GMC Savana MPG — Gas Mileage by Engine and Year

Quick answer

The GMC Savana does 15.2 mpg combined (13.4 city, 17.9 highway), which works out to about $2,526 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4.3L 6-cyl does 15.7 mpg while 6L 8-cyl does 13 — a difference of $508 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.

Every GMC Savana engine, compared

Gas mileage on the GMC Savana ranges from 15.7 down to 13 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $508 a year across 5 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.

FIG.01·GMC Savana gas mileage by engine
Engine	Combined	City / Highway	Years	Fuel per year
4.3L 6-cyl	15.7	13.9 / 18.4	1996–2014	$2,446
5.3L 8-cyl	15.1	13.5 / 18.2	2003–2014	$2,543
5.7L 8-cyl	15	13 / 17	1997–1997	$2,560
5L 8-cyl	14.8	13 / 17.2	1996–2002	$2,595
6L 8-cyl	13	11 / 16	2015–2017	$2,954

ROWS 5·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

What that actually costs

The GMC Savana burns a gallon every 15.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 789 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.

FIG.02·GMC Savana fuel cost
Measure	Value
Cost per mile	$0.211
Fuel per year	$2,526
Fuel over five years	$12,630
Against other V8 cars	+$141 a year
EPA's own estimate	$4,113 a year

ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA ratings

City or highway — who is this car for

The GMC Savana gives up 4.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 17.9 out there against 13.4 in town, a 34% drop worth $721 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.

FIG.03·GMC Savana city versus highway
Measure	Value	Reading
City	13.4 mpg	$2,866 a year if you only drive in town
Highway	17.9 mpg	$2,145 a year if you mostly commute
Gap	+4.5 mpg (34%)	Wide — this car dislikes traffic

ROWS 3·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

How the Savana changed over the years

The Savana peaked in 2013 at 16 mpg (14 city, 19 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2017 at 13 — 3 mpg apart, or $554 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2017 car does 13. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.

FIG.04·GMC Savana gas mileage by model year
Model year	Combined	City / Highway	Engines offered	Fuel per year
2017	13	11 / 16	1	$2,954
2016	13	11 / 16	1	$2,954
2015	13	11 / 16	1	$2,954
2014	15.5	13.5 / 18.5	2	$2,477
2013	16	14 / 19	2	$2,400
2012	16	14 / 19	2	$2,400
2011	16	14 / 19	2	$2,400
2010	16	14 / 19	2	$2,400
2009	16	14.5 / 19	2	$2,400
2008	16	14.5 / 19	2	$2,400
2007	15.5	14 / 19	2	$2,477
2006	15	14 / 18.5	2	$2,560
2005	15.5	14 / 18.5	2	$2,477
2004	15	13.5 / 17.5	2	$2,560
2003	15	13 / 17	2	$2,560
2002	15	13 / 17	2	$2,560
2001	15	13 / 17	2	$2,560
2000	15	13 / 17	2	$2,560
1999	15	13 / 17.5	2	$2,560
1998	15	13 / 18	2	$2,560
1997	15	13.5 / 17	2	$2,560
1996	14.5	13.5 / 17	2	$2,648

ROWS 22·SOURCE EPA fueleconomy.gov + ForCar

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How we count

This page rests on 41 EPA ratings of the GMC Savana — 5 engines across 1996–2017. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $4,113. Full method.

Everything on the GMC Savana

Recalls165 campaigns Reliability3.5/5 Common problems368 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build Used prices1,838 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1996–2026

Frequently asked questions

What mpg does the GMC Savana get?

15.2 mpg combined on average — 13.4 in the city and 17.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1996–2017.

How much does a GMC Savana cost in fuel per year?

About $2,526 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,630 over five years, or 0.211 dollars a mile.

Which Savana engine is the most economical?

The 4.3L 6-cyl at 15.7 mpg, against 13 for the 6L 8-cyl — a difference of about $508 a year.

Is the Savana good on fuel compared with similar cars?

Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.

Are these real-world Savana figures?

No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the GMC Savana is $4,113 against the $2,526 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 17 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.

Gas mileage ratings from EPA fueleconomy.gov, unadjusted. Running cost computed by ForCar at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Last updated Sep 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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