5
0
Large SUV; Built in USA, Mexico
  • 2-door wagon
  • 4-door wagon
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,300 – $5,900*


1992 GMC Yukon 2-door wagon


1996 GMC Yukon 4-door wagon


1994 GMC Yukon 2-door wagon


1997 GMC Yukon interior


1997 GMC Yukon 4-door wagon

Pros:
  • Antilock brakes
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Quietness
  • Ride (4-door)
  • Trailer-towing capability
Cons:
  • Entry/exit (2-door & 4WD)
  • Fuel economy
  • Maneuverability
  • Ride (2-door)

Yukons offer the strength and toughness of a full-size truck, but carlike comfort and a full load of convenience features. Before turning to Yukon or Tahoe, however, take a look at Ford’s Expedition.

Overview

GMC’s full-size 4-wheel-drive sport-utility and its Chevrolet Blazer (later renamed Tahoe) counterpart were redesigned for 1992. Wheelbase grew five inches. Just one bodystyle went on sale: a 2-door wagon, with a full metal roof and drop-down tailgate, plus a separate, top-hinged rear window. Standard 4-wheel antilock brakes worked in both 2- and 4-wheel drive. Only one engine was available: a 5.7-liter gas V8, delivering 210 horsepower. A 5-speed manual gearbox replaced the prior 4-speed unit, with a 4-speed automatic transmission again optional. All models had Insta-Trac part-time 4-wheel drive.

Yearly Updates

1993 Yukon/Denali
Yukon’s automatic transmission gained electronic shift controls and a second-gear start feature. To reduce noise, the engine fan no longer engaged upon start-up. A new sport package called Yukon GT, included monochromatic exterior trim and a color-keyed grille, plus wheelarch flares.
1994 Yukon/Denali
An optional turbodiesel engine arrived in 1994. New safety features included side door guard beams, plus a center high-mounted stoplamp mounted in the roof.
1995 Yukon/Denali
Chevrolet’s version changed from Blazer to Tahoe for 1995, but GMC’s stuck with Yukon. A driver-side airbag was installed in a revamped interior, and a 4-door mate to the 2-door arrived in spring 1995. The 4-door’s wheelbase was six inches longer than the 2-door’s, it measured 10.6 inches longer overall, and the spare tire went under the body to provide extra cargo space. Unlike the 2-door, it was available with either 2WD or 4WD. Buyers of either body style could choose between a bottom-hinged tailgate (with separate-opening top-hinged rear window), or two side-hinged rear panel doors.
1996 Yukon/Denali
The standard V8 jumped to 250 horsepower for ’96. Daytime running lights were added. Two-door models now were available with either 2WD or 4WD. A 5-speed manual transmission no longer was available.
1997 Yukon/Denali
A passenger-side airbag went into in ’97 models, and the standard gasoline engine gained five horsepower. A new center console with bucket seats contained a fold-out writing surface, and a new switch in the cargo area controlled the power door locks.
1998 Yukon/Denali
The 2-door and diesel engine were history this year, and GMC added a top-level trim model called Denali. It added a full-time 4WD system called AutoTrac and loads of luxury goodies.
1999 Yukon/Denali
Yukon and Denali saw no changes for 1999 as an all-new model was in the works.
2000 Yukon/Denali
Yukons were redesigned for 2000, but the Denali continued for 2000 in its previous form. GM’s OnStar communications system was standard.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive

In 1992-93, only a 5.7-liter gasoline V8 was available, developing 210 horsepower. A turbodiesel option arrived for ’94. A year later, the gasoline V8 dropped to 200 horsepower. A revised Vortec V8 for 1996 delivered 50 more horsepower. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard through 1995, with a 4-speed overdrive automatic optional. Starting in ’96, all Yukons were automatic-only. All 4WD models had the Insta-Trac system.

