Driving Impressions

The Safari doesn't exactly ride and drive like a car. But it isn't exactly "truck-like" either. It's somewhere in between. The strong engine delivers ample performance, so the Safari moves well with traffic and has plenty of power to tackle long hills and merge with faster freeway traffic, even when loaded. Steering feel is direct; the Safari goes down the highway with sure and relentless stability. Our personal experience in the Safari includes an all-day drive loaded past the window sills with gear. We had to get there by sundown and the speedometer spent most of the time in a range far beyond the posted limit, but it was comfortable and easy as we simply let the Safari do the work. In terms of ride quality, there is a noticeable gap between the Safari and the better front-drive minivans--some of which approach luxury-car standards. But only the most critical will find the Safari's ride quality objectionable; the trade-off seems worth it when the workhorse abilities of van are considered.

Final Word

GMC's Safari and Chevy's Astro are not for everyone. It may not be the best vehicle for picking up the soccer team and some may not appreciate the climb to get in. But if you don't want to herd a monster van around town, and you need some extra people or cargo space, and you tow something larger than a pop-up camper or personal watercraft, then the Safari and Astro may be the only thing that fits the bill. It's been around a long time but, for a lot of valid reasons, it remains one of our favorites.