2009 GMC Yukon Review

PROS  Lots of passenger and cargo room, Plenty of features and luxury, Ample towing capacity, Good SUV fuel economy

CONS  High step in, Expensive

Reorganization and bankruptcy within General Motors has left the automotive giant with just four brands, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. The plan moving forward has Chevy continuing to be the volume brand, selling affordable cars, trucks, and SUVs. Cadillac will move upmarket and compete directly with import stalwarts like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Buick and GMC will share showroom space and compete in the vast and popular premium segment. Buick will sell sedans and crossovers and GMC will sell SUVs and trucks.

All of this reform doesn't change a thing though if the four core brands at General Motors can't deliver the right products at the right prices. Thankfully General Motors was trending toward that goal long before the recent economic collapse hastened its restructuring. Vehicles like the Chevy Malibu, Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac CTS--all introduced in the last few years--are world-class and match or surpass their competitors in most ways.

The Yukon is GMC's entry into the large SUV market. It shares chassis and engines with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. Yukon comes in two sizes. The standard model has a 116-inch wheelbase and the extended model has a 130-inch wheelbase. Both seat up to eight passengers. Yukon competes with vehicles like the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX56, Lexus LX 570, Land Rover Range Rover, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Four trim levels are offered, SLE, SLT, Denali, and Hybrid. All have a V8 engine and are available with rear- or four-wheel drive. Rear-drive Yukon SLE comes standard with a 295-horsepower 4.8-liter V8. Yukon XL and SLT models get a 310-horsepower 5.3-liter V8. Optional on the XL SLT is a 6.0-liver V8 that makes 366 horsepower. Denali models come with a 403-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. Hybrids have a 6.0-liter V8 that teams with twin electric motors to produce an estimated 332 horsepower. The 5.3- and 6.0-liter V8 engines come with cylinder deactivation. This allows the engine to run in four-cylinder mode when cruising and coasting to save fuel. The 4.8-liter and Hybrid get a four-speed automatic. All other engines mate to a six-speed automatic.

Antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, and dual-front and curtain-side airbags with rollover deployment are standard on all models. Rear park assist is optional on the SLE and standard on other models. A rear-view camera comes with the available navigation system. Blind-spot alert is optional on Denali. Side airbags are not offered.

The SLE starts at $37,205 and comes standard with air conditioning with dual-zone manual climate controls, rear air conditioning and heater, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, OnStar assistance with one year service, cloth upholstery, front split bench seat, six-way power driver seat, second-row split bench seat, third-row three-passenger split-folding seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, Bluetooth cell-phone link, illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper-washer, automatic headlights, floormats, theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, roof rails, side steps, platform-hitch receiver, seven-wire harness, full-size spare tire, 265/70R17 tires, and alloy wheels

SLT models start at $42,845 and add tri-zone automatic climate controls (including rear controls), leather upholstery, front bucket seats, six-way power passenger seat, center console, power-adjustable pedals, Bose AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, rear radio controls, remote engine start, automatic day/night rearview mirror, universal garage door opener, fog lights, roof rack, and front tow hooks.

Denali prices start at $49,635. It adds to SLT heated power-tilt steering wheel, heated front- and second-row bucket seats, 12-way power front seats with lumbar adjustment, driver-seat memory, power-release folding second-row seats, automatic day/night and tilt-down back-up aid mirrors with turn-signal indicators, rain-sensing wipers with heated washer fluid, outside-temperature indicator, compass, power liftgate, automatic shock absorber control, load-leveling suspension, 275/55R20 tires, chrome alloy wheels,

Hybrid models start at $50,920 and add to SLE tri-zone automatic climate controls (including rear controls), leather upholstery, heated six-way power front bucket seats, center console, power-adjustable pedals, navigation system with voice recognition and traffic information, rear-view camera, Bose sound system, rear radio controls, driver-side automatic day/night and passenger-side tilt-down back-up aid mirrors with turn signal indicators, universal garage door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror, remote engine start, 115-volt power outlet, and 265/65R18 tires.

Options include sunroof, off-road suspension package, and trailering package. All models come with a $950 destination charge and are manufactured in Arlington, Texas.

Get Up and Go  The subtleness of Yukon's hybrid drivetrain makes it the most transparent hybrid on the market. Honestly, if you someone didn't tell you it was a hybrid, you might never know (except for the eerily silent slow-speed launches).

As you might expect, the large V8 provides plenty of jump off the line and ample passing power. At the same time, the twin electric motors provide a smoothing effect to the transmission, erasing shift shock.

