Very comfortable ride, easy to manuever and love all the new features - remote start is a must have! The 2nd seat power fold down and power tailgate are awesome.The redesigned Yukon has better handling, braking, ride, and interior materials than its predecessor. Four-wheel-drive models have a selectable full-time system that can remain engaged indefinitely.
Electronic stability control is standard. A rear view camera is available with the optional navigation system.
2006 GMC Yukon : Highlights
The 2006 GMC Yukon is a 4-door, up to 9-passenger sport-utility, available in 4 trims, ranging from the SL 2WD to the SLE 4WD.
Upon introduction, the SL 2WD is equipped with a standard 4.8-liter, V8, 285-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 20-mpg on the highway. The SLE 4WD is equipped with a standard 5.3-liter, V8, 295-horsepower engine that achieves 15-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.
Interior Design and Special Features
Inside, the 2006 GMC Yukon offers comfortable seating and simple controls, but the quality of interior materials could stand improvement. Second-row bucket seats are available when you order leather upholstery, as is a DVD-based entertainment system. An optional 50/50-split third-row seat gives the Tahoe nine-passenger seating capacity. With the third-row seats removed and the second-row seats folded forward, the Tahoe offers 104 cubic feet of cargo volume.
Safety
The Yukon has a tire-pressure monitoring system, dual-stage front airbags (with a passenger sensing system), stability control and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. Side airbags are standard on the Yukon Denali and optional on other trims. In NHTSA government crash testing, the GMC Yukon rated four out of a possible five stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts.
Powertrains and Performance
The 4.8-liter V8, offering 285 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, is standard on two-wheel-drive Yukons. A larger 5.3-liter V8 with 295 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque is optional and comes standard on four-wheel-drive Yukons. The Yukon Denali, which has a standard all-wheel-drive system, is the most powerful version thanks to a 6.0-liter V8 rated at 335 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. All engines are connected to a standard four-speed automatic transmission. Properly equipped, the standard Yukon can tow up to 7,700 pounds, and the Yukon Denali can handle up to 8,100 pounds.
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options
The GMC Yukon comes in three trim levels -- SL, SLE and Denali. The base SL boasts standard features like tri-zone manual climate control, keyless entry, cruise control, a CD player and OnStar. The uplevel SLE model is similar but grants access to additional features like power front seats, leather upholstery, satellite radio and rear audio controls via an SLT option package. Top-of-the-line Denali models come standard with just about every feature available, although items like a DVD-based entertainment system, second-row captains chairs and a sunroof are still optional.
Driving Impressions
Any one of the Yukons V8 engines delivers ample power in most situations. Those who pull a trailer often would be wise to opt for the 5.3-liter engine, as it provides a substantial bump in torque despite only 10 additional horsepower compared to the 4.8-liter V8. For the ultimate in luxury and towing power, the Yukon Denali is the best of this bunch. The suspension delivers a stable, smooth ride, regardless of whether it travels on or off pavement, while the steering is light enough to maneuver the big sport-ute easily in tight situations.
Pricing for the 2006 GMC Yukon
2006 GMC Yukon $44,413 $50,185
4 Door Sport Utility
Drive type: AWD
2006 GMC Yukon $32,129 $36,305
4 Door Sport Utility
Drive type: 4x2
2006 GMC Yukon SLE $35,227 $39,805
4 Door Sport Utility
Drive type: 4x4
2006 GMC Yukon SLE $32,129 $36,305
4 Door Sport Utility
Drive type: 4x2
2006 GMC Yukon SLT $35,227 $39,805
4 Door Sport Utility
Drive type: 4x4
Favorite Features
6.0 Motor, throaty exhaust (not too obnoxious), interior and exterior trim, DVD/XM/Nav, Heated captain chairs in the rear
Overall Review
A wonderful driving experience. Smooth ride, excellent handling, extremely comfortable. Nicest SUV Ive owned so far (#5). Has all the horns and bells and whistles, and they all work.