SUVs are bad for the environment, right? They symbolize gluttony, rampant consumerism and North American excess. They’re

The Yukon is still king amongst full-size SUVs, and combining both Hybrid and Denali upgrades makes it a segment slayer. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

automotive adultery to the green faithful, individually responsible for wreaking havoc on rainforests while changing the world’s weather patterns, certainly resulting in the global water table rising, swamping half of Florida and simultaneously making polar bears homeless.

Bizarre as it may seem, some people actually believe much of the unsubstantiated hype around Al Gore’s ridiculously overstated An Inconvenient Truth… (sea levels rising 20 feet… c’mon Al, common logic and science shut that “theory” down). Don’t get me wrong. Some of his arguments are reasonable, but others appear more like political propaganda than intelligent minds trying to solve what could become a global catastrophe, and unfortunately, stating gratuitous claims as fact will cause some people to question the entire environmental movement as a sham, which is a crying shame. If you think I’m overstating it, even Sterling Burnett, senior fellow at the [US]

Good looking Yukon cuts a large path down the road. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

National Center for Policy Analysis, called the film "propaganda." I had to re-watch it in the back of big American SUV to remind myself of just how sensational it is, but the picture quality and sound was great!

From an automotive perspective, all will agree that there is truth to smaller engines, less mass and new technologies lowering harmful emissions and therefore improving the air we breathe, but the impact of vehicles on the climate, if you believe that climate change is actually caused by human intervention and not just the fulfillment of nature’s cyclical pattern (there are good arguments on both sides and I happen to have

Most obvious of Denali differentiators is the chrome mesh-like grille. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

lived through the ‘70s when it wasn’t global warming but an impending and absolutely certain ice age that scientists were worried about), is a tiny fraction of the damage heavy industry, the biggest culprit, inflicts. So, if you really want to do your part you’re better off not using any man-made materials (plastics, polyester fibres, steel and alloys), or wood for that matter (deforestation), dairy products or leather (methanol production via cows and goats), and the list goes on. In other words, unless you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is, lay off the SUV.

But hold on, GM has another answer that not only allows you to haul your large family and

Significantly upgraded Denali interior sports aluminum accents, wood trim and top-tier features. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

all of its gear in style and luxurious comfort while towing your boat or camp trailer, but also lets you do so without getting your SUV spray bombed by radical enviro-zealots! The new 2010 Yukon Denali Hybrid will also have you feeling like you’re doing something environmentally righteous every time you twist the key.

Under the hood there’s no mistaking its V8 rumble, an odd but very satisfying note for a hybrid vehicle. The Yukon Hybrid, in regular SLT or Denali trim, doesn’t feature GM’s new 6.2-litre V8, but the 6.0-litre is just fine as it gets Active Fuel Management, otherwise known as cylinder deactivation, to cut fuel even further. It’s not capable of ingesting E85 ethanol, like the base 5.3 or top-line 6.2, but then

The infotainment interface is very easy to use. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

again you’ll have a hard time finding E85 anywhere north of the 49th anyway.

The Hybrid’s 6.0-litre engine connects through to a two-mode continuous ratio electric transmission with four fixed gears, which can reach speeds of up to 48 km/h (30 mph) on electricity alone, plus maintain Active Fuel Management mode, allowing it to run on only four cylinders, longer for improved fuel efficiency. Improving economy even more, the drivetrain features Auto Stop mode, shutting off the engine when it would otherwise be idling. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack is 300 volts.

Those who consider hybrid

Nice chrome accents complement the well-organized, well-made automatic climate control panel. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

technology weak and feeble had better think again. The Yukon Hybrid is one powerful SUV, capable of quick starts off the line and fast highway driving, with plenty of punch for high-speed passing. The powertrain makes 332 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 367 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm, good enough to comfortably haul 639 kilos (1,408 lbs) of payload if a two-wheel drive model or 596 kg (1,315 lbs) of stuff if four-wheel drive with a third-row seat. Of note, the Hybrid doesn’t lose anything to the regular Yukon in cargo capacity, measuring 478 litres (16.9 cubic feet) behind 3rd row, 1,707 litres (60.3 cubic feet) behind the second row if there’s no third row, and 3,084 litres (108.9 cubic feet) behind the first row if there’s no third row.

Towing, however, is impressive as far as hybrid vehicles are concerned, but nevertheless

The words "green" and "SUV" don't normally fit hand-in-glove, but together with GMC's Yukon Denali Hybrid it's a match made in heaven. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

significantly reduced from conventionally powered Yukons to 2,676 kilos (6,200 lbs) with a two-wheel drive Yukon Hybrid or 2,585 kg (6,000 lbs) for a four-wheel drive version, from the regular Yukon’s 3,901-kilogram (8,600-lb) 2WD and 3,719-kilo (8,200 lb) respective rating. The conventionally powered Yukon Denali, trimmed like our tester, features an all-wheel drivetrain that pulls 3,674 kilos (8,100 lbs).