The theory behind GM's two-mode hybrid system is simple. Add battery-powered electric motors to a conventional powertrain and then use the electric motors to make the conventional engine as efficient as possible. In the Yuhon Hybrid, that includes changing the way the gas engine operates, turning it on and off at the right time, and giving the conventional four-speed automatic a "virtual" continuously variable mode.

The beauty of the GM system is its simplicity. Both motors are placed in the transmission and can operate independently. One motor is designed for low-speed grunt and the other for high-speed assist. The end result is a hybrid vehicle that accelerates much like a conventional vehicle but is up to 40-percent more fuel efficient.

The EPA estimates for the four-wheel-drive Yukon Hybrid are 20 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Those numbers aren't that impressive at face value, but keep in mind that the Yukon Hybrid seats up to eight people, tows nearly 6000 pounds, and tips the scales at 5700 pounds. Add to fact that the conventional four-wheel-drive Yukon is EPA rated at 12/19 mpg.

Another advantage of the hybrid is the fact that GMC says it runs just fine on regular-grade gasoline. While most other large luxury SUVs require more-expensive premium-grade gasoline.

In routine driving, it's easy to average 20 mpg if you pay attention to the fuel-efficiency gauge in the center of the instrument cluster. It helps driver's to find that sweet spot between fuel efficiency and acceleration by moving within a green and red band. The closer the driver keeps the needle to the center, the more fuel efficient the acceleration.

On the Road  Despite its truck-like origins, Yukon's ride is very comfortable and controlled. There's a slight extra bit of rebound on bumpy roads that can annoy, but otherwise Yukon, and its General Motors stable mates, are some of the best riding large SUVs around. Longer wheelbase XL models have an even smoother ride.

Make no mistake, the Yukon, in any form, is a large vehicle. Obviously, its sheer mass and long wheelbase work against the basic roadholding principles of maneuverability and nimbleness. That said, Yukon isn't a chore to drive and seems to shrink in size as drivers spend more time behind the wheel.

The steering is nicely boosted at slow speeds and firms up on the highway. It lacks true on-center feel, but otherwise it is quite responsive and accurate. Brakes have good pedal modulation and seem to have ample stopping power. There's a bit of a "transition" between regenerative braking and conventional braking, making the Yukon Hybrid difficult to bring to a smooth halt.

In low-to-medium-speed lane changes, Yukon feels more confident that you'd expect, with minimal body lean and quick reactions. Step things up a notch and rear-seat passengers are likely to complain of queasiness.

Yukon isn't as quiet as the class-leading Audi Q7 or Lexus LX. There's a trifle too much wind noise from around the door mirrors and the V8 growls a bit too loudly in hard acceleration. Otherwise the Yukon cruises nearly as quietly as a luxury sedan.

Behind the Wheel  Yukon's interior is near the top of the class in terms of functionality and design. It's nicely put together with rich, soft-touch materials that aren't extravagant but more than appropriate for the price. The layout is highly functional without being basic.

Gauges are easy to read and well-illuminated at night. All major controls are within easy reach and well marked. The navigation system has large and easy-to-read buttons and simple touch-screen activation.

Front-seat occupants are treated to ample head and leg room and extremely comfortable seats. Power-adjustable pedals are standard, but the steering wheel doesn't have a telescope feature, so some driver's may find it difficult to get comfortable.

Step in is high. Thanks to the high-riding body, forward visibility is great. Large outside mirrors, blind-spot identification, and rear-view camera help shrink blind spots to the rear.

Second-row seats are also quite comfortable and offer plenty of head and leg room for large adults. Third-row seats are somewhat hard and feel three-quarter size, though they do offer enough room for an average-size adult.

Standard-length models have modest room behind the third-row seats, XL models considerably more space. Second- and third-row seats fold nearly flat, creating a long and even load floor. Interior storage is above average with lots of open and covered bins throughout the interior.

Bottom Line  Yukon is probably the best overall large SUV on the market today. It is a bit more luxurious than its Chevrolet cousin and not as ostentatious as its companion from Cadillac. Still, all three offer an excellent blend of comfort, power, and room.

What makes Yukon so special is that it finds a sweet spot between affordability and luxury that plays to both value- and luxury-conscious shoppers. There are plenty of model offerings and enough options to make any buyer happy.

The Yukon Hybrid is expensive--this Denali-trimmed model tipping the scales at more than $65,000. That said, you get a lot of features, ample room, and a very capable SUV for that money. In addition, you get to do something other large-SUV owners only dream about: Occasionally pass a gas station without stopping. No the Yukon Hybrid isn't going to win any fuel-economy competitions, but its city rating is a full 8 mpg higher than its conventional counterpart, that's a 60% gain in economy.

If you are in the market for a large SUV and buy something else without first taking Yukon for a test drive, you are being foolish. I'd argue that there's no better large luxury SUV on the planet today.