Auto Extreme

2007 GMC Yukon XL comes in basic SLE or SLT trim. It’s obtainable as a 1500 (half-ton), 2500 (three-quarter ton, with truck tires and a heavier suspension using leaf springs), and in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

The Yukon XL Denali comes with a 6.2-liter V8 making 380 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed automatic with manual mode, all-wheel drive system, and the AutoRide active electronic suspension.

An option of V8 engines is available, two of which are versions of the Vortec 5.3-liter V8, and which can run on E85 ethanol. The new generation 5.3 with an aluminum block, the engine in our test SLT, makes 310 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful optional engine is an all-aluminum 6.0-liter V8 with variable valve timing, making 366 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque.

All other Yukon XLs use a four-speed automatic transmission, offered in three strengths, depending on whether the XL is 2WD, 4WD, or 2500. They all have a Tow/Haul mode, which reduces upshifting and downshifting, and also shifts quicker, so the transmission doesn’t work so hard when pulling a big load. Transmission oil temperature is part of the instrumentation (along with a tire pressure monitor).

SLT package includes leather interior, 12-way power heated bucket seats in front, power adaptable pedals, remote starter, Bose sound system, XM satellite radio, garage door opener, power folding sideview mirrors, rear parking assist beeper, and roof rack crossbars.

Safety: all models includes dual frontal airbags, four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic proportioning, and StabiliTrak, GM’s electronic stability program with anti-rollover mitigation and traction control. Full length airbag curtains are optional (standard with SLT), but front side airbags are not available, which is surprising, given the competition and price. The XL earned the highest five stars in the government’s head-on crash tests.

Ride quality is excellent, overall. The suspension seems much improved over undulating roads; wallowing under duress has been a weakness of Yukons and Suburbans in the past.

The elective self-leveling suspension, is a high-tech, active suspension, means it electronically adjusts to the road, as read by sensors. It reduces body lean in corners and nose dive under hard braking. The vented rotors are larger (13 inches in front and 13.5 inches rear) and the dual piston calipers are stiffer. This adds up to security and safety when you’re trying to get stopped with a boat or trailer pushing you from behind. Brakes on these new GM trucks are far better than they were before.

Options include a navigation system, rear-seat entertainment system, power sunroof , second-row bucket seats, power release for those seats, power liftgate, rearview camera monitor, three-passenger third-row seat, heated washer fluid system, and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.

The rearview camera and monitor is quite useful. One night we had to back up a tight zigzag driveway squeezed by trees, and it could only be done by means of the monitor. It was tricky. The backup lights did a great job of lighting the road for the camera; looking over our shoulder, our naked eye couldn’t see the road nearly as well. Without this device, we would have been backing-up blind.

The Yukon XL is comfortable for long tows or major outings.

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