Compare the2023 GMC SavanaVS 2023 Mercedes Metris Passenger

For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the GMC Savana are height-adjustable, and the middle and rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Mercedes Metris Passenger doesn’t offer comfort guides on its middle or rear seat belts.

Both the Savana and the Metris Passenger 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.

The GMC Savana weighs 1582 to 2116 pounds more than the Mercedes Metris Passenger. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Savana 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 Metris Passenger.

The Savana’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Metris Passenger’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’s warranty.

The Savana 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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the van’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Savana’s reliability 20 points higher than the Metris Passenger.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

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 2023 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 3 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Savana’s standard 4.3 V6 produces 68 more horsepower (276 vs. 208) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (298 vs. 258) than the Metris Passenger’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Savana’s optional 6.6 V8 produces 193 more horsepower (401 vs. 208) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (464 vs. 258) than the Metris Passenger’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Savana uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Metris Passenger requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Savana has 12.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Metris Passenger (31 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Savana’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Metris Passenger:

The Savana’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Metris Passenger are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Savana has larger tires than the Metris Passenger (245/75R16 vs. 235/55R17).

The GMC Savana’s wheels have 8 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes Metris Passenger only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Savana 2500 135” WB’s wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the Metris Passenger (135.2 inches vs. 126 inches). The Savana 3500 155” WB’s wheelbase is 29.1 inches longer than on the Metris Passenger (155.1 inches vs. 126 inches).

The Savana 3500 155” WB offers optional seating for 15 passengers; the Metris Passenger can only carry 8. The Savana 2500 135” WB has standard seating for 12.

The Savana has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 5.6 inches more front legroom, 6.6 inches more front hip room, 6.3 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room, 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room, .8 inches more third row legroom, 7.3 inches more third row hip room and 4.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Metris Passenger.

The Savana 2500 135” WB’s cargo area provides more volume than the Metris Passenger.

The Savana 3500 155” WB’s cargo area provides more volume than the Metris Passenger.

The Savana’s cargo area is larger than the Metris Passenger’s in almost every dimension:

The Savana’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Metris Passenger’s (6300 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes Metris Passenger is only 5000 pounds. The Savana 2500 135” WB offers up to a 9600 lbs. towing capacity.

The Savana has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Metris Passenger (2550 vs. 1720 lbs.).

The Savana has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Metris Passenger (3540 vs. 1720 lbs.).

The Savana offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer an under hood light.

The Savana 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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Savana’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 Metris Passenger has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Savana has standard power remote mirrors. The Metris Passenger only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Savana’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mercedes charges extra for heated mirrors on the Metris Passenger.

The Savana has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the dashboard, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GMC Savana outsold the Mercedes Metris by almost two to one during 2022.