How are full-sized, truck-based sport utility vehicles battling sky rocking fuel prices and stumbling sales? GMC is getting creative by offering a myriad of engine technologies.
In the mid 1990s, rugged sports utilities were all the rage, replacing minivans in many people's driveways as the hip means of family travel. With regular, unleaded gas prices at or around $1.50 a gallon, fuel economy was not paramount in people's mind. Sport utilities offered a rugged appearance and the opportunity to go off-roading when needed, which for most buyers especially in Chicagoland, was once in a blue moon.
That did not stop large, ladder-on-frame, truck-based, full-sized vehicles like the GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition and Toyota Land Cruiser from chalking up hefty sales and profits into the new Millennium. Bigger profit margins are built into full-sized trucks then most other vehicles. What did slow the surge was $3 a gallon gas prices. The doubling of fuel pump prices, slowed, but did not stop the public's desire for such vehicles as Yukon. A need still exists for roomy, V-8-powered vehicles with three rows of seating.
The five-door GMC Yukon hatchback and its Chevrolet Tahoe cousin both underwent a major redesign in the 2007 model year. Both are members of the General Motors family. About the only additions for 2008 are head curtain air bags standard for all three rows on all models and two new exterior colors. The redesigned trucks ride smoother, are much quieter and more nimble on the road than predecessors.
Yukon's major competitor may come from within the GMC family. Also in the 2007 model year, GMC rolled out the car-based, Acadia crossover with three rows of seating and a well-crafted interior. Acadia is the choice for families using their vehicle primarily for taking kids or large groups from point A to point B with respectable fuel economy. Yukon intenders crave power for towing and four-wheel availability when the need arises. It's the workhorse of the two.
Yukon comes in two-wheel rear drive or four-wheel drive models and is available in extended "XL" versions measuring more than 20 inches longer then regular-length base entries. At 202 inches in length, the non-extended test model just fit into my 2001-built garage. Those needing inside storage of XL models should measure carefully first before making the plunge.
Yukon offers three V-8 engines in addition to a gas-electric hybrid. The base, two-wheel-drive (rear drive) Yukon is the only one offering the 4.8-liter, 295 horsepower engine with sequential fuel injection. Standard on the base-length four-wheel drive and some XL editions is a 5.3-liter V-8 delivering 320 horsepower. This engine comes standard with active fuel management, General Motor's in-house marketing name for cylinder deactivation, allowing the engine to switch off four cylinders at higher speeds to deliver better highway mileage. Our test model came with this engine, and cylinder shut down and reactivation is truly seamless.
The popular 5.3-liter engine comes standard with E85 capability. This means the engine can run on regular unleaded fuel as well as an ethanol (E85) fuel or any combination of both. No matter how one mix and match these two fuels, the engine automatically adjusts to compensate. The E85 capable 5.7-liter is optional in two-wheel-drive regular length Yukons. Yukon XL models offer the 6.0-liter V-8 engine delivering 366 horsepower with variable valve timing.
In addition, the larger 6.0-liter engine is available in a gas-electric two-mode hybrid WITH cylinder deactivation. This combination nearly doubles the city fuel economy of the 6.0-liter engine while adding a couple miles per gallon to highway estimates. Gas-electric hybrids benefit fuel economy at lower speeds because the electric motor is active at slower speeds. At highway speeds, the gas engine provides the power. General Motors is the only manufacturer to offer both cylinder deactivation and hybrid technology in the same power plant. Towing capacity of our gas-exclusive four-wheel-drive Yukon was an impressive 8,200 pounds. Even with the hybrid engine, towing capacity is 6,000 pounds.
Historically, General Motors trucks have utilized regular, unleaded fuel, not higher-priced premium grade recommended by some competitors. Yukon follows this formula saving about 15 cents a gallon. Fuel economy with the 5.3-liter Vortec averaged 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Regular-length Yukons hold 26 gallons of fuel.
