What is the best GMC Safari (passenger) for fuel economy?

The strongest year was 1985 at 22 mpg combined, against 14 mpg in 2003. That is a 8 mpg spread across the nameplate's history.

How much does a GMC Safari (passenger) cost to fuel each year?

At 11,500 miles a year the 2005 model uses between 719 and 821 gallons, or $2,516 to $2,875 at $3.50 a gallon.

What does the GMC Safari (passenger) emit?

EPA reports 555.4375 to 634.7857142857143 grams of tailpipe CO2 per mile for the 2005 model year, or about 6.4 to 7.3 tons over a year of driving.

GMC Safari (passenger) MPG by year — every rating on record

The GMC Safari (passenger) has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 21 model years, from 1985 to 2005. Across those years its best rated version returned 22 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 14 mpg (2003). The EPA record holds 58 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Vans, Passenger Type.

In the EPA record this nameplate also appears as Safari (passenger), Safari (Passenger) and Astro (passenger). The figures below cover every one of them.

22best combined mpg (1985)

14worst combined mpg (2003)

16latest year best (2005)

58configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model year	Configurations	Best combined	Worst combined	Class rank that year	Drivetrains	Fuel	EPA class
1985	10	22 mpg	15 mpg	#2 of 20 (95th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1986	6	22 mpg	17 mpg	#4 of 22 (86th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1987	2	17 mpg	17 mpg	#13 of 26 (52th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1988	2	18 mpg	17 mpg	#10 of 27 (65th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1989	2	18 mpg	17 mpg	#11 of 25 (58th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1990	2	17 mpg	16 mpg	#1 of 1 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans Passenger, Vans
1991	2	16 mpg	16 mpg	#15 of 23 (36th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1992	4	16 mpg	15 mpg	#13 of 22 (43th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1993	3	17 mpg	15 mpg	#6 of 22 (76th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium, Regular	Vans
1994	3	16 mpg	15 mpg	#12 of 22 (48th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium, Regular	Vans
1995	2	16 mpg	15 mpg	#11 of 22 (52th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	Vans
1996	2	16 mpg	15 mpg	#7 of 18 (65th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1997	2	16 mpg	15 mpg	#7 of 19 (67th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans
1998	2	16 mpg	16 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
1999	2	16 mpg	15 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
2000	2	16 mpg	15 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
2001	2	17 mpg	15 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
2002	2	16 mpg	15 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
2003	2	16 mpg	14 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
2004	2	16 mpg	14 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type
2005	2	16 mpg	14 mpg	#1 of 7 (100th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Vans, Passenger Type

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The GMC Safari (passenger) placed highest in 1990 at #1 of 1, and lowest in 1991 at #15 of 23. It spent 18 of its 21 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 58 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

Year	Configuration	Engine detail	City	Highway	Combined	Gallons/yr	Barrels/yr	EPA fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi	GHG
2005	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	12	16	14	821.4	21.3	$4,450	634.7857142857143	n/a
2005	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	20	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
2004	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	12	16	14	821.4	21.3	$4,450	634.7857142857143	n/a
2004	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	19	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
2003	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	12	16	14	821.4	21.3	$4,450	634.7857142857143	n/a
2003	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	19	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
2002	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	13	17	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
2002	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
2001	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	13	17	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
2001	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
2000	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	13	18	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
2000	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	15	19	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1999	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	18	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1999	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1998	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1998	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	14	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1997	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	17	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1997	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (MPFI)	15	20	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1996	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	17	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1996	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (MPFI)	15	19	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1995	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	17	15	766.7	19.8	$5,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1995	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	(FFS) (MPFI)	15	19	16	718.8	18.6	$4,850	555.4375	n/a
1994	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	17	15	766.7	19.8	$5,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1994	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	19	16	718.8	18.6	$4,850	555.4375	n/a
1994	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1993	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	18	15	766.7	19.8	$5,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1993	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	19	16	718.8	18.6	$4,850	555.4375	n/a
1993	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1992	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	18	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1992	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (SPFI)	14	18	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1992	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (MPFI)	14	19	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1992	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) (SPFI)	15	20	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1991	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	14	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1991	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1990	4.3L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1990	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) FI	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1989	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1989	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	22	18	638.9	16.5	$3,450	493.72222222222223	n/a
1988	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1988	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	22	18	638.9	16.5	$3,450	493.72222222222223	n/a
1987	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1987	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	21	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1986	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1986	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	19	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1986	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	15	21	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1986	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1986	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1986	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1985	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular	(FFS) CA model	15	17	15	766.7	19.8	$4,150	592.4666666666667	n/a
1985	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	15	19	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1985	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS) CA model	15	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1985	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS) CA model	15	18	16	718.8	18.6	$3,900	555.4375	n/a
1985	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1985	4.3L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	4.3L 6-cyl	15	20	17	676.5	17.5	$3,650	522.7647058823529	n/a
1985	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1985	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular	(FFS) CA model	19	22	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1985	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1985	2.5L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 8 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

Change	Best combined	Delta	Gallons a year at the newer rating
1986 → 1987	22 → 17 mpg	-5 mpg	676 gal
1987 → 1988	17 → 18 mpg	+1 mpg	639 gal
1989 → 1990	18 → 17 mpg	-1 mpg	676 gal
1990 → 1991	17 → 16 mpg	-1 mpg	719 gal
1992 → 1993	16 → 17 mpg	+1 mpg	676 gal
1993 → 1994	17 → 16 mpg	-1 mpg	719 gal
2000 → 2001	16 → 17 mpg	+1 mpg	676 gal
2001 → 2002	17 → 16 mpg	-1 mpg	719 gal

What Safari (passenger) fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2005 GMC Safari (passenger) burns 719 to 821 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump price	Most efficient	Thirstiest	Spread
$3.00/gal	$2,156	$2,464	$308
$3.50/gal	$2,516	$2,875	$359
$4.00/gal	$2,875	$3,286	$411

EPA’s own estimate for the 2005 model year is $3,900 to $4,450 a year in fuel, or $8,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Vans

Across the 45 nameplates EPA classifies as Vans, the median best combined rating is 17 mpg. At 16 mpg the GMC Safari (passenger) is 1 mpg below the median, which is worth about $148 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

All Vans rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other GMC nameplates

Every GMC model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.