2017 GMC Yukon XL

Not the best or the worst

Friday, October 23, 2020

I have owned this car four years and purchased new from the dealership. The sticker price was $60k for the XL SLE (base model) but I ended up paying $46k and in my opinion is where the vehicle should be priced. One issue that needed to be fixed immediately after purchase was the body, none of the doors body lines matched up so the doors, hood and fenders were removed and replaced properly. There was also a paint defect so they repainted the passenger side of the vehicle as well. The vehicle lacks refinement for having a base model sticker price of $60k, fully loaded is around $90k. Once in a while the transmission will ‘slam’ into gear making a loud noise almost like you ran something over. The dealership says this is normal which I do not agree with, but if this truly is normal I question why GM would find that acceptable. Like most GM vehicles, the quality degrades quickly past the 3 year mark. You get more engine noise (loud ticking), suspension squeaking and premature interior wear. The drivers seat feels like it shifts from side to side while going around turns. I weigh about 180 lbs so I do not think that is the issue with the seat falling apart. Also like most GM vehicles, it won’t leave you stranded. Despite its lack of refinement I have not spent any money on repairs and the regular recommended maintenance is reasonably priced. The XL has a massive interior and I can easily fit sheet goods (Sheetrock, plywood, etc.) up to 4’x8’ and still able to close the back hatch with room to spare. Even with the 3rd row seats up there is room for luggage and my model which does not have 2nd row captains chairs seats up to 8 people. If you have a lot of kids or always doing large home projects this vehicle is one of a few options out there with this much space. This is also wider than the average minivan so you can easily fit 3 child seats in a row with room between them. Towing capacity on my model isn’t great, it is only 6000 lbs but that is due to the 3.18 gear ratio in the rear differential. This means better MPG since the engine is under 2000 rpm at highway speeds. My issue is that I need more towing capacity and the dealership told me it was much higher than it is. I blame this on myself for not verifying before purchase, I should have known better than to trust a sales person... Driving the XL is easier than it looks. The turning radius is tight so parallel parking or just squeezing into a parking space at the store is not a hassle, even better when you back into a spot with the reverse camera. The camera shows lines to predict where your car will go when you turn the wheel which is a nice feature. Driving in snow is not an issue. Even in a foot of snow I usually do not need the 4x4 but will keep it in auto 4x4 just in case. Once I upgraded to off-road tires it was even more capable in bad weather. Stability control is great too, and prevents you from spinning out of control. If you are buying the largest SUV on the market do not expect exceptional gas mileage. Even with the active fuel management I see about 20 to 24 highway and 15 to 18 around town. For a base model the stereo is great, it has 9 Bose speakers and they have plenty of range for playing all types of music with too much distortion. The infotainment system is large and easy to use. Climate control is easy to use which are just normal knobs, I like this better than trying to navigate a touchscreen to change temperature setting because it keeps my eyes on the road. Climate control has 3 zones and keeps everyone comfortable on long trips.

Better than a Cadillac

Friday, November 20, 2020

Love my yukon. A little rough driving over bumps. Overall better than a esclade any day..

whish it was a better truck

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Many thinks stopped working. Love the looks but transmission, starter, tail lights, and AC quite working . Many other people I talked to said same issues.