2001 GMC Safari: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Safari is twin to Chevrolet Astro; they're America's only rear-wheel-drive truck-based minivans. Both come as passenger and cargo versions in a single body length with passenger-side sliding door, and are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Only powertrain is a V6 with automatic transmission featuring Tow/Haul mode. ABS is standard. Passenger models offer choice of two side-hinged panel doors at the back or swing-out half-height "Dutch" doors below a glass hatch. Eight-passenger seating is standard; 7-passenger option replaces 2nd-row bench seat with twin buckets. Safari's performance and accommodations mirror those of similarly equipped Astros.

COMPETITION

Though the competition has heated up, we feel that the new Dodge Caravan is still one of the best minivans you can buy. It offers all of the creature comforts in a pleasing package at a fair price. Our other Best Buy is the Honda Odyssey. It's a little bit smaller than the Dodge, but more sporty to drive, and it has a super-convenient flip-and-fold-away rear seat.

Trailing at a close second are the Recommended Chevy Venture, Ford Windstar, and Toyota Sienna. Though these vans are comparably priced and offer loads of neat features, we feel they can't match the road manners of our two Best Buys. Also garnering Recommended ratings are the Chrysler Town & Country and Chrysler Voyager. Though they are mechanically similar to the class-leading Caravan, they don't offer the breadth of model choices.