The new 2018 GMC Yukon has arrived and at first glance it looks better than ever before. Like most of its competitors in this class, the GMC Yukon sports a rather square, “boxy” shape. This design might not be very pleasing to your eyes but it ensures that you have acres of leg room.
The question remains though… why would you buy a GMC Yukon?
If you are reading this article it probably means that you are in the market to buy a 7-9 seater vehicle but the thought of buying a mini-van near breaks your heart. And that brings us to this class which include behemothic vehicles such as the Nissan Armada, Mercedes GLS450, Cadillac Escalade and of course the GMC Yukon. With these options in mind we can now take a look at what would make you want to purchase the Yukon above its competitors
2018 GMC Yukon Review:
Interior Pros:
The Yukon’s interior is its secret weapon of sorts. I am willing to say that in this class there are very few if any other models that can compare to the Yukon’s luxury when it comes to interiors.
The Yukon is extremely spacious and has both 7 and 9 seater options. Other features include 9 cup-holders; five 12v power outlets; and enough USB ports to charge an army of smartphones.
Across the Yukon range you have a selection of interior trims but new to this year’s model is the very stylish Mystique Ash wood trim (only available in Denali models) which truly gives the cabin that “expensive car” feel.
Above all else though the Yukon’s infotainment system is the jewel of its interior. In 2018 GMC Yukon we see the Yukon using the same, excellent Intellilink system as last year’s model and that should inspire any prospective buyer to lean more toward the Yukon than any of its competitors.
As an added bonus, if owners are willing to pay GM’s monthly fee, the Yukon comes with a built in 4G LTE WIFI Hotspot!
Interior Cons:
After everything you just heard you’re probably wondering if there could even be any cons, but as always there are a few things that could really be improved on.
The first issue we see is that even though GMC has gone a long way in trying to make the interior a fantastic place to be the fact of the matter is that the dashboard is still mostly comprised of very hard, cheap-looking plastics. This truly is a shame because if GMC were to use a bit of soft-touch leather it really would make a world of a difference and would actually justify the QAR 284,000 price tag we find on the Denali models.
The other issue we find is that the third row of seats is actually rather uncomfortable. Due to the floor being raised in the back, the seating position doesn’t leave enough room for anyone larger than say a 10 year-old.
Engine:
Let’s take a look at the engine options we find on the new Yukon. As with previous years the Yukon can still be purchased with a 5.3l V8 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. However, new to this year’s Yukon, you can now have a Corvette inspire 6.2l V8 mated to a more economical 10 speed automatic gearbox.
Both the engine variants are extremely capable when it comes to hauling and towing. However, the 5.3l option does feel slightly lethargic when you try to accelerate quickly.
The 6.2l option can only be had in the QAR 284,000 Denali model and truly is a monster! It will accelerate this 5,400lb mammoth from 0-60mph in under six seconds!
Fuel economy:
To be honest this car is rather thirsty when it comes to mpg, but that is to be expected from this class of car. That being said, the new 10-speed transmission has made a slight (but very noticeable) improvement to the Yukon fuel economy.
Figures have improved from 20mpg on the highway to 22mpg in the new Denali model. Granted that still is quite bad but that does put the Yukon second in its class after Range-Rover HSE Td6. That is pretty impressive.
Exterior:
As mentioned before, the Yukon’s exterior appearance hasn’t changed much from last year’s model, but there are a few subtle changes which do give the car a more modern appeal.
Firstly, the 2018 GMC Yukon model now has a bigger front grill which makes it look rather imposing. Furthermore, you can now get the Yukon with a set of massive 22-inch wheels. Another fantastic addition are the automatic steps that appear from underneath the car when you open a door. This allows for easy access when getting in and out of the vehicle.
Summary:
Now you know both the good and the bad of the 2018 GMC Yukon, and in my opinion this car is very close to leading the competition in its class. If the car had a more refined exterior design this car would definitely be leading the pack.
If you are looking for a massive highway-cruiser/ hauler/off-roader/take the kids to school daily etc. Then the 2018 GMC Yukon is what you have been looking for.
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