The 2011 GMC Yukon XL is an uncompromising vehicle that continues to offer buyers unsurpassed capability, comfort and safety. With three powertrain options, three rows of seating and a generous tow rating, the Yukon XL delivers multi-faceted functionality. Whether the daily commute involves chauffeuring eight kids to school, towing the boat or both, the largest of the GMC SUV fleet can handle the task. For 2011, GMC adds extra technology and exterior color options to make an already fantastic SUV even better.
Driver and passengers will find plenty of room inside the 2011 GMC Yukon XL (MSRP $42,415), the extended-length version of the popular Yukon. Because of its multiple possible seating configurations, including an available front bench seat, the Yukon XL comfortably seats up to nine adult passengers. Nine. Thanks to its long, 130-inch wheelbase, the SUV delivers 34.9 inches of legroom, even in the third row. That’s a full 2.7 inches more than competitors like the Nissan Armada, and with 45.8 cubic feet of cargo area behind the third row, there’s plenty of storage space for everyone’s belongings. For comparison, the Toyota Sequoia comes with a mere 18.9 cubic feet of cargo area behind its third row – less than half of what’s available in the GMC Yukon XL, which also offers best-in-class cargo volume of 137.4 cubic feet.
With the third row properly stowed, buyers enjoy an unmatched 90 cubic feet of cargo area. But the interior of the Yukon XL is about more than just capability. Industry-exclusive Power-Release Fold-and-Tumble second-row bench or bucket seats are available to make access to the third row as easy as pressing a button, and a power rear liftgate means there’s always an extra helping hand available when it comes time to load groceries, bags or other cargo. The Yukon XL also offers an impressive array of standard and available tech features including standard Bose premium nine-speaker sound, Bluetooth hands-free calling with steering wheel-mounted controls, XM Satellite Radio with NavTraffic, USB connectivity in the center console and an available third-row DVD entertainment system.
The Yukon XL comes in SLE and SLT trims, in both 1500 (half-ton) and 2500 (three-quarter ton) models. The Yukon XL 1500 comes equipped with an E85 FlexFuel-capable 5.3-liter Vortec V8 engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and Active Fuel Management (AFM). AFM allows the V8 to run on four cylinders during light load conditions, maximizing fuel efficiency. The 5.3-liter delivers 320 hp at 5,400 rpm and 335 lb/ft of torque at 4,000 rpm paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This duo delivers a very capable 8,100-pound tow rating with two-wheel (rear) drive, and up to an EPA-estimated 21 mpg highway. Four-wheel drive is also available on all GMC Yukon XL models. A heavy-duty locking rear differential is standard on both models, and an integrated trailer brake controller and heavy-duty cooling systems are standard on the 2500 and available on the 1500.
Buyers who decide on a three-quarter-ton model will enjoy a 6.0-liter VVT V8 with 352 hp at 5,400 rpm, 382 lb/ft of torque at 4,200 rpm and a heavy-duty version of the six-speed automatic. This powertrain gives the Yukon XL 2500 a best-in-class payload capacity of up to 2,454 pounds, and helps the SUV tow up to 9,600 pounds in two-wheel drive orientation and 9,400 pounds when equipped with four-wheel drive. That figure is 400 pounds more than the top-of-the-line Nissan Armada Platinum four-wheel drive and a full 2,000 pounds more than the most capable Toyota Sequoia available.
The powerful Yukon XL is a comfortable and civilized vehicle. Built with a fully boxed frame, the SUV uses a coil-over-shock front suspension design for a driving experience that’s as smooth as it is secure. Large, next-generation, Bosch four-channel four-wheel antilock disc brakes ensure confident stopping power, even while towing a fully loaded trailer. The available Autotrac® active two-speed transfer case allows you to stay in two-wheel drive mode, as it switches automatically to four-wheel drive when wheel slip is detected. If multiple slips occur, Autotrac stays in four-wheel drive for longer periods of time. The system includes shift-on-the-fly capability at any speed via a rotary control, and has a neutral position that allows your Yukon to be towed behind another vehicle. In addition, buyers can look forward to two new color options: Mocha Steel Metallic and Carbon Black Metallic.
Standard OnStar 9.0, the ninth generation of new OnStar technology, is new for 2011, offering improved voice-recognition capabilities for regional dialects and phrases, and state-of-the-art safety equipment in the Yukon XL means vehicle occupants are protected in every situation. Both front seats incorporate segment-exclusive safety belt pretensioners that automatically activate in the event of a rear-end collision, and head-curtain side-impact airbags with rollover detection for all rows ensure that passengers are protected no matter where they choose to sit. In addition, StabiliTrak® Stability Control with Proactive Roll Avoidance and a tire-pressure monitoring system are standard equipment. Buyers can also choose the available rearview camera system (standard on SLT), Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (standard on SLT), Side Blind Zone Alert System and voice-activated navigation.
For the ultimate in power and luxury, there is the Yukon XL Denali (MSRP $56,315). A FlexFuel-capable 6.2-liter Vortec V8 with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and Active Fuel Management (AFM) comes standard in the Denali, producing a best in class 403 hp and 417 lb/ft of torque. Easily identified by its unique chromed honeycomb grille, 20-inch wheels and monochromatic exterior trim, the Yukon XL Denali features Nuance leather seating surfaces. A Bose 10-speaker Centerpoint surround-sound system delivers world-class quality sound, which is extra easy to enjoy thanks to the premium Acoustical Insulation Quiet Package, which employs special sound-dampening materials to keep unwanted noise out of the cabin. The Yukon XL Denali also boasts navigation, a heated steering wheel and heated and cooled front bucket seats among its many standard luxury and convenience features.
The 2011 GMC Yukon XL is an SUV that delivers the brawn necessary for big towing jobs with enough interior room and seating capacity to convey up to nine people comfortably. Versatile seating configurations allow you to easily and quickly adjust to circumstances, and this is one SUV that doesn’t make you choose between hauling people and hauling cargo. SUV buyers demand unmatched levels of functionality, and the 2011 GMC Yukon XL provides in every category.
