NOTE: Pricing based on data collected August 2009. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
General Motors (GM) introduced the two-wheel-drive (2WD) GMC Yukon Hybrid in model year 2008. The Yukon Hybrid and its twin, the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, were the first full-size hybrid SUVs on the market and the first light-duty vehicles to use GM’s two-mode hybrid system, originally designed for buses. The Yukon Hybrid 2WD, which seats eight, gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg. Unfortunately, GM chose to increase the size of the gasoline engine in the Yukon Hybrid 2WD compared with its conventional counterpart, boosting horsepower and torque rather than maximizing fuel economy gains. This dampened the Yukon Hybrid 2WD’s overall environmental performance. The Yukon Hybrid 2WD is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Score
With a 24 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with the conventional Yukon 2WD, the Yukon Hybrid 2WD is in the middle of the overall hybrid pack. To compare the hybrid system on as level a playing field as possible, we compared the Yukon Hybrid 2WD’s 6.0-liter, V8 engine with the conventional Yukon 2WD’s 5.3-liter, V8 engine; the conventional Yukon comes with a smaller 4.8-liter engine option as well. Given the fact that GM was able to squeeze a 21 percent reduction in global warming emissions out of its Saturn Vue Hybrid—a vehicle that does not even have the battery capacity to truly be a hybrid vehicle—the Yukon Hybrid 2WD’s impressive two-mode, full hybrid drivetrain could have been used to bring far more to the table as the first full-sized hybrid SUV.
Despite modifications to improve its efficiency, the upsized gasoline engine gives the Yukon Hybrid 2WD more peak horsepower and peak torque, making it a “muscle” hybrid. Using the more common 5.3-liter V8 engine would have delivered better fuel economy, though it may have compromised towing capacity.
A poorly performing tailpipe emissions control system compromises the smog-forming emissions performance of the Yukon Hybrid 2WD, earning it an EPA air pollution score of 6, the lowest among all hybrid vehicles. These factors give the Yukon Hybrid 2WD an overall Environmental Score of 5.0. Hybrid technology and modern emissions control systems offer the unique quality of providing a “no compromise” vehicle that does not trade smog forming emissions for global warming emissions, and vice versa. The Environmental Score of the Yukon Hybrid 2WD could be greatly improved if GM focused two-mode hybrid technology on maximizing fuel economy, and made an effort toward reducing smog-forming emissions akin to the rest of the hybrid manufacturers.
Scorecard Environmental Score methodology
Hybrid Value
GM is charging $4,082 for the hybrid system in the Yukon Hybrid 2WD. With a 24 percent reduction in global warming emissions, this puts the Yukon Hybrid 2WD in the “Medium” range for Hybrid Value. Given that hybrid drivetrain technology often becomes more expensive when it needs to be upsized for larger vehicles, a Hybrid Value rating in the medium range is not a bad result for the Yukon Hybrid 2WD. Interestingly, its hybrid system actually costs about $1,000 less than that of its twin, the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid 2WD, despite having the same hybrid system.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
While the Hybrid Value of the Yukon Hybrid 2WD is in the average range, GM loads on the extra features with the Yukon Hybrid 2WD, forcing consumers to spend $8,133 on additional or upgraded features compared with the base model for the conventional Yukon 2WD. This gives the Yukon Hybrid 2WD a Forced Features rating of “$$$$$”—the worst rating in this category. The abundance of forced features significantly undermines the ability for consumers looking for more fuel-efficient full-sized SUV options to see the Yukon Hybrid 2WD as a cost-effective alternative. Sample forced features include the 6.0-liter V8 engine; remote vehicle starter system, rearview camera system; rear parking assist; leather-appointed, heated front bucket seats; a Bose® audio system with DVD-based navigation and nine speakers; and a rear-seat entertainment system. Click to see full list of forced features.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
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Additional Info
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