You can monitor the operation of the hybrid technology, just like in a Prius, thanks to a small display on the dashboard.
It all depends on the driver
To get the most out of this system, gentle driving habits are crucial. For instance, if you want to run exclusively on electric power, you have to accelerate VE-RY SLOW-LY! The slightest variation in throttle input or the slightest road incline will be enough to activate the gasoline engine. You can then forget about 100-percent green operation. And even if you do manage to stay in electric mode, the V8 will spring to life as soon as you exceed about 25 km/h.
So, what's the point? I guess the Yukon Hybrid could remain silent in dense traffic, but with 332 horsepower on tap, it's pretty hard to move forward at a turtle-like pace -- wherever you are. Furthermore, stop-and-go traffic often requires drivers to accelerate briskly, so if you insist on taking the slow approach with your big rig, expect to feel and hear the wrath of every other road user!
Having said all that, this road test still brought to light the relative efficiency of GM's hybrid system. After nearly 500 kilometers of city, country and mountain driving (and by relying on cruise control as often as possible), I wound up with an average of 13 liters per 100 kilometers. To put that into perspective, I got 13.5 L/100 km with the much smaller Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T and 14.5 L/100 km with the Buick Enclave. Not bad.
Roomy?
The short-wheelbase Yukon is a paradox on wheels. While it's big enough to sit up to 8 people, not everyone will enjoy decent comfort. The third-row bench will only accommodate small children due to minimal room for the legs and feet. Access is also quite complicated.
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| The small navigation display doubles up as a monitoring screen for the hybrid system. |
It all depends on the driver
To get the most out of this system, gentle driving habits are crucial. For instance, if you want to run exclusively on electric power, you have to accelerate VE-RY SLOW-LY! The slightest variation in throttle input or the slightest road incline will be enough to activate the gasoline engine. You can then forget about 100-percent green operation. And even if you do manage to stay in electric mode, the V8 will spring to life as soon as you exceed about 25 km/h.
So, what's the point? I guess the Yukon Hybrid could remain silent in dense traffic, but with 332 horsepower on tap, it's pretty hard to move forward at a turtle-like pace -- wherever you are. Furthermore, stop-and-go traffic often requires drivers to accelerate briskly, so if you insist on taking the slow approach with your big rig, expect to feel and hear the wrath of every other road user!
Having said all that, this road test still brought to light the relative efficiency of GM's hybrid system. After nearly 500 kilometers of city, country and mountain driving (and by relying on cruise control as often as possible), I wound up with an average of 13 liters per 100 kilometers. To put that into perspective, I got 13.5 L/100 km with the much smaller Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T and 14.5 L/100 km with the Buick Enclave. Not bad.
Roomy?
The short-wheelbase Yukon is a paradox on wheels. While it's big enough to sit up to 8 people, not everyone will enjoy decent comfort. The third-row bench will only accommodate small children due to minimal room for the legs and feet. Access is also quite complicated.
 |
| The front seats might be large, but they fail to provide adequate side support. |