Tuesday, June 28, 2011

2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid SUVs

2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid
2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid SUVs. Several reviewers point out that the GMC Yukon Hybrid lets buyers have it all: large SUV capability and great fuel economy. The Yukon Hybrid starts at almost $13,000 more than the conventional Yukon. Test drivers say the Yukon Hybrid drives like a conventional Yukon, which is a good thing. The "2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid is closely related to the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid".

The GMC Yukon Hybrid sees few changes for 2011. Unlike the gas-only Yukon, the Yukon Hybrid is not available in a long wheelbase.
The 2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid is one; its Chevy Tahoe Hybrid twin is the other. To the 6.0-liter V8 engine, the hybrid system adds a pair of 60-kilowatt motors (packaged within the transmission) for electric motivation. Thusly equipped, the Yukon Hybrid can (under low-load conditions) move solely under electric power to speeds up to around 25 mph. The 2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid is a full-size SUV available in one trim level. A trip computer, Bluetooth, OnStar, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, remote engine start, leather upholstery, power front seats and a removable 50/50-split third-row seat are also standard. The 2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid is available with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Fuel economy ratings stand at 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. Maximum towing capacity for a properly equipped 4WD model is 6,000 pounds.

In the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures, the Yukon Hybrid earned an overall rating of four stars (out of five), with five stars for overall frontal crash protection and five stars for overall side crash protection. Aside from instrumentation, there's nothing to distinguish the Yukon Hybrid from a traditional Yukon. Even so, The Yukon Hybrid boasts attractive, high-quality materials and tight panel gaps while maintaining a simple control layout. The Yukon's standard third row enables it to accommodate up to eight passengers.
The 2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid looks much like a standard GMC Yukon and allows about the same level of performance and comfort.

That said, there's a lot that's different about the Yukon Hybrid. There are few compromises in the Hybrid. While the price premium for the Yukon Hybrid over the standard versions of the Yukon is quite steep, it nearly evens out when you're comparing Denali versions. For more about the 2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid, please see our full review covering the 2011 GMC Yukon, where you'll find more pictures, related news, and highlights from other review sources.