirrors that are heated, power-adjustable, and manual-folding. Rounding out the new features list are cargo tie-downs in the form of six D-ring attachments on the cargo area floor and a routing grommet in the front instrument.
Deletions
- (UYS) AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD/DVD player and navigation
- (KW1) Alternator, 160 amps
New Features
- (UI8) Audio system, Color Touch Navigation radio with IntelliLink
- (UBS) NavTraffic
- (VV4) OnStar with 4G LTE provides a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet at 4G LTE speeds
- (DRJ) Mirror, inside rearview, includes Rear Vision Camera display
- (DEB) Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, Black, manual-folding with single pane glass
- (KW5) Alternator, 220 amps
- (TP2) Battery, isolated 2nd
- (5C6) Cargo tie-downs
- SEO (RGI) front instrument panel routing grommet
Comments
Outside of the new tech thrown in directly out of the GM parts bin, these things must cost $5 to make after 19 years of the same platform and sheet metal.
No 8 passenger option? Does that mean 2nd row buckets?
I’d drive this over a CUV.