1990-2005 GMC Safari: Road Test

Spacious inside with either the regular- or extended-length body, Safari vans can be fitted to tow up to 6000 pounds and seat up to eight. With those eight seats, regular-length models have little rear cargo room. Optional rear "Dutch doors" make loading more convenient and improve visibility. Standard full swing-out doors have a large center blind spot due to their thick vertical bar. Rear-drive is great for hauling, but Safari/Astro rides and handles more like a truck than a car. The rear axle hops around on bumpy roads, making it difficult to remain on course. The suspension pounds over broken pavement and allows too much floating on wavy roads. Although the standard V6 has plenty of torque for hauling heavy loads, that muscle does not translate into brisk pickup. Best to pick a Safari with the optional engine, or a later model if performance matters. An extended AWD Safari averaged 18.3 mpg.

Value for the Money
Safari is fine if you need a beast of burden, but don't want a full-size van. As a daily people-mover, however, a front-drive minivan would be wiser.