2009 GMC Yukon: Road Test
2009 GMC Yukon ▼
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- MSRP: $37,705 - $55,935
- Invoice: $34,877 - $51,740
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Our road test for the 2009 GMC Yukon includes a full evaluation of the 2009 GMC Yukon from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2009 GMC Yukon, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2009 GMC Yukon help you decide if a 2009 GMC Yukon is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.8 |
No non-Denali XLs have been made available for us to test yet. Regular-length Yukons are muscular off the line and in highway passing/merging with the 5.3-liter V8. Despite its extra horsepower, the Denali's 6.2 feels only slightly stronger. The transmissions provide crisp, timely shifts, with the Denali's automatic having shift lever buttons for manual operation.
Yukon Hybrid behaves much like its conventional siblings. The electric-to-gas transition is almost completely transparent.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2.7 |
In Consumer Guide testing, a 4WD SLT averaged 15.9 mpg. An AWD XL Denali averaged 13.5-15.5. A 4WD Yukon Hybrid averaged an excellent-for-the-class 19.5 mpg. GMC recommends premium-grade gas for the 6.2-liter Denali, regular otherwise. Denalis and certain versions of the 5.3 V8 can use E85 ethanol.
RIDE QUALITY
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6.6 |
Yukons with 17-inch tires have car-like comfort over bumps, though they suffer some floaty motions over dips and swells. GM's Autoride load-leveling suspension quells some float, but doesn't add demonstrably to ride comfort. Impact harshness over sharp bumps is exaggerated by the short sidewalls of the available 20-inch tires. XL models have the smoothest rides of the bunch.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.8 |
Steering has light effort that benefits around-town maneuverability, but it can feel overassisted at highway speeds--a sensation that seems to be exaggerated slightly with the 20-inch tires. Despite being tall and heavy, Yukons suffer relatively little noseplow and body lean in turns, though you would never mistake these SUVs for sport sedans. Our testers are divided on whether versions with Autoride feel any more confident in changes of direction. Brakes offer no-drama stopping control with solid pedal feel.
QUIETNESS
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.6 |
Impressive for a large SUV. Road noise is well muted. The only evident wind rush comes from around outside mirrors. Though intended to be a more luxurious vehicle, the Denali's 6.2 V8 sounds louder and less refined during acceleration than the 5.3 V8.
CONTROLS
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.6 |
All gauges are large but some testers find the markings too indistinct for best legibility. Yukon's optional navigation system absorbs, but doesn't complicate, audio functions.
DETAILS
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6.1 |
The cabin has few soft-touch panels, but materials are generally solid to the touch and assembled with care to create a high-quality ambiance, even on SLE versions. Denalis get added dress-up touches, but most of that model's interior panels are still hard plastic.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Bench or buckets, the front seats are supportive. There's ample headroom and legroom, though the cramped center position on the bench should be for emergency use only. Available power-adjustable pedals aid driver positioning. Kudos to GMC for adding a power tilt feature to the steering column, though this feature should be available on all Yukons, not just the Denali. Visibility is unobstructed by headrests or roof pillars. The body's tall flanks block the driver's view of small nearby objects, making the optional rearview camera worth considering.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.8 |
Adult-comfortable 2nd row. Available automatic-folding seats spring forward to ease access to the 3rd row, though passage is still tight, and the seats must be manually restored to their upright position. Low-to-floor 3rd-row cushion forces knees-up discomfort for anyone larger than toddler size.
CARGO ROOM
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.7 |
Spacious with two rows of seats. Second-row seats fold forward to expand cargo volume. There's no abundance of storage room behind the 3rd row. The folded 3rd-row seatbacks rest well above the load floor, complicating loading of large items. Those seats unlatch easily, but are heavy and cumbersome to remove.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 |
Yukon is pitched as an upscale alternative to Chevrolet's Tahoe, and the Denali is positioned just below Cadillac's Escalade. Despite having more power and luxury touches than Yukons, Denali doesn't deliver enough of either to justify its higher price. A carefully optioned Yukon SLE or SLT are the Best Buys in this GMC lineup.
Total Score
| 2WD SLE w/5.3 V8 | 2WD SLT | 4WD SLT | AWD XL Denali | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | 75 | 75 | 72 | 72.7 |
Total Score: 75
Scores for all Large Sport-utility Vehicles
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