Like the sharing that goes on between the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrids, the 2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid is a virtual replica of the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid underneath the skin. Of course, to some buyers that metal skin is a very important feature, as styling is often one of the key characteristics that makes someone choose one vehicle over another.
In that respect, the Yukon and the Tahoe are quite different. The Yukon favors a more understated, slick look when compared to the extroverted Tahoe, and this puts it on the list of buyers who are more interested in blending in with the crowd. The Yukon Hybrid has plenty to offer on the inside as well, with a long list of standard equipment that dwarfs that of the Tahoe. Features such as a rearview camera, three zones of climate control, power leather seats and a navigation system are all included within the vehicle’s fairly hefty base price. In fact, there are very few optional items that can be added to the Yukon’s pile of creature comforts: only a sunroof and a DVD player for rear-seat occupants can be selected. Three rows of seating can accommodate up to 7 passengers, and interior room is excellent when compared against a minivan or crossover.
The Yukon’s two-mode hybrid system, like that in the Tahoe (and the Sierra / Silverado) consists of a hearty 6.0 liter V8 engine that incorporates two electric motors mounted in its electronically-variable automatic transmission to provide 379 peak horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque. All of this prodigious power is achieved alongside excellent fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon during highway cruising. Particularly noteworthy is the city mileage, notoriously the weakest part of a full-size vehicle’s efficiency rating. Yukon Hybrids outfitted with four-wheel drive see their mileage drop to 20 miles per gallon for both city and highway measures, which is still not bad considering the extra utility provided by the additional traction. The 2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid is also a capable tow vehicle, with its 6,000 lbs of trailer capacity more than enough to lug along a camper or boat.
If you are planning to purchase one of these new green Yukons, bring your checkbook (and your banker). The MSRP starts at more than $51,000, unless you opt for the more fancy Denali version which will set you back at least $58,500. These are BIG SUVs, but because both of these models cost thousands more than their non-hybrid counterparts, they aren’t big sellers. Last year less than 2,000 Yukon hybrids left dealer lots.
Official website
Read about John Voelcker’s test drive and full review here.
Related Articles: See photos and read Hybrid SUV’s 2009 GMC Tahoe hybrid review.
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