2015_GMC_Yukon_XL_Denali

No official fuel consumption figures were released when the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, long-wheelbase Suburban and 2015 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and Yukon Denali brigade was unveiled last year. The numbers are now out, and my, do they make for an interesting read.

The 'baby' of the range, the standard 355 hp/519 Nm 5.3 litre V8 EcoTec3 engine will average all of 6.8 km per litre (km/l) in the city and 9.8 km/l on the highway. And these are figures for the two-wheel drive versions of the full-size American SUVs.

Get the flagship GMC Yukon Denali (a small step down from the premium-badged 2015 Cadillac Escalade) with its 410 hp/623 Nm 6.2 litre V8 and the numbers fall even further, down to just 6.4 km/l in the city and 8.9 km/l on the highway. Ouch.

Mind you, both engines are quite modern; each equipped with direct-injection, cylinder deactivation and continuously-variable valve timing, matched to a Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic gearbox. And as abysmal as the numbers are, they represent a healthy 10% improvement over previous models.

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
2015 Chevrolet Suburban
2015 GMC Yukon XL
2015 GMC Yukon Denali