Story Tools
With Toyota now having passed Ford for second place in vehicles sold in America, the leader, GM, can feel their breath on its neck. Toyota has always been known for producing vehicles that are both efficient and technologically cutting edge. They gained their foothold in this country with cleaner 4-valve engines that used less fuel while still delivering enough horsepower to compete with larger American engines. They have continued to pursue this trend with their current fleet of hybrid vehicles such as the Prius. GM has finally decided to respond with some innovative technology of their own. This is most apparent in the new GMC Yukon Hybrid.GM claims they chose their big SUVs to introduce their new technology because they want save as much fuel as possible by converting the vehicles highest in fuel-consumption first. They also want to save their most profitable models from possible extinction by new fuel-efficiency standards. This is no wimpy wind-up, but a monstrous 6.0 liter V-8 with 332 HP that can pull more than 3 tons uphill. Fuel economy is achieved by shutting off half the cylinders until needed and using two 60KW electric motors at low speeds. They are powered by a 300-volt battery pack that is recharged by the engine so it never needs to be plugged in.
A New Heavyweight Champion
My recent test drive of this new SUV compared favorably with the standard model. I am very familiar with this big vehicle, one of my favorites for hauling family and friends on long weekend excursions. I am also familiar with the cost of refueling it, so I was anxious to find out how this new version measured up. The short answer is GREAT! The electric motors worked smoothly in stop-and-go tunnel traffic, and the big engine kicked in with its enormous power to accelerate effortlessly with seven passengers and a full load of camping equipment on the thruway.
My first indication of how impressive these new trucks are was how quickly the electric motors responded in city driving. They are certainly up to the task of pulling these heavy sleds through traffic. The real reason for all this expensive technology became apparent on the way home after a long weekend in the Catskills, when I cruised past my usual refueling exit and headed on into the city with ample fuel still in the tank. I averaged an amazing 22 mpg compared to only 14 mpg for the smaller 5.7-liter standard model.
If you want to see how GM is doing, you can go for a test drive yourself. The GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe Hybrids are arriving now at your local dealers. At around $50,000, or $15,000 more than the standard model, this vehicle will not save you enough at the pump to pay back its higher cost, but it will make you feel better about driving a big SUV by putting out low emissions while running on electric power in city traffic.
