2005 GMC Yukon Review

Yukon: The chilly wildness of its name suggests cold, rugged terrain; a landscape at once beautiful yet inhospitable. A 2005 GMC Yukon wouldn't be a bad thing to have in such a place, but it's also a great domestic partner for the warmer adventure of everyday living.

Smaller than the largest SUVs, yet still indisputably full-sized, Yukon is the right size for families that have something to tow. Its cabin is roomy, friendly and functional. It can carry a load of people and a mountain of cargo. It can pull heavy trailers, up to 7700 pounds, or 8100 in the case of the more powerful Denali model. Third-row seats are available to increase Yukon's capacity to seven passengers, or up to nine if you order bench seats throughout. Yet Yukon will fit into a garage more easily than a Suburban or even an Expedition, both of which are longer.

The Yukon offers a nice ride and a choice of V8 engines, the largest of them with plenty of power for acceleration or towing. Yukon is smooth and stable on the road. Its advanced braking system works well. Turn off the highway and it handles gravel, rugged two-tracks, mud and snow. In any kind of driving, it's a great choice for someone who needs real carrying capacity.

Safety is enhanced by a tire-pressure monitor and sophisticated Hydroboost brakes. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is now available on all models, as is OnStar, upgraded for 2005 with enhanced hands-free capabilities. A new DVD-based touch-screen navigation system is also available.

The Yukon Denali is a luxury version that adds a sumptuous interior, a bigger engine (with even more power for 2005), and full-time all-wheel drive. It is a unique and desirable vehicle, offering power, luxury, and prestige that is not available in a Chevrolet Tahoe, but without the ostentatious flash of a Cadillac Escalade.

Built on GM's excellent full-size truck platform, the GMC Yukon is the same size as, and has much in common with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. Yukon is 20 inches shorter than the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL, making it much easier to park and garage. It is slightly smaller than the Ford Expedition, but longer and wider than the GMC Envoy, Chevy TrailBlazer, and Ford Explorer. Yukon is wider and shorter than the Envoy XL, giving it better stability in cornering and more comfortable accommodations for third-row occupants.

Yukon is conservatively styled. It looks like a shortened version of the Yukon XL, which looks like a fancy Suburban, which is what it is. Yukon's arched roofline provides extra headroom for the second- and third-row seats.

Denali is distinguished from other Yukons by its aftermarket-inspired chrome grille, projector-beam headlamps, body-color bumpers, round fog lights, unique side cladding, 17-inch chromed wheels, and chromed exhaust tips.

For 2005, all Yukons come with a station wagon-style rear hatch that lifts up to open. The rear window can be opened separately for quick loading or unloading of smaller items.

Less noticeable changes for 2005 include an extended front air dam with fewer unneeded openings, and more aerodynamically friendly running boards.