While Ethanol-based E85 (85 percent Ethanol) may someday change the way we fuel our vehicles, current miles per gallon ratings are still about 20 percent less than when using the traditional mix of regular unleaded gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol. The benefit of E85 Ethanol fuel is that unlike limited oil-based fossil fuels, ethanol is made from renewable sources like corn, which can be grown in many parts of the world. Intriguing research is also underway to derive ethanol not only from corn and other plant-based sources, but also from such waste products as tires, plastics and other landfill staples.
Yukon prices can add up quickly. Our test four-wheel-drive vehicle with E85 capable 5.7-liter V-8 checked in at $39,595. With three additional option packages and an optional power lift gate, the bottom line added up to $51,860 including a $900 destination charge. Yukon starts at $35,345 for a 4.8-liter V-8 rear-wheel drive edition.
Exterior looks are boldly traditional, rather then radically styled. The rear hatch, hinged at the top, opens up from the bottom. Also, the rear glass opens independently from the rest of the door for quick reaches into the cargo area. The back window includes a wiper. The optional power lift gate has an inside button easily accessible when the door is open allowing it to close on its own. The power door may also be opened and closed via the key fob or a ceiling button near the rear view mirror. When opened, the hatch has clearance for those 6-feet 2-inches or shorter. The spare tire stows outside under the cargo floor. The door is flanked by large, vertical tail light housings.
In front, the large front grille includes the GMC logo and is flanked by large, squarish headlight housing. Chrome side door handles are strap-like in design. Running boards along the side bottoms help passengers enter the second and third row.
Inside, the flat instrument panel has two large center gauges (left-side tachometer and right-side speedometer) with digital readouts along the bottom. Four smaller analog gauges surround the larger two. The gear shift is on the steering column while the parking brake is foot operated, opening up room between the front buckets seats for two beverage holders, a storage tray and large storage bin with a 20.1-litre capacity, the largest in the segment. Cruise control is found on the steering wheel at 3 o'clock while secondary radio controls are at 9 o'clock.
General Motors had done a good job the last couple of years improving the appearance of the interior. Since the 2007 redesign, Yukon sports a two-tone interior and a lower-positioned instrument panel. Controls are easy to locate at a glance, and the dashboard is pleasant, not overly designed. For a large vehicle, the glove box is rather small in size. Power window, lock and outside mirror controls are forward on the driver's arm rest.
Our Yukon included a 60/40 second row seat. When needed, seat backs fold down onto cushions, and then the unit folds forward, opening up access to the third row. Our two-seat third row had the same fold and tumble design. With second and third row seat backs folded flat, cargo can be stowed on top of the seats. Unlike the second row seating, third row seats can be removed from the vehicle once flipped forward if more storage room is needed. Unlike some rivals, Yukon's third-row seats do not fold into the floor. Power folding second and third row seats are optional. Yukon's chief rival from Ford, the Expedition, incorporates a fold flat third row.
While headroom in the third row is average, knees will ride high since feet rest on the cargo floor, not a recessed region. Teens and youngsters can handle this for longer stretches better than those over 30. Yukon's full-size length helps open up the entry way when navigating into the third row, but the fold and flip second-row system is not as user friendly as the slide-and-tilt design found in many car-based crossovers.
Two basic trim packages are available: SLT1 and SLT2. Before plowing through the option packages, keep in mind Yukon comes nicely equipped with air conditioning, compact disc player, satellite radio, remote entry, power windows, cruise control and rear window defroster. Cloth seating comes standard and leather seating is available in the SLT packages.
Standard safety equipment includes four-wheel anti-lock brakes and stability control. Head curtain air bags are standard for all three rows of seats. Optional is a rear camera feeding visual images though the navigation screen activated when the car is traveling in reverse. Also available are rear sensors that send out an audio 'beep' when approaching low-standing objects in its rearward path.
Another simple, yet effective safety nuance are blinkers built into the large side view mirrors, allowing others on the road to better grasp your near-future maneuvers. General Motors' On Star in-car communication system allowing occupants to talk with a 24-hour-a-day manned center is also a nice, very user-friendly feature.
In the 2007 model year, General Motors introduced a five-year/100,000-mile (whichever comes first) limited powertrain warranty. This coverage continues in 2008 for just about every GM model.
General Motors assembles Yukon in Janesville, Wisconsin and Arlington Texas. |