2015 GMC Yukon SLT Video Review

For many years, full-size SUVs were the most popular vehicles on sale as they provided owners the space and towing capacity they wanted. But with rising gas prices, crossovers have largely taken their place. For some buyers though, a full-size SUV still makes sense. For them, we would recommend the new 2015 GMC Yukon.

General Motors made the decision to not have their new full-size SUVs look like carbon copies of each other. This means that the Yukon and its sister model, the Chevrolet Tahoe have some distinctive exteriors to make them stand out from one another. The Yukon gets a similar front end treatment as the Sierra 1500 with a large, pentagonal chrome grille and massive headlights. There's a choice of wheels ranging from 18 to 22-inches. The Yukon also features a power tailgate that you can adjust how high it rises. Perfect for those occasions when you find yourself in a parking garage.

GMC has made leaps and bounds concurring the Yukon's. Instead of acres of cheap-looking plastic that would make anyone wonder why they spent $50,000+ on a SUV, the Yukon SLT comes with real aluminum and leather trim, along with a fair amount of soft-touch plastic that makes it feel more expensive than the price tag would reveal. You have the choice of seating for seven or eight people, dependent if you go for the second-row bench or bucket seats. All your passengers will be comfortable no matter where they sit thanks to a three-zone climate control system. SLT models also come with heated and cooled seats for the front, and heated seats for the second row.

Power for the Yukon is the 5.3L EcoTec V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Those looking for a bit more oomph will need to upgrade to the Yukon Denali which features a 6.2L EcoTec V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The 5.3 V8 is a flex-fuel engine, meaning it can run on gasoline or E85. The EPA rates the Yukon at,

• Yukon 2WD: 16 City/23 Highway/18 Combined (E85: 12 City/17 Highway/14 Combined)
• Yukon 4WD: 16 City/22 Highway/18 Combined (E85: 11 City/16 Highway/13 Combined)

Interested in towing? You'll be happy to know that the Yukon can tow up 8,500 pounds if its a two-wheel drive model equipped with the optional HD Trailering Package. Four-wheel drive models can tow up to 8,200 pounds when equipped with the same package.

The base Yukon starts at $48,185 for a two-wheel drive model. The SLT model shown here starts at $56,670 for the two-wheel drive model, and $59,670 for the four-wheel drive model.