Compare the2024 GMC SavanaVS 2024 Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Van

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 Sprinter Passenger Van doesn’t offer comfort guides on its middle or rear seat belts.

Both the Savana and the Sprinter Passenger 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.

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 Sprinter Passenger Van.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 34 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 5 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Savana’s optional 6.6 V8 produces 190 more horsepower (401 vs. 211) and 132 lbs.-ft. more torque (464 vs. 332) than the Sprinter Passenger Van’s 2.0 turbo diesel.

The Savana has 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sprinter Passenger Van (31 vs. 24.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Sprinter Passenger Van are solid, not vented.

The GMC Savana’s wheels have 8 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Van only has 6 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Savana has standard front gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Sprinter Passenger Van’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

For better maneuverability, the Savana 2500 135” WB’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Sprinter Passenger Van 2500 170” WB’s (49.2 feet vs. 52 feet).

The Savana 2500 135” WB is 4 feet, 2.3 inches shorter than the Sprinter Passenger Van 2500 170” WB, making the Savana easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Savana is 18.3 inches shorter in height than the Sprinter Passenger Van, making the Savana much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The Savana 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 Passenger Van 2500 170” WB.

The Savana 2500 135” WB’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sprinter Passenger Van 1500 144” WB.

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

While the Sprinter Passenger Van 15-Passenger is not recommended to tow, any Savana can tow a minimum of 6300 pounds.

The Savana has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Sprinter Passenger Van (3540 vs. 3307 lbs.).

The Savana offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Sprinter Passenger Van 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 Sprinter Passenger Van 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 Sprinter Passenger Van does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Insurance will cost less for the Savana owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Savana will cost $1980 to $4735 less than the Sprinter Passenger Van over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Savana will be $3706 to $19939 less than for the Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Van.