Compare the2023 Mercedes Metris PassengerVS 2023 GMC Savana

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Metris Passenger offers optional Active Brake Assist, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Savana offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Metris Passenger offers optional Parktronic™ to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Savana doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Metris Passenger’s optional Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Savana doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Metris Passenger’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Savana doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Metris Passenger uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Savana uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Metris Passenger and the Savana 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 lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Metris Passenger has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Savana.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Metris Passenger has a 190-amp alternator. The Savana’s standard 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Metris Passenger has a 850-amp battery. The Savana only offers a standard 600-amp battery.

The battery on the Metris Passenger is under the seat, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Metris Passenger’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Savana’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Metris Passenger’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Savana doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Metris Passenger has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Savana. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes Metris Passenger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Savana.

Brakes and Stopping

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Metris Passenger has standard Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Savana doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Tires and Wheels

The Metris Passenger’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Savana’s standard 75 series tires.

For better load carrying, ride, handling and brake cooling the Metris Passenger has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Savana.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Mercedes Metris Passenger has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The GMC Savana has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The front and rear suspension of the Metris Passenger uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Savana, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Metris Passenger has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Savana.

The Metris Passenger’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Savana doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Metris Passenger’s turning circle is 12.8 feet tighter than the Savana 2500 135” WB’s (36.4 feet vs. 49.2 feet). The Metris Passenger’s turning circle is 18.1 feet tighter than the Savana 3500 155” WB’s (36.4 feet vs. 54.5 feet).

Chassis

The Mercedes Metris Passenger may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1600 to 2100 pounds less than the GMC Savana.

The Metris Passenger is 1 foot, 9.6 inches shorter than the Savana 2500 135” WB, making the Metris Passenger easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Metris Passenger is 3 feet, 5.6 inches shorter than the Savana 3500 155” WB.

The Metris Passenger is 10.1 inches shorter in height than the Savana, making the Metris Passenger much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction makes the Metris Passenger’s chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction’s stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles. The Savana doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Passenger Space

The Metris Passenger has 3 inches more rear headroom and 2 inches more third row headroom than the Savana.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Metris Passenger. The Savana doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Metris Passenger’s available liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Savana’s two swing out doors impair rear visibility, need a lot of clearance, and can block loading in tight quarters.

The Metris Passenger’s optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the double swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Savana’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Metris Passenger offers an optional power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Savana doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Metris Passenger uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Savana doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Metris Passenger, the optional memory seats make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Savana doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Metris Passenger’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Savana’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the front windows are left open on the Metris Passenger the driver can close them from a distance using the remote (remote must be aimed at door sensor). On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Savana can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Metris Passenger’s standard sliding doors can be opened with less than three inches side clearance. The Savana’s standard rear double doors are clumsy and make loading in tight spots difficult.

In addition to the right side sliding door, the Mercedes Metris Passenger has a driver’s side rear sliding door. This door simplifies loading and unloading passengers and it allows parents to easily secure two children into child seats. The Savana doesn’t offer a driver’s side rear door.

The Metris Passenger’s optional power side sliding doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The Savana doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The Metris Passenger’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Savana’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Metris Passenger to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Savana doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Metris Passenger offers an optional rear wiper. The Savana doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Metris Passenger offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Savana.

The Metris Passenger’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Savana doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Metris Passenger’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Savana doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Metris Passenger’s passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Savana’s air conditioner doesn’t offer a filtration system.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Metris Passenger offers an optional Active Distance Assist Distronic, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Savana doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Metris Passenger, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Bluetooth costs extra on the Savana.

The Metris Passenger’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Savana doesn’t offer an automated parking system.