As for fuel economy, the Yukon Hybrid is estimated to achieve 9.7 L/100km in the city, 9.1 on the highway and 9.4 combined in two-wheel drive guise, or 9.8, 9.1 and 9.5 respectively if optioned out with four-wheel drive. In comparison, the regular Yukon’s 5.3-litre V8 uses an estimated 14.4 L/100km in the city, 9.6 on the highway and 12.2 combined, while the new 6.2 in the regular Denali needs 15.3, 10.1 and 13.0 respectively to fuel its thirst.

Get comfortable in back. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

While the 5.3 comes close to matching the Yukon Hybrid on the highway, none of the other Yukon drivetrain options can compete with the Hybrid in the city, and that’s where most of us drive more often than not. GM promises a fuel use reduction of 36 percent with the Hybrid.

And while driving around town most of us want a ride that’s well appointed too, not just fuel-efficient. The base Yukon Hybrid comes in SLT trim and features some pretty impressive standard items such as tri-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals, six-way powered leather bucket seats, a Bose six-CD/MP3 audio system with subwoofer and second-row audio controls plus headphone jacks, rear parking assist, and OnStar with the Directions & Connections Plan.

Ultra-easy access to the third row. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Additionally it gets 18-inch low-mass aluminum wheels, standard third-row seating, an aluminum liftgate with fixed rear window to save weight, power-folding heated mirrors with driver's side auto-dimming and integrated turn signals, reverse tilt and puddle lamps, a rearview camera system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation system with XM NavTraffic, and a very useful 115-volt auxiliary power outlet. The Yukon SLT Hybrid also gets unique fascias, differentiating it from regular Yukons.

My tester was a Yukon Hybrid Denali, which adds even more upscale exterior trim like a Denali-specific full chrome mesh grille, colour-keyed assist steps, chrome roof rack side rails, not to mention the best wheels of all at 22 inches in diameter, chrome-coated and circled in 285/45R22 Bridgestone rubber.

Third row offers good accommodations, although not a lot of floor depth for the legs and feet of taller passengers. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Additionally a heated leather-wrapped and wood steering wheel, heated and cooled 12-way perforated leather seats, heated second-row reclining bucket seats with power-release fold and tumble, power-folding heated mirrors with driver's side auto-dimming, integrated turn signals plus reverse tilt and puddle lamps, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an upgraded Bose sound system with AudioPilot noise reduction, a power liftgate, a powered glass sunroof, a heated washer fluid system, road-sensing suspension with rear air auto-level system. I should also mention that all Yukons get OnStar 8.2 and USB connectivity for 2010.

Most of the features mentioned are available with the conventionally powered Yukon Denali, by the way, except for the slightly larger wheels and tires. Putting a check market

Storage space behind third row is minimal. If you want more you'll need to move up to a Yukon XL. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

beside Hybrid makes the price jump from $73,535 to $80,300 for the Yukon Hybrid Denali, which is tough to swallow. It’s an even bigger leap from the Yukon SLT (with the upgraded ISD package) price of $56,495 to $68,625 for the Hybrid SLT. Yikes! That’s enough of a difference for you to buy an Aveo and bring it along as a dinghy. If you stick with your regular SLT (ISD) you don’t get the navigation package with its rearview camera, power foldaway mirrors, 18-inch rims, or handy 115-volt power outlet, but SLT Hybrid buyers won’t get halogen fog lamps, liftglass in the liftgate, roof rack side rails or cross bars, and you have the option of a powered liftgate with the regular SLT but not with the SLT Hybrid. Sure there are more features on the SLT Hybrid than the regular SLT, but the Hybrid Denali seems to make better financial sense all-round and it’s a much nicer SUV.

The Yukon

If you need to tow or haul lots of people in luxury and still want to be as green as possible, the 2010 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid is a good way to go. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

Hybrid Denali rides so smoothly, a GM SUV trait, yet handles corners better than you might think thanks to those meaty shoes underneath. Braking is also very good, with ABS, traction and stability control standard.

It’s difficult to find a nine-occupant vehicle with more positive attributes than the Yukon Hybrid, with only the price increase standing in the way of purchase. With the Denali that’s not as much of an issue, so you can drive in style while doing your part to save the planet from being flooded in 20-foot swells. OK, save the planet or not, you’ll at least be making our air quality a little cleaner, and that’s worth the price of admission.

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