2018 GMC Yukon: The SUV that stands for its Name

The 2018 GMC Yukon occupies a little gap between the similar SUVs Chevrolet Tahoe and the Cadillac Escalade. Though less powerful than the Escalade, it offers better luxuries and features in comparison to the Tahoe. The transmission duties are carried out by a 10-speed automatic that is also standard on the Yukon Denali. The GMC Yukon has got some minor changes to the exterior appearance and some optional package content.

GMC-Yukon

Image Source: Pixabay

Just like its other siblings, the Yukon SUV offers seating capacity for nine passengers and comes with impressive towing capacity. 2018 GMC Yukon price starts at $49,100, the Yukon SUV gets plenty of standard features. The road manner didn’t impress much and its high price keeps it competitive against some of the premium luxury SUVs. The 2018 GMC Yukon mpg is rated at 6 mpg city, 23 highway, 19 combined with the 5.3-liter V-8 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.

The 2018 GMC Yukon is offered in three trim levels: SLE, SLT, and Denali trim. Most Yukons offer the seating for eight people but the optional front bench on the SLE trim allows nine passengers. The SLT trim gets second –row bucket seats while the Denali gets standard. These seats limit the passenger capacity to seven.

GMC offers two different powertrain options based on trim level. The SLE and SLT models get powered with a 5.3-liter V8 engine that produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. It is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission that transmits power to the rear wheels. There’s Four-wheel drive configuration available with a single-speed transfer case, and a two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing is also on offer. The Yukon Denali is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with a new 10-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. The optional four-wheel drive includes a standard two-speed transfer case.

The standard features added for the SLE trim include 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, foglights, side steps, roof rails, front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, cruise control, remote keyless entry and ignition, and a trailer hitch receiver with a wiring harness.

The top-of-the-line Denali trim offers larger engine with 10-speed transmission, and the features include 20-inch wheels, xenon headlights, adaptive suspension dampers, a trailer brake controller, a head-up display, active noise cancellation, second-row bucket seats, a navigation system, and a 10-speaker surround-sound system.

On the interior, you get tri-zone automatic climate control, front bucket seats (with a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat), 60/40-split folding second- and third-row seats, a tilt-only leather-wrapped steering wheel, a teen-driver monitoring system, OnStar communications (including a 4G LTE connection and a Wi-Fi hotspot), a 110-volt household power outlet, Bluetooth, an 8-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, five USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose nine-speaker audio system with a CD player and satellite radio.

The optional Enhanced Driver Alert package includes forward collision warning with low-speed automatic braking, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning and intervention. The Convenience package adds a power liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-adjustable pedals, and a universal garage door opener.

Buyers who seek the towing capacity of a body-on-frame SUV must take a glance at the all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. Both promise better capability but with more driving utility and comfort compared to the Yukon. An amazing maximum tow rating of 8,400 pounds and generous small-item storage in the cabin are pros. The cargo area at high floor makes loading and unloading quite difficult, and storage area behind the third row lags behind rivals, even smaller ones.

The price of the top trim Yukon Denali makes a competitor of the Mercedes-Benz GLS Class, which fill the gap of the entry level Yukon lacking content and refined interior. The Denali offers great driving experience along with an upscale interior.

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Jimmy is Tech blogger. He contributes to the Blogging, Gadgets, Social Media and Tech News section on TechnoIndian.

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