Compare the2024 Ford E-TransitVS 2024 GMC Savana Cargo

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The E-Transit has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, 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 E-Transit has standard Post-Collision Braking, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The E-Transit offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The E-Transit’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Savana Cargo.

The E-Transit offers an optional 360-Degree 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 E-Transit’s optional 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 Cargo doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The E-Transit’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 Cargo doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the E-Transit 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 E-Transit 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, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights and blind spot warning systems.

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the E-Transit 3 years and 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 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Savana Cargo ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The E-Transit’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Savana Cargo’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 79 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the E-Transit’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 2 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The E-Transit’s electric motor produces 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 298) than the Savana Cargo’s standard 4.3 V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

The E-Transit can travel with zero emissions for 143 to 159 miles (dependent on model). The Savana Cargo can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The E-Transit, as a pure battery electric vehicle, has no need to “idle” its motors in traffic: they only burn power when moving. The E-Transit’s climate control systems still work completely when the vehicle is stopped. The Savana Cargo still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

Tires and Wheels

The E-Transit’s 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 standard 75 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford E-Transit 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 Cargo has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The E-Transit has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Savana Cargo’s suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

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

The front and rear suspension of the E-Transit uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Savana Cargo, 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 E-Transit has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Savana Cargo.

The E-Transit’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 E-Transit T350 Long’s wheelbase is 12.8 inches longer than on the Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB (148 inches vs. 135.2 inches).

For better maneuverability, the E-Transit’s turning circle is tighter than the Savana Cargo’s:

	E-Transit	Savana Cargo
LWB Van	47.8 feet	49.2 feet
Extended Van	47.8 feet	54.5 feet

Chassis

Unibody construction makes the E-Transit’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.

Cargo Capacity

The E-Transit T350 Long has a much larger cargo volume than the Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB (277.7 vs. 239.4 cubic feet).

The E-Transit T350 Extended has a much larger cargo volume than the Savana Cargo 2500 155” WB (487.3 vs. 283.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the E-Transit easier. The E-Transit T350 Long’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.7 inches, while the Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB’s liftover is 30.3 inches. The E-Transit T350 Extended’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28 inches, while the Savana Cargo 2500 155” WB’s liftover is 29.8 inches.

The E-Transit’s cargo area is larger than the Savana Cargo’s in almost every dimension:

	E-Transit T350 Regular	E-Transit T350 Extended	Savana Cargo 2500 135” WB	Savana Cargo 2500 155” WB
Length	126”	172.2”	126.8”	146.8”
Max Width	70.2”	70.2”	61.5”	61.5”
Min Width	54.8”	54.8”	52.5”	52.5”
Height	56.9”	81.5”	55.1”	55.1”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the E-Transit. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Payload

The E-Transit has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Savana Cargo (3330 vs. 3060 lbs.).

Ergonomics

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the E-Transit 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.

The E-Transit’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Savana Cargo’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The E-Transit’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Savana Cargo’s power windows’ switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the E-Transit’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Intelligent Access standard on the E-Transit allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The GMC Savana Cargo doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The E-Transit’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 Ford E-Transit 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 E-Transit’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Savana Cargo’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The E-Transit’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Savana Cargo’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The E-Transit’s optional high intensity discharge (HID) headlights provide a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using less power than the Savana Cargo’s halogen headlights. HID units last two to six times longer than halogen.

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

The E-Transit’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the E-Transit offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, 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 E-Transit, 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.

The E-Transit’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Savana Cargo doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Ford Transit outsold the GMC Savana by almost four to one during 2022.