2009 GMC Yukon hybrid

By René Gervais

Glorified by some, derided by others, hybrid vehicles never evoked unanimous praise, and rightly so when some had specific advantages while the rest, like the Honda Civic could not measure up against the traditional version. Now, could it be GM, the giant producing some of the thirstiest vehicles on the planet, offering world class technology? It appears to be the case.

Road-test likes:

• The 2-mode TM hybrid system’s smoothness;
• The very moderate fuel consumption;
• The subtle interplay between the hybrid and traditional engines;
• The vast interior space;
• The interior’s refinement;
• The hybrid’s striking 6200 lbs towing capacity;
• The well- calibrated suspension.

Road-test dislikes:

• The astronomical price:
• The numerous «hybrid» stickers on the Yukon;
• The small ventilation controls
• The tenuous ability to take on the cold.

Driving impressions

It’s human nature to want to have the cake and also eat it. This is not normally feasible but in our case here we’d want a gargantuan vehicle but is should only but burn fuel like a compact yet act in a traditional fashion. GM took the wish seriously! When I drove the GMC Yukon hybrid I though they did not fully realize this wish but they came pretty close. Occasions were rare when the Tahoe hybrid did not handle like a regular engine Yukon. The message has reached the interested parties because when I’d pilot the Yukon hybrid, only rarely did I observe the difference in handling from that of a typical engine. The marriage between the old and the new seems to be thriving. Another aspect that impressed me was the length of time the Yukon could travel without assistance from the gasoline engine. Who would have thought the Hybrid capable of breezing through traffic jams? On a particularly busy highway, I managed to stop and start almost five minutes only in electric mode. That your humble servant maintained 11km to 100 litres in the city should not be surprising. The knock, however, is that in cold weather, the motor and transmission must reach a certain temperature before the hybrid mode engages. Not the best of news considering winter is in effect...