Both the Savana Cargo and the Sprinter Cargo Van have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.
Compare the2023 GMC Savana CargoVS 2022 Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van
Safety
Warranty
The Savana Cargo comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 60,000 miles. GMC will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Mercedes doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Sprinter Cargo Van.
The Savana Cargo’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).
There are over 4 times as many GMC dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Savana Cargo’s warranty.
Reliability
The Savana Cargo has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the van’s engine.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Mercedes.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Mercedes.
From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 4 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.
Engine
The Savana Cargo’s standard 4.3 V6 produces 88 more horsepower (276 vs. 188) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (298 vs. 258) than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Savana Cargo’s optional 6.6 V8 produces 213 more horsepower (401 vs. 188) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (464 vs. 258) than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.
Fuel Economy and Range
The Savana Cargo has 9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sprinter Cargo Van Gas’ standard fuel tank (31 vs. 22 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Savana Cargo has 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sprinter Cargo Van Diesel’s standard fuel tank (31 vs. 24.5 gallons).
Brakes and Stopping
The Savana Cargo’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sprinter Cargo Van are solid, not vented.
Tires and Wheels
For better traction, the Savana Cargo has larger tires than the Sprinter Cargo Van (245/75R16 vs. 215/85R16).
The Savana Cargo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 75 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sprinter Cargo Van 3500/4500’s standard 85 series tires.
The GMC Savana Cargo’s wheels have 8 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van only has 6 wheel lugs per wheel.
Suspension and Handling
The Savana Cargo has standard front gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Sprinter Cargo Van’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.
The front suspension of the Savana Cargo uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Sprinter Cargo Van, which uses leaf springs. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.
Chassis
The Savana Cargo is shorter than the Sprinter Cargo Van, making the Savana Cargo easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:
|
Savana Cargo |
Sprinter Cargo Van |
Standard Van |
224.1 inches |
274.3 inches |
Extended Van |
244.1 inches |
290 inches |
The Savana Cargo is 13.6 inches shorter in height than the Sprinter Cargo Van, making the Savana Cargo much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).
Passenger Space
The Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB has 2.5 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more front shoulder room than the Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” WB High Roof.
Towing
The Savana Cargo’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s (7100 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van 3500 is only 7500 pounds. The Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB offers up to a 10,000 lbs. towing capacity.
Servicing Ease
The Savana Cargo offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer an under hood light.
Ergonomics
The Savana Cargo offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer a remote starting system.
The Savana Cargo’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Sprinter Cargo Van does not have an oil pressure gauge.
For greater rear passenger comfort, the Savana Cargo offers optional rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer rear vents.