4×4 Pickup Trucks News

A Look At The 2007 GMC Yukon XL

Every GMC vehicle, from the Envoy to the GMC Sierra pickup, bears an uncanny resemblance to a model wearing the bow tie badge, and the updated Yukon XL is no exception. Aside from those homely headlights, a tweaked grille, an added engine, and unique badges, that GMC is a Chevy. In a time when General Motors is losing market share, has been forced to reduce sticker prices across the line while keeping rebates alive, why money is still being dumped into this purely duplicative brand is a mystery. That’s not to say that the 2007 Yukon XL isn’t a nice vehicle, because it is, one with a renewed focus on style, quality, and value. But that can all be said of the truck on which the Yukon XL is based, the Chevrolet Suburban, and barring the premium XL Denali trim and its larger engine, there’s not enough distinguishing the two vehicles, despite GMC’s “Professional Grade” tagline.

Billed as the largest of the brand’s family of SUVs, the 2007 GMC Yukon XL is a nine-passenger truck with 137.4 cubic feet of cargo room. Buyers can choose from two trims - XL and XL Denali - and either rear- or four-wheel-drive capability. Based on the Chevrolet Suburban, the Yukon XL and XL Denali models are available to buyers looking for more brand cachet and an added touch of luxury, but aren’t quite ready for the flash and price of the Cadillac Escalade, another ride that shares its platform with the Chevy.

Despite all of the news about shrinking sales of large SUVs, this segment is still expected to move between 700-800,000 units annually, with General Motors reportedly grabbing 62 percent of that pie. Gas prices may continue to be volatile, but the fact remains that thousands of pickup truck buyers continue to choose the utility of a large vehicle like the 2007 GMC Yukon pickup truck versus smaller and more efficient alternatives. Competition in this field has largely been limited to the Ford Excursion (and fellow GM players like the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade), but that model is being replaced by an extended version of the Ford Expedition that promises to fight for its spot in American driveways.

Couple that with GM’s tarnished image, and one can see how vital it is that the 2007 GMC Yukon XL represents the company’s best effort. It seems ironic that just as the light appears to be dimming on the large SUV segment, GM unveils its best looking 4×4 pickup truck lineup to date. The lines of the 2007 GMC Yukon XL are much crisper, and the promise of tighter gap tolerances and a stronger focus on build quality address two of the main complaints with the existing vehicle. Add in the extra power and improved efficiency, and GMC makes a good case for purchasing its 2007 Yukon XL, should you be in the market for such a ride.

Posted in GMC pickup trucks | No Comments »

The 2007 GMC Cadillac Escalade EXT

4×4 pickup trucks sure have changed over the past few decades. Once reserved for commercial applications or hauling hay and feed around the farm with barely a heater and windshield wipers, these versatile vehicles have been transformed into what is often the family four-door, the four-wheel-drive king cab commuter, or the cause of envy at local drag strips. And for a few years now there have been some new players strutting onto the field with a box attached to a luxury vehicle. Lincoln has taken two stabs at this segment so far, the first being the forgettable and misguided Blackwood and more recently the Mark LT, also known as a thinly-disguised Ford F-150. Over at General Motors, luxury division Cadillac has been a bit more thorough with its dressing up of the Chevrolet Avalanche, with the result being the 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT.

With its rear box, the all-wheel-drive EXT is technically a pickup truck, one that features an innovative fold-down midgate that effectively creates a full-size bed. But, aside from that design element, the EXT is much like the rest of the 2007 Cadillac Escalade lineup, with the same fresh face accented by vertically-stacked bright headlight housings and an expansive chrome grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car. There are clean new body lines with tighter gaps, front fender vents, and integrated running boards. The new Escalades get an interior distinct from the lesser Chevy and GMC versions, with an attractive dash layout and generous use of leather. Added luxury comes in the form of an optional heated steering wheel, a touch-screen navigation system, a rear DVD entertainment system, a surround sound system by Bose, and 18- or 22-inch chrome alloy wheels.

Posted in GMC pickup trucks | No Comments »