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2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid Review

March 10, 2009

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Handsome cabin
Edmunds.com

Revised instrument cluster plays home to a unique tachometer
Kelley Blue Book

brash front-end treatment
Forbes Autos



The GMC Yukon Hybrid doesn’t fit into the traditional “hybrid” mold—like a Toyota Prius, for instance—in that it still looks like a Yukon but with a lot of Hybrid badges.

For the GMC Yukon Hybrid 2009, a few aerodynamic changes, along with “hybrid” badges and graphics, differentiate it from the nonhybrid version. As a result, it still looks very much like a Yukon. Cars.com reports that "few onlookers will mistake the Yukon Hybrid for anything but a Yukon." Cars.com also points out that the GMC Yukon Hybrid 2009 sports "lower side cladding and unique 18-inch wheels" that all help to reduce drag and work with the hybrid powerplant to improve fuel economy. Kelley Blue Book lists these new changes as "a different front end where a lower air dam that reduces drag" comes in to replace "the traditional fog lamps and tow hook openings," and "wide openings in the grille help cool the advanced hybrid power electronics." They also note that the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrids "delete the standard roof rack side rails and replace the rear liftgate with a one-piece aluminum door featuring a fixed glass window," while "an extended rear spoiler improves aerodynamics, as do the sharp-edged D-pillars." Forbes Autos, meanwhile, says the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid shares the regular Yukon's "unashamedly big and broad-shouldered" styling, though it does get a new, "brash front-end treatment."

The interior of the 2009 Yukon Hybrid is universally appreciated by TheCarConnection.com and other reviewers alike. On the revised center stack, Cars.com finds that the GMC Yukon Hybrid's "center display screen incorporates an animation showing the flow of power through the hybrid drivetrain," and they note "the gauges include a gas mileage meter." Kelley Blue Book adds that "a revised instrument cluster plays home to a unique tachometer designed to inform the driver when the Auto Stop feature engages," which is where "the gasoline engine shuts down and the Hybrid is propelled solely by the electric motors built into its transmission." Edmunds cites the "handsome cabin" on the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid as one of the most appealing aspects of the vehicle, while Forbes Autos says that the "GMC Yukon Hybrid's handsome interior includes a two-tone instrument panel with LED-backlit instrumentation" and "chrome trim, and a high center stack for the climate control and audio systems."

Conclusion

Only a few subtle cues will tell those in the know—or those close enough—that the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid isn't a typical guzzler.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Handsome cabinEdmunds.comRevised instrument cluster plays home to a unique tachometerKelley Blue Bookbrash front-end treatmentForbes Autos The GMC Yukon Hybrid doesn’t fit into the traditional “hybrid” mold—like a Toyota Prius, for instance—in that it still looks like a Yukon but with a lot of Hybrid badges. For the GMC Yukon Hybrid 2009, a few aerodynamic changes, along with “hybrid” badges and graphics, differentiate it from the nonhybrid version. As a result, it still looks very much like a Yukon. Cars.com reports that "few onlookers will mistake the Yukon Hybrid for anything but a Yukon." Cars.com also points out that the GMC Yukon Hybrid 2009 sports "lower side cladding and unique 18-inch wheels" that all help to reduce drag and work with the hybrid powerplant to improve fuel economy. Kelley Blue Book lists these new changes as "a different front end where a lower air dam that reduces drag" comes in to replace "the traditional fog lamps and tow hook openings," and "wide openings in the grille help cool the advanced hybrid power electronics." They also note that the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrids "delete the standard roof rack side rails and replace the rear liftgate with a one-piece aluminum door featuring a fixed glass window," while "an extended rear spoiler improves aerodynamics, as do the sharp-edged D-pillars." Forbes Autos, meanwhile, says the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid shares the regular Yukon's "unashamedly big and broad-shouldered" styling, though it does get a new, "brash front-end treatment." The interior of the 2009 Yukon Hybrid is universally appreciated by TheCarConnection.com and other reviewers alike. On the revised center stack, Cars.com finds that the GMC Yukon Hybrid's "center display screen incorporates an animation showing the flow of power through the hybrid drivetrain," and they note "the gauges include a gas mileage meter." Kelley Blue Book adds that "a revised instrument cluster plays home to a unique tachometer designed to inform the driver when the Auto Stop feature engages," which is where "the gasoline engine shuts down and the Hybrid is propelled solely by the electric motors built into its transmission." Edmunds cites the "handsome cabin" on the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid as one of the most appealing aspects of the vehicle, while Forbes Autos says that the "GMC Yukon Hybrid's handsome interior includes a two-tone instrument panel with LED-backlit instrumentation" and "chrome trim, and a high center stack for the climate control and audio systems." ConclusionOnly a few subtle cues will tell those in the know—or those close enough—that the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid isn't a typical guzzler.  2009 GMC YUKON HYBRID STYLING | [8 out of 10] Edmunds.com: "Handsome cabin" Kelley Blue Book: "Revised instrument cluster plays home to a unique tachometer" Forbes Autos: "brash front-end treatment" The GMC Yukon Hybrid doesn’t fit into the traditional “hybrid” mold—like a ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hybrid use the same Hybrid technology as the GMC Yukon, but their platform is much older than the 2009 GMC Yukon's. If you are comparing hybrids, check out the offerings from Toyota/Lexus: the Highlander and RX400h hybrid models. These are both comfortable and efficient crossovers, but if you need room, towing, and four-wheel-drive capabilities, go with the 2009 Yukon Hybrid. If you don’t care how you get better mileage, consider the Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel. It features a Mercedes-Benz-sourced V-6 turbodiesel that gets 17/22 mpg city/highway, with real-world highway fuel economy that's even better. But it only seats five, so if you need to carry a brood, the GMC Yukon Hybrid is a better choice.

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See the GMC Yukon Hybrid in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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