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GMC Yukon wagon and big brother XL show new shapes and gear
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SANTA YNEZ, Calif. -- Structure, engines and mechanical hardware found on the full-size GMC Sierra pickup truck become the building blocks for fresh designs of two large sport-utility wagons from GMC Truck, the full-size Yukon and a gigantic version formerly known as Suburban but re-badged now as the Yukon XL -- as in Extra Large.
We drove both, following a series of pavement and off-road routes wound around the Sierra Madre Mountains in California's Coastal Range and through the deeply etched Cuyama Valley north of Santa Barbara.
This seat-time experience revealed evolutionary improvements for the big wagons, which sport new sheetmetal designs outside and contain more space inside the revised cabins, with stronger new engines producing more power, and more safety gear on-board plus sophisticated new controls for suspension, brakes and traction.
Differences between the two consist primarily of more storage space in the Yukon XL, due to the extension of the cargo bay, and a larger payload and towing capacity with the availability of a larger powertrain.
While the XL's Suburban predecessor traces clear back in the history of General Motors to the 1935 Suburban Carryall -- beginning as a boxy steel wagon rigged atop a truck's chassis with three rows of seats, four passenger doors and a tailgate for cargo -- the Yukon didn't show up until sixty years later, spinning off the modern interpretation of Suburban as an abbreviated version with two tiers of seats and a clipped cargo bay.
The new designs transform Yukon and the XL into luxurious machines which, despite their massive proportions, handle much easier than the previous versions, thanks to the stiff new chassis system and high-tech mechanical hardware.
A boxy package of Yukon expands in height and width while actually chopping the wheelbase by 1.5 inches and the overall length by a fraction. Still, there's more headroom and legroom in the cabin for riders, plus the choice of a new third-row bench seat split in 50-50 sections.
Standard seating plan for Yukon brings a front bench divided in 40/20/40 portions and a center bench that cuts in half and folds forward. Front high-back bucket seats with adjustable lumbar support are offered optionally.
Yukon XL in new format has room for as many as nine people, depending on seat configuration, with options for the front split bench and new second-row high-back buckets.
The shorter wheelbase in combination with changes to the suspension package reduce the size of the turning circle for both vehicles, which makes them easier to maneuver, particularly in crowded spaces like a parking lot. Parallel parking trials using Yukon and the XL on a lot in Santa Ynez quickly demonstrated that the onus of berthing these big things has been removed because each slipped into the intended space with no more difficulty than you might encounter in parking a full-size sedan.
Designers focused on improving the ride quality, which was another shortcoming of previous issues. To do so, they started with an excellent foundation by borrowing the Sierra's platform. That structure utilizes an innovative three-piece modular frame that's fully boxed to increase stiffness and reduce squeaks and rattles. Front and rear frame sections, hydroformed by water under high pressure to mold the aluminum members, impart further rigidity.
Track widths front and rear were expanded to forge a broader and more stable platform.
Suspension revisions include new independent front components with modular cast-iron lower control arms and coil springs on the heavier rear-drive editions or a torsion bar for the lighter rear-drive and all four-wheel-drive versions.
At the rear, a five-link system with coil springs replaced the previous leaf-spring design to smooth out the ride quality. In addition, an optional Autoride rear suspension device incorporates continuously-variable road-sensing damping with air-leveling shock absorbers for precise control.
The XL comes in half-ton 1500 series or three-quarter-ton 2500 and applies either a rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel traction mechanism, which is also available with the Yukon.
The four-wheel-drive system mates to GM's Autotrac system with active transfer case providing on-demand all-wheel traction. Driver turns a dash-mounted switch to shift quickly and effortlessly between full-time all-wheel traction, rear-wheel or four-wheel high and low settings.
Motivation for the wagons is derived from a trio of Vortec V8 engines off the Sierra pickup.
Standard power for Yukon comes from a 275 hp 4.8-liter V8 tied to an automatic four-speed transmission, with a 5.3-liter V8 optional for 285 hp. Revising the camshaft design in these engines resulted in improved fuel efficiency plus 15 more power points in output.
The half-ton 1500 XL totes the Yukon's larger of two Vortec V8 engines, but the three-quarter-ton 2500 XL brings a 6.0-liter V8 racked to 300 hp.
New trailer ratings occur with increased power from the Vortec engines, ranging from a 7800-pound trailer capacity for the 4.8-liter V8 in a properly-equipped Yukon to 8800 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8. The Yukon XL goes even further with 5.3-liter and 6.0-liter engines, rising to 9000 pounds and 10500 pounds, respectively.
Automatic transmissions with the optional trailer-pulling package get a push-button added to the end of the column-mounted shift lever. It's useful when pulling a loaded trailer by expanding the time between gear shifts but quickening the actual shift sequence.
Outward appearance of the new wagons draws on cues from the Sierra truck, as all share the same front face.
The powerful front-end is dominated by a bold black grille and wraparound composite headlamps. A flashy chrome bumper underscores the prow, flanked by bulging front fenders and a shapely multi-tiered hood which rises to meet a new sharp rake of the windshield.
Park a Yukon next to the XL and you may find it difficult to tell them apart, since both look similar from front bumper through the B pillar. Beyond the front seatback, however, the XL has a longer wheelbase so there's more room for side doors, and far more overhang at the rear. Detect differences by comparing the second set of doors on each side: Trailing door edge of the XL forms a straight line from top to bottom and runs in front of the rear wheelwell, while the door of the Yukon has a notch near the bottom to tuck around the arched well.
At the rear, choices come from two different gate designs -- either swing-out dual cargo doors or a new top-hinged aluminum lift gate with tilt-up glass insert.
Both wagons show trim levels of SLE and SLT with extensive luxury equipment aboard.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2000 GMC YUKON Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size SUV wagon |
| Model Options: |
Full-size SUV wagon |
| Wheelbase: |
116.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
198.8 inches |
| Engine Size: |
OHV 4.8-L V8, OHV 5.3-L V8 |
| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear, 4x4 Autotrac |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side) |
| Gas Mileage: |
4.8: 16/20 mpg, 5.3: 15/20 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 26,000 to $ 38,000 |
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