What’s New?
The 2007 family of GMC Yukons has been completely redone. They shine with new interior and exterior styling, the latter contributing to an improved drag coefficient, and are built on a stiffer frame. Other improvements include new, more powerful V-8 engines; larger four-wheel disc brakes with an all-new ABS system; power fold-and-tumble second-row seats; a new 6-speed automatic, heavy-duty, electronically controlled transmission on select models; and the availability of rollover air bags.

Overview
The 2007 GMC Yukon is a full-size, four-door SUV with three rows of seats that can accommodate up to nine passengers. Variations of the Yukon include the longer XL and upscale Denali models. Two-, four-, and all-wheel-drive packages are available, and power choices include a 4.8L, the new 5.3L, a 6.0L, and the larger 6.2L—all V-8s. The 5.3L and 6.0L engines both come with a cylinder deactivation system (the 6.2L is scheduled for it in 2008), and the 5.3L can operate on E85 ethanol fuel. These technologies, combined with the vehicle’s more streamlined design, result in better fuel economy than previous-generation models. Hydra-Matic, electronically controlled, 4-speed automatic transmissions are standard on all models except the Denali versions, which come with a new 6-speed automatic that features two overdrive gears and tap-up/tap-down capability that allows the driver to manually shift via a button on the column shifter.

Trim levels for the 2007 Yukon are SLE (cloth seating areas) and SLT (leather appointments); both models are available in two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive configurations. The Yukon Denali is a distinct, all-wheel-drive model, with additional exclusive features that enhance its performance and luxury. Interior space is roomier on all 2007 Yukon models, and Tri-Zone climate control is standard throughout. Cargo room has increased 4.2 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 2.3 cubic feet behind the third row, which can fold flat. More room has also been built into the center console, which now has 20.1 liters of capacity—the segment’s largest, according to GMC. Even the glove box offers 25 percent more storage space than previous models.

The Competition
The GMC Yukon competes in the Large Utility segment, which consists of eight models. Buyers in this segment look for comfort, performance, and exterior styling, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Chevrolet Tahoe (161,491 units sold), Ford Expedition (78,953), and Chevrolet Suburban (77,211). The GMC Yukon sold 71,476 units in 2006, a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Large Utility segment include the GMC Yukon XL, Toyota Sequoia, and Nissan Armada. Joining the segment in 2007 is the Ford Expedition EL.