OVERVIEW:

We have had our Safari a few years now, on balance it was a good purchase. It is big, goes anywhere due to the AWD, and you can haul/tow almost anything with it. This is more like a truck than a "minivan". It rides on a truck frame and feels like a truck on the road. However, I like that! I did not want a wimpy soccer mom minivan, but needed the utility of a van platform. This is a nice mix of heavy duty functionality in a platform a bit more refined than a truck.

EXTERIOR:

This is very boxy and is not going to win any beauty contests. For me, I kind of like the more truck-like look and the higher riding level - since I wanted something a bit more "macho" that your typical carlike mini van. The fit and finish on the exterior is "good", but not perfect. Nothing glaring, but I can't rate it excellent. The roof rack on the top is useful, as are the "dutch doors" in the back. The doors make it easy to get in and out of the back for hauling stuff. You will need a stepladder to wash the top of this Van, it sits pretty high. Alloy wheels look nice and have held up well. Also, the fact that this vehicle is built on a full truck frame adds to its ability to absorb impact in a crash and makes the overall vehicle sturdier.

INTERIOR:

We have the cloth seats, they are nice and comfortable. Got the bench seats for the rear, they are comfy also. For some however, the seatbelts in the rear seats can be irritating. You have to slip them through some adjustors to keep the belt from riding up to your neck. In some cases we have even used clothes pins to clip off the seatbelt tension so it does not rub on people's necks. This could have been better designed. There is a lot of storage and cupholder space in the back. Getting into the 3rd row bench seat is a chore. You really have to contort yourself to squeeze past the second row seat to get back there. Again, just a minor annoyance but an obvious one. Instrumentation is very good, all is angled toward the driver and backlighting is white on all the controls. It looks kind of nifty lit up at night. Overhead console has storage for glasses, garage door opener, etc. Overhead cabin lights are well placed and functional. The front seats are comfortable but leg room is a bit cramped for front passengers. I have not found this problem to be overwhelming however; we have taken lots of long trips in this van and overall it is comfortable.

SOUND SYSTEM:

This is a disappointment. We have the CD and the best factory system that was available for this model; but it is woefully underpowered and sounds very flat. Bass speakers in the back seem for display only. There is no "oomph" to the bass tones in this system. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) I would rate it a 4. There are auxiliary controls for the rear passengers, that allow the rear folks to plug in headphones and listen to different sources privately. There is a separate radio tuner for example, so the folks sitting in the back can have a different station on than those in the front.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS:

This thing is big and drives like a truck. Again, I like that and that was what I wanted. I did not want (or expect) this thing to ride like a comfy sedan. Handling is trucklike, with sway and bounce when you make any aggressive moves. The ride is smooth on the highway however, and I find that on long runs on the turnpike it cruises along smoothly and quietly. However, this is basically a truck, on a truck frame, so expecting it to ride like a lincoln town car is a mistake. The all-wheel drive works great. We have been able to go through over a foot of snow and ice, even uphill, with no problem. This thing is surprisingly agile when traction becomes a challenge. It pretty much goes anywhere. But I would of course not recommend it for serious off-roading! No need to say more there. The engine is a 6 cylinder, 190 horses. It has a lot of low end power (needed for towing) and moves the van along pretty crisply in normal driving. Very adequate powerplant for this Van (or should I say, again, truck?). Braking is average, and given this is a heavy vehicle not surprising. There is 4-wheel antilock that helps; but stopping distance is not short. Rear brakes are drum, front is disk. We live in a hilly area and have found the front breaks need re-done every 12-15,000 miles. Braking system is something that GM could definately improve on this van. Mileage has ranged between 16 and 19 around town, much better than I thought we would get. Average around 21 on the highway.

UTILITY:

This is a strength of this van. Big, wide, and high storage capacity in the back of this van. You can remove the two rows of bench seats, and once you have done so there is almost enough room to live in this van. The seats are not easy to remove, it can be done with one person (if that person is big and strong) but is much better done with two people. Towing power and ability is excellent, and one of the key strengths of this platform.

BUYING EXPERIENCE:

It was easy to bargain with the dealer and get a good price on this (we bought it new). The Safari's (and sibling Chevy Astro) are not exactly hot selling vehicles for GM. If you find one you like on the lot you should be able to get the dealer to go well below sticker price.

FINAL WORD:

This is a big, truck-like van that is bigger than a mini-van but not quite as giant as a full size van. It has great utility, is comfy on long drives, and can be had at a good price. It is durable and a good workhorse. If you are looking for a "manly" minivan, this is a great choice.
Amount Paid (US$): 26,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000
Model and Options: SLE, awd