The GMC Yukon is a line of full-size SUVs that GMC has marketed since the 1992 model year, alongside the Chevrolet Tahoe for its entire production. The Yukon replaced the full-size GMC Jimmy, just as the Tahoe later replaced the full-size Chevrolet Blazer.
GMC Yukon at a glance
| Class | full-size SUV |
|---|---|
| Market | North America and the Middle East |
| Introduced | 1992 model year |
| Chassis | GMT400, replacing the Rounded-Line C/K chassis |
| Replaced | full-size GMC Jimmy |
| Bodies | three-door at first, five-door from 1995 |
| Standard engine | 5.7 L V8 |
| Diesel option | 6.5 L Detroit Diesel V8 from 1994 |
| Gearboxes | four-speed automatic, five-speed manual until 1995 |
| Four-wheel drive | AutoTrac from 1998 |
| Flagship | Yukon Denali introduced for 1998 |
| Name from | the Canadian territory of Yukon |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Chevrolet Tahoe, which covers the Yukon as its GMC twin. The photograph shows a Chevrolet-badged Tahoe.
History of the GMC Yukon
Why the name changed
For 1983 GM introduced its first mid-size SUVs, which shared model names with the full-size models; the S-10 Blazer and GMC S-15 Jimmy carried a model prefix while the K5 Blazer and Jimmy became the Full-Size versions. From 1987 to 1991 the K prefix became V, because K had moved to the GMT400 platform. To reduce confusion GMC renamed its full-size SUV the Yukon for 1992, leaving the Jimmy name to the mid-size model, and Chevrolet followed in 1995 when the Tahoe replaced the full-size Blazer. Both nameplates come from western North America, with Tahoe referring to Lake Tahoe and Yukon to the Canadian territory.
First generation (1992)
For 1992 GM redesigned its full-size SUV lines, moving from the Rounded-Line C/K chassis to the GMT400 architecture introduced for 1988. The full-size Blazer, and with it the Yukon, stopped being a half-cab pickup and became a three-door version of the Suburban, with the removable hardtop replaced by a full-length fixed steel roof and the retractable-glass tailgate replaced by a tailgate with a liftgate window. These changes improved rollover safety, reduced water and air leaks and increased commonality with the five-door Suburban. For 1995 the five-door body arrived and the whole GMT400 family had a mid-cycle revision, including a redesigned dashboard, instrument cluster and driver airbag.
Engine and equipment changes
The standard engine was a 350 cu in 5.7-litre small-block V8, and in 1994 a 6.5-litre Detroit Diesel turbodiesel V8 became an option, offered only with three-door four-wheel-drive models and detuned to 360 lb-ft to suit the rear axle capacity of the 1500-series Tahoe and Yukon. For 1996 the 5.7 became the Vortec 5700, with more power and better fuel economy, rear-wheel drive returned to the three-door, push-button shifting arrived for the four-wheel-drive transfer case and daytime running lights became standard. For 1997 the dashboard gained dual airbags, the automatic transmission was revised, the five-speed manual was dropped and the steering became speed-sensitive; a Z56 police package replaced the discontinued Caprice 9C1.
1998 and the GMT800
For 1998 the part-time four-wheel-drive system was replaced by AutoTrac, which added an automatic mode that sent traction to the front axle only when the transfer case detected wheel slip. The same year brought a Homelink transmitter, the PassLock key-based security system, heated front seats and optional rear-seat air conditioning. GMC also introduced the Yukon Denali as the flagship SUV, and for 1999 the Cadillac Escalade arrived as its counterpart. After the GMT800 architecture debuted for 2000, only the Yukon Denali, Escalade and Tahoe Limited continued from the old design. The Tahoe and Yukon have regularly been the best-selling full-size SUVs in the United States, often outselling rivals by two to one.
Design and features
- Full-size three-door: the first Yukon was a three-door version of the Suburban.
- Fixed steel roof: replacing the removable hardtop of the Jimmy for better safety.
- 5.7 V8: the standard small-block, with a 6.5 turbodiesel option in 1994.
- AutoTrac: automatic four-wheel drive that engaged the front axle when needed.
- Yukon Denali: the flagship version introduced for 1998.
GMC Yukon versions
- Yukon three-door (1992-1997): the original full-size two-door body.
- Yukon five-door (1995-1999): the wagon body shared with the Suburban.
- 6.5 turbodiesel (1994): the diesel option for three-door four-wheel-drive models.
- Z56 police package (1997): the law-enforcement version.
- Yukon Denali (1998-): the luxury flagship that shared its body with the Escalade.
The Yukon replaced the full-size GMC Jimmy and shares its platform with the GMC Suburban, while the Denali is its luxury trim. More cars are in the GMC collection.
Sources
- Chevrolet Tahoe, English Wikipedia: naming, first generation, engines, model-year changes
