2018 GMC Yukon

The interior comfort systems that the Yukon comes with is where this full-size SUV really shines compared to other SUV and truck options. GMC has taken steps for the 2018 model to improve the overall interior experience and safety of the vehicle, making it more competitive with the likes of the Chevy Suburban and Toyota Highlander. In terms of safety, the Yukon comes with several different standard and optional safety systems to protect all the passengers and increase driver awareness. Standard safety features include the usual assortment of front and side airbags for all passengers and child safety harnesses in the rear. More notably, the Yukon also comes with an active tire pressure monitor system to warn you if the wheels become unsafe to drive on. Active safety features come in the optional packages save for the standard parking sensors system. Things like forward collision detection, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control are standard on some of the upper trims and are otherwise available on optional upgrade packages. Finally, the true highlight of the interior experience is the infotainment system. Featuring a large touchscreen LCD panel, the Yukon comes with more standard intelligent systems and features than other full-size SUVs or trucks. With the base package, you will get a 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility, and voice control. Optional features include real-time traffic and weather reports and GPS navigation.

While many people buying a full-size SUV to haul a lot of people around, these larger vehicles are becoming more and more popular as truck alternatives. You get a great deal of similar performance as a truck with a fully enclosed interior. As a result, unique aspects like fuel efficiency and tow ratings have become more important to potential SUV owners. The 2018 GMC Yukon does a good job of playing with its bigger truck cousins in terms of overall towing capacity. Depending on the engine you choose, you can expect around the same performance of a midsize truck in terms of trailering. For the 5.3 L V-8 engine, for example, the all-wheel-drive version can tow up to 6,300 pounds, with the rear wheel drive version edging it out slightly with 6,500 pounds. On the upper end, the Yukon XL paired with the 6.2 L V-8 and rear drive will hold the most at 8,100 pounds. The optional heavy-duty trailering package will boost this performance to 8,300 pounds In terms of overall fuel economy, the Yukon matches the fuel ratings of larger full-size trucks. With the top package 6.2 L V-8 engine running at 420 hp, both rear wheel and all-wheel drive varieties come in at 14 mpg city and 22 MPG highway for a combined total of 17 miles per gallon. Quite often, you can maximize the fuel efficiency depending on your driving route. Anything with fewer stops and a more straighter shot to your daily destination will increase your observed fuel efficiency overall.

The engine and drivetrain of the Yukon shares a lot with GMC’s full-size truck line, the Sierra. In fact, you will find several of the engine options to be the exact same between the two large vehicles. As a result, you can expect highly capable engine options in terms of hauling and towing capacity that go beyond what the average SUV can offer. For 2018, the top line engine is a 6.2 L V-8 capable of producing 420 hp. This is actually modeled off of the Corvette engine that has propelled the muscle car to great speeds for years. Paired with a new ten-speed automatic transmission, this engine has a lot to offer in terms of overall performance. If sheer power isn’t necessarily the top of your priority list, the standard powertrain may be more to your liking. This one includes a 5.3 L V-8 engine that produces up to 355 hp. On the base model, this is combined with a six-speed automatic transmission and rear wheel drive. The baseline option is good for a general family commuter but lacks the punch of the greater 6.2 L engine when you need to tow a significant amount of weight.