All-new GMC: More style, more substance

GMC has completely redesigned the Yukon for 2007 and not a moment too soon. The Yukon, well past its freshness date for at least a couple of years, is much more capable, refined and attractive inside and out.

As the most profitable vehicle in the General Motors lineup, the Yukon bridges the gap between the Chevy Tahoe and the Cadillac Escalade in price and equipment. Escalade and Tahoe have also been completely redesigned for 2007.

Essentially, two-thirds of the Yukon is identical to the Tahoe — everything forward of the A-pillar is different. The Escalade is different from the front doors forward but otherwise, all components are shared among the three vehicles.

The Yukon is available in base SLE ($34,895) with cloth seats or SLT ($39,090) with leather appointments, with a choice of two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. SLE models get a 4.8-liter 290-horsepower V-8. Four-wheel-drive SLEs and all SLTs get a 320-horsepower 5.3-liter V-8. A four-speed automatic is the sole transmission, but does come with a “tow-haul” mode button.

The top-of-the-line Yukon Denali ($48,190) is distinctly all-wheel drive and powered exclusively by a 380-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 engine mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. GMC expects that 35 to 40 percent of Yukon sales will be Denali models.

I drove a well-equipped SLT two-wheel drive with $10,800 in options and a bottom line of $46,840, including a $400 select package discount. There wasn’t any explanation on the window sticker as to why the vehicle qualified for the discount.

Yukon features wraparound front and rear fascias, styled mirrors and integrated running boards. The windshield is sharply angled to improve aerodynamic performance. GMC claims that this feature improves fuel economy and reduces wind noise.

I agree about the wind noise, but my 5.3-liter Yukon test truck — which was rated at 16 miles per gallon in town and 21 on the highway — never got better than 16.6 mpg on the highway and 12.8 around town. That’s according to the digital driver information center. And, those numbers are achieved with a cylinder-deactivation system that shuts down four cylinders in situations like highway driving. The system is supposed to help achieve better fuel economy. Quite dismal. But on the positive side, the 320 horsepower is plenty if you need to tow a boat, camper or trailer.

The headlamps are much larger than in past models, with detailed lighting elements and clear lenses that feature an etched GMC logo on the headlamp bezels. Denali models get enhanced exterior bright work, a unique grille and 18-inch wheels (20-inch chrome wheels are available).

Inside, the Yukon is roomier with seating for up to nine. I especially like the new dash with nice accent colors, brushed satin accents on the instrument surrounds and vents, and quite convincing plastic wood applications on the dash, center console and door control plates.

All materials, fit and finish are much improved over the previous Yukon. GMC even finished the seat hardware — there are no exposed seat tracks, even with the rear seats folded. The overall appearance is much closer to luxury sedan than sport utility. I’m impressed.

Yukon offers a power fold-and-tumble second-row seat feature but the third row seats don’t fold into the floor for a flat, level cargo surface. The seat backs fold flat with the entire assembly tipping forward against the second row. Second-row legroom, while improved, is still at a premium and less than what’s offered in competing models.

Front seats are comfortable, visibility excellent; brakes are good, not great. The ride is smooth and the suspension absorbed most road-surface imperfections. Handling is what you might expect for a large SUV with noticeable body lean when cornering. It isn’t necessarily easy to park.

Safety equipment includes stability control with a rollover sensor, antilock brakes, tire-pressure monitoring system and head-curtain airbags for all three rows (optional on the SLE). Optional safety features include a rearview camera system designed to provide the driver with a view of people or objects in the rearward path of the vehicle, or a rear parking assist that provides an audible warning when objects are in the path of the vehicle.

The new Yukon earned the highest possible five-star rating for front crash impacts and a three-star rating for rollover accidents from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Overall the new Yukon is a huge improvement over the previous generation and is a compelling choice for those who either must drive or like to drive a vehicle of this size.

But even with its considerable and laudable improvements the Yukon isn’t significantly ahead of the competition in this class of vehicle.

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