Compare the2023 Mercedes Sprinter Cargo VanVS 2023 GMC Savana Cargo

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

Safety

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The Sprinter Cargo Van has standard 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 Cargo 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 Sprinter Cargo Van has standard Post-Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Sprinter Cargo Van offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Sprinter Cargo Van (except 3500XD/4500) offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Savana Cargo only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sprinter Cargo Van’s optional Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Sprinter Cargo Van’s optional 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 Cargo doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Sprinter Cargo Van 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 Cargo uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Sprinter Cargo Van and the Savana Cargo 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.

Warranty

The Sprinter Cargo Van comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire van. The Savana Cargo’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Mercedes’ powertrain warranty covers the Sprinter Cargo Van 40,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Savana Cargo. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Savana Cargo ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sprinter Cargo Van has larger alternators than the Savana Cargo:

	Sprinter Cargo Van	Savana Cargo
Standard Alternator	250 amps	105 amps
Optional Alternator	220 amps	150 amps

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

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

Fuel Economy and Range

The Sprinter Cargo Van has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Savana Cargo. 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 Sprinter Cargo Van, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Savana Cargo.

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 Sprinter Cargo Van 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 Cargo doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sprinter Cargo Van 3500/4500’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Savana Cargo (285/65R16 vs. 245/75R16).

The Sprinter Cargo Van 3500/4500’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Savana Cargo’s 75 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Sprinter Cargo Van has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sprinter Cargo Van flat and controlled during cornering. The Savana Cargo’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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

The Sprinter Cargo Van’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 Cargo doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sprinter Cargo Van’s wheelbase is longer than on the Savana Cargo:

	Sprinter Cargo Van	Savana Cargo
SWB Van	144 inches	n/a
LWB Van	170 inches	135.2 inches

For better maneuverability, the Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” WB’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB’s (53 feet vs. 54.5 feet).

Chassis

The Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 650 pounds less than the GMC Savana Cargo.

Unibody construction makes the Sprinter Cargo Van’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 Cargo doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Passenger Space

The Sprinter Cargo Van offers optional seating for 6 passengers; the Savana Cargo can only carry up to 5.

Cargo Capacity

The Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” WB High Roof has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB (370.8 vs. 239.7 cubic feet).

The Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” EXT WB High Roof has a much larger cargo volume than the Savana Cargo 2500 155” WB (532.6 vs. 284.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Sprinter Cargo Van easier. The Sprinter Cargo Van’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the Savana Cargo 2500 155” WB’s liftover is 29.8 inches. The Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB’s liftover is 30.3 inches.

The Sprinter Cargo Van’s cargo area is larger than the Savana Cargo’s in every dimension:

	Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” EXT WB High Roof	Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” WB High Roof	Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB	Savana Cargo 2500 155” WB
Max Width	70.4”	70.4”	61.5”	61.5”
Min Width	53.2”	53.2”	52.5”	52.5”
Height	79.1”	79.1”	55.1”	55.1”

A standard locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Sprinter Cargo Van. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Payload and Towing

Standard ESP Trailer Stabilization on the Sprinter Cargo Van 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 Cargo doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 144” WB 4MATIC has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB (3858 vs. 3280 lbs.).

The Sprinter Cargo Van has much higher optional payload capacities than the Savana Cargo:

	Sprinter Cargo Van	Savana Cargo
2500 Van	4453 lbs.	3280 lbs.
3500XD Van	5739 lbs.	4280 lbs.

Ergonomics

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Sprinter Cargo Van has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

When three different drivers share the Sprinter Cargo Van, the optional memory seats make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Sprinter Cargo Van’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 Cargo’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Sprinter Cargo Van the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Savana Cargo can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Keyless-Start standard on the Sprinter Cargo Van allows you to start the engine without removing a key from pocket or purse. The GMC Savana Cargo doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

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

In addition to the standard right side sliding door, the Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van offers an optional 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 Cargo doesn’t offer a driver’s side rear door.

The Sprinter Cargo Van’s optional power passenger’s side sliding door makes it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer a power rear door.

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

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

The Sprinter Cargo Van’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Savana Cargo’s halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Sprinter Cargo Van detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Sprinter Cargo Van offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Sprinter Cargo Van 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 Cargo.

The Sprinter Cargo Van’s optional automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

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

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Sprinter Cargo Van 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 Cargo doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Sprinter Cargo Van, 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 Cargo.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the glovebox. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

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