1997 GMC Yukon Interior Review at Automotive.com
»Locate a Dealer»Find a Used Car»Get Financing

1997 GMC Yukon Review: Interior

Find a Car
 

1997 GMC Yukon Review

The civilization of the brute ute.
Interior
The ground clearance of the Yukon means short people have difficulty

getting in and out. And with two doors, it's obviously more difficult to

climb into the back seat. On the other hand, the shorter two-door models

are handier off-road.

Running boards can improve the ease of entry, but they reduce the ground

clearance which was the point of the exercise in the first place. The Expedition

is even more challenging with a step-in height that is two inches higher.

This difference also means it's easier to load cargo into the Yukon.

Once inside, the Yukon offers a pleasant cabin. The high-back bucket

seats are comfortable with inboard armrests, though we wish GMC had gone

farther on the lumbar support. Like other big sport-utilities, the Yukon

offers a commanding view of the traffic, while the long side windows provide

good visibility over the shoulder. New for 1997 is a passenger-side airbag

and a revised climate control system.

The instrument panel is straightforward, if somewhat dated, and the

dash is a modern design with rounded curves. Storage space abounds in the

form of a glovebox, center console, door pockets and nets behind the seats.

Well-designed cupholders are everywhere, while extra power outlets for

cellular phones and radar detectors make life easier.

People in the back seats aren't forgotten. The back of the console provides

them with cupholders and storage. Map lights are available and the heating

and air conditioning is directed to keep them comfortable. The four-door

models offer an additional rear air conditioning unit with overhead controls.

The two-door Yukon offers a generous cargo area with 51.6 cubic feet

of storage space behind the rear seats. Folding the seat cushions forward

and flipping the seat backs down increases it to 99.4. With the rear seats

folded down, the four-door Yukon offers 118.2 cubic feet--nearly identical

to the Expedition--while the Suburban provides 149.5 cubic feet. Buyers

may order these vehicles with either the split panel doors or, better,

a tailgate.

Our Yukon came with the electronic shift transfer case, allowing the

driver to select four-wheel drive by pushing a button on the dash. The

standard four-wheel drive system is engaged by moving a transfer case shift

lever mounted on the forward portion of the center hump. We have found

the standard shift lever is rarely in the way, but we've also found that

it can be balky to operate in some examples we've experienced. Either way,

the shift-on-the-fly system can be operated while in motion.

The 4WD system includes a low range for tough traction situations, while

an optional locking rear differential is extra insurance against getting

stuck a long way from home. This is a part-time 4WD system, incidentally,

designed for use in low-traction situations, as distinct from full-time

systems.

We recommend ordering the optional $164 trailer-towing equipment, which

includes a Class III receiver capable of pulling more than the Yukon's

7000-pound capacity. In our experience, the Yukon and Tahoe make stable,

powerful tow vehicles with good brakes. Next Page



1997 GMC Yukon