Turbodiesel ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 6.5/400
Engine HP 180
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 360
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 15/18
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.7/350
Engine HP 200-210
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 300
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		12/16
12/15 		12.5
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.7/350
Engine HP 250-255
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 330-335
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 14/17

 14.3

Road Test

Until it added 50 horsepower for 1996, the 5.7-liter V8 was on the sluggish side, especially when passing or climbing hills. Improved transmission shift quality helped, though the automatic still is slow to downshift. Gas mileage is no bonus. In tests, we’ve barely topped 14 miles per gallon, even when driving mainly on the highway.

Quieter-running than before, Yukon offers improved behavior on the road. Suspensions of 4-door models are tuned for on-the-road comfort, resulting in an absorbent ride. The 2-door’s ride is more choppy, tending toward rocking-horse motions. Though overassisted, steering is precise. Body lean in curves is still noticeable, but less troubling. Grip in corners is reassuring. Antilock brakes are a bonus, but you can expect severe nosedive in hard stops.

Occupants enjoy plenty of space to sit three abreast, with lots of head and leg room. A 4-door, in particular, offers interior space and towing power that’s simply not available from compact sport-utility vehicles. Climbing aboard is easier than it used to be, too. The dashboard and control layout is modern and convenient. All controls are well-positioned, with large buttons that are easy to use while driving.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1997 GMC Yukon 4WD 5.7-liter

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 3
30%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 50

Specifications

2-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
111.5 188.5 77.1 72.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
99.4 30.5 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.9 37.8 41.9 36.3
4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
117.5 199.1 76.4 70.2
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
122.9 30.5 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.9 38.9 41.7 36.7
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1999 Yukon 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 73
Injury 44
Theft 193

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: Automatic transmissions may suffer harsh or shuddering shifts between first and second or may buzz or vibrate in park or neutral. (1992)
Climate control
Description: The temperature control lever may slide from hot to cold, usually when the blower is on high speed. (1992-94)
Dashboard lights
Description: The oil pressure gauge may read high, move erratically, or not work because of a defective oil pressure sensor. (1992-93)
Engine knock
Description: Engine knock is usually eliminated by using an oil filter with a check valve. If this does work, GM has revised PROMs for the computers, or engine may require main bearings. (1995)
Engine misfire
Description: A problem with the powertrain control module may cause a lack of power, early upshifts, late shifting in the 4WD-Low range, and otherwise erratic performance. (1996)
Engine noise
Description: The exhaust valves may not get enough lubrication causing a variety of noises. Usually, the same engine consumes excess oil because the valve guide seals on the exhaust valves are bad. (1996)
Engine temperature
Description: Overheating and coolant loss may be due to rough surface on radiator filler neck. Neck should be sanded smooth and cap replaced. (1999)

Recall History

1992
Description: Brake-pedal pivot bolt can disengage, resulting in loss of brake control.
1994-96
Description: Solder joints can crack, causing windshield wipers to work intermittently.
1995 w/automatic transmission
Description: When shift lever is placed in Park position, indicator may not illuminate.
1995-96 w/gas engine
Description: Throttle cable may contact dash mat and bind; engine speed might then not return to idle.
1998
Description: Lower steering pinch bolt may be “finger loose” or missing, allowing bolt to loosen and fall out; can result in off-center steering wheel and separation of shaft from steering gear.
1998
Description: On some vehicles, one or both front brake rotor/hubs may have out-of-spec gray iron that can fail during life of vehicle.
1998-00 C10
Description: Rear brake line can contact left front fender wheelhouse inner panel; a hole could be worn in brake line, allowing loss of fluid and reducing rear brake effectiveness.
1999
Description: In a crash, right front passenger restraint systems may not meet neck extension requirements.
2000 Yukon
Description: Rear Wheelhouse plugs may be loose or missing and could allow exhaust gases to flow into the passenger compartment.
2000 Yukon
Description: Airbag sensing diagnostic module may contain an anomaly that could prohibit the airbags from deploying in some frontal crashes.
2000
Description: When second-row head restraints are folded rearward as the seat is folded down, fingers could be trapped and pinched between the headrest and the seatback. Dealers will install protective covers.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 15, 2014.
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