2009 GMC Yukon: Powerhorse Family Vehicle That Does It All
Yes, I’m going to defend the GMC Yukon as a family vehicle. Some families do have more than two children, and some of those children get big. And some families have big hobbies. Not every family can fit into a sedan, and the Yukon is a great option.
Families that would consider a Yukon usually need to carry either lots of people or lots of stuff. Good thing the Yukon can do both! The XL model is a bit longer than the standard, and can fit up to nine people. Even the standard version can fit eight, although some complain that the legroom is a bit tight in the third row.
There are other vehicles out there that can hold nine people, but the overwhelming feedback is that the GMC Yukon does it in style. The seats are really comfortable, and TuningTruck.com editor Rex Roy calls the interior “cavernous,” but in a good way. The interior is well-built, and so long trips in the Yukon are a cake walk. Everyone has space to spread out with plenty of room for stuff to keep the kids occupied.
The bonus is that the cargo space behind the third row can actually hold luggage for all those people. Or hockey gear. Camping gear. Double strollers and portable cribs and those crazy-heavy backpacks that come home from school. Costco runs are a breeze.
The hard part to face down is that with any vehicle that’s built to carry this much (and it does this very well) is going to stink in the fuel economy category. You simply can’t put a weekend warrior family vehicle like this up against a sedan or CUV. Heck, most SUVs get the same gas mileage as the Yukon and still don’t do as much.
But, the GMC Yukon is available with way too many engine options, including a hybrid (yes, hybrid!) and a flex fuel model that takes E85 or ethanol. Standard engines get about 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, while the hybrid model will bump that up to about 20 mpg. Not bad for a vehicle that does all this.
If you’re looking for a high-capacity family vehicle like this, it’s better to ignore the chatter about large vehicles being evil. Sure, you’ll pay more, but it’s worth it, right? Don’t be tempted to click the “Car Tweets” link in the left margin here, unless you’re willing to focus only on what people are saying about its smooth ride, handling and towing.
