1992 - 1999 GMC Yukon Pre-Owned

While Yukon sales are currently flat, thanks to rising fuel costs and plenty of rivals vying for full-size SUV dollars, it was once at the top of GMs charts. With Fords Expedition the only true threat, the sun was shining on the domestic division and it was time to make hay.

Making matters even better for GM, the Yukon shared everything other than its front grille and a modicum of exterior and interior trim items with the Chevy Tahoe, optimizing economies of scale and therefore profits. Both combined low-budget pickup-truck roots to boost the automakers bottom line substantially.

When GMC launched the Yukon in 1992 it what was merely a shortened Suburban, a designation GMs truck brand shared with Chevy. Its more manageable size, yet tall, aggressive persona made it popular with men and women alike, and its simple, straightforward good looks keep it selling well in the used market.

In reality GMC had brought back its full-size K5 Jimmy (Chevy Blazer), a model that was a forerunner of the sport utility craze back in the 70s and ended production after much revising just a year prior in 1991. Paying tribute to this was a version of the new truck sold by Chevy, dubbed the K-Blazer. While the K-Blazer, Tahoe and Yukon didnt sport the Jimmys removable fiberglass roof, they did offer the same truck-like stance and rugged off-road capability. They were also much more refined inside, the Yukon especially, while offering an extremely comfortable ride on- and off-pavement.

High on Yukon buyers priority lists was the need to haul plenty of occupants, cargo and occasionally, trailers. It featured a commendable 7,000 lb towing capacity, making it ideal for summer getaways with the power boat or jet skis in tow, and jaunts to the ski hill with four-wheel drive engaged.

Important for hauling heavy loads, GMs 5.7-liter OHV V8 came standard, in 200 to 210 horsepower iterations from 92 to 95, and 250 to 255 horsepower versions from 96 through 99. Also made available in 94, was a 180 horsepower 6.5-liter turbodiesel featuring 360 lb-ft of torque. While noisy and somewhat unrefined compared to todays leading diesels, the GM oil-burner was much thriftier than its gasoline counterparts.

On the used market, the diesel is extremely popular due to current fuel prices, as are 1995 through 1999 models that boast four doors - 92 through 94 models only came with two doors as GM initially thought that those who wanted easier access to the rear seats would opt for the larger Suburban.

While truck-like, Yukon passengers enjoy relatively low wind noise thanks to fairly aerodynamic exterior sheetmetal and near-flush windshield and door glass. GMC added sound deadening material to improve HVH levels as the years went on, but it never achieved the level of luxury attained when the 2,000 model year Yukon arrived.

Where that model was Cadillac-like in comparison, the 92 through 99 Yukon offered a decent ride and reasonably good maneuverability around town. Owners of 2-door Yukons sometimes complained of an uncomfortable, choppy ride, 4-door customers seemed satisfied.

The steering is over-boosted in traditional GM fashion, making it light during parking situations but hardly sporting at higher speeds, with vagueness at its center position and a rather large 41.2-foot turning circle in rear-wheel drive and 42.9 feet in four-wheel drive. Model year 1997 remedied the situation, with a tighter turning radius of 38.1 feet for rear-wheel drive and 40.7 feet for four-wheel drive models, plus the addition of speed-sensitive power steering.

The latter helped out in the corners. Its wide stance generally allows it to keep up to fast traffic fairly well too, no matter the curves making up the road in question. Its a bit top-heavy for sure, requiring its driver to keep a level head so that its limits are breached, but when needed to be reeled in its standard ABS-equipped brakes did a commendable job when new.

By the way, 1995 model year Yukons featured a standard driver-side airbag, while a standard passenger-side airbag took two more years to arrive. Whats more, a redesigned instrument panel was also a 95 addition. The improvement was monumental due to larger and better laid out controls.

Rear-wheel drive, that means two-wheel drive by the way, was standard throughout the model run, with part-time four-wheel drive available as an option. The four-wheel drive system GM chose for the Yukon consisted of GMs Insta-track, a system controlled via a single shift-on-the-fly floor-mounted lever - with no wheel hubs to lock.

In its last year before a major upgrade, 1999, a completely unique model dubbed Denali rivaled premium cars for interior comfort while offering distinctive styling that actually presaged the totally revamped 2000 model year Yukon.

AutoTrac all-wheel drive also became available in 1999. Fully automatic, the technology integrated a four-wheel front axle actuator for engaging or releasing the front axle electronically, while reducing the process to a scant two seconds or less. So in a nutshell, older Yukons have a less sophisticated four-wheel drive system than more recent ones.

But simpler usually means more dependable, right? Not necessarily. What I find difficult to understand is why the Yukon, and its Tahoe and Suburban brethren, didnt measure up from a reliability standpoint. It wasnt like either was particularly complicated, but just the same most used car buying sources rate them below average. Part of the reason is a variety of safety recalls and some potentially dangerous technical service bulletins. While recalls should have been fixed way back when, used Yukon buyers should keep their wits about them when checking out a pre-owned example. The electronic 4-speed automatic transmission, introduced in 1993, has been especially problematic, with the potential for loss of reverse and forward gears, and general poor shift quality. The Yukon also experienced problems with its transmission computer, crankshaft position sensor, fuel pump, oil pressure gauge, and it was prone to engine knock. Also, the climate system control knobs would crack inside and spin freely, which resulted in the loss of fan, temperature and/or mode operation. Also, the rear auxiliary air conditioning module tended to leak.

Worst of all, the Yukon breaks the golden rule in every environmentalists code of correct conduct. Its big, bold and one of the worst gas guzzlers on the road, achieving 12 mpg at its worst city and 19 mpg at its best highway rating. So be prepared, you might find a reasonably priced Yukon, but youll be paying for the privilege of driving it dearly for years to come.

So what to do? Well, it comes down to filling a need. If you make a habit of towing large, heavy trailers its ideal. If, on the other hand, you just want to haul your family around there are many more efficient vehicles with greater potential for reliability. Of course, people dont only purchase SUVs for practical purposes. The Yukon is also perfect for bashing through the woods, charging up to the ski slope, or just puttering around town - if holds together long enough to get you to where youre going.