2011 GMC Yukon
Tow trailers, move people, haul cargo.
Introduction
2011 GMC Yukon
For 2011, Yukon gets minor upgrades, including revised headrests and OnStar version 9.0. The GMC Yukon lineup was completely redesigned for 2007. The Hybrid and XFE models were added for 2008, while 2009 brought an integrated trailer brake controller and expanded use of the 6-speed automatic transmission. 2010 added the Hybrid version of the Denali.
Inside, the Yukon features a simple, elegant dash that hints at aspirations for entry-luxury status. The Yukon has three-row seating standard and can be configured for two to nine occupants. Seating in the first and second rows has plenty of room, but the third row is best left for kids and has to be removed for maximum cargo space.
Engine choices are all V8s. The 320-hp 5.3-liter V8 and Denali's 403-hp 6.2-liter V8 both have a system that shuts down half the cylinders under light loads to improve fuel economy. For better economy in daily driving, look to the Hybrid model which pairs a 6-liter gasoline V8 that switches off completely when not needed, and battery pack with dual electric motors inside the transmission to increase rated urban fuel economy by up to 42 percent.
Maximum tow rating ranges from 8100-8500 pounds on standard Yukon models or to about 6000 pounds on Hybrid models. Most Yukons can carry 1000-1300 pounds of passengers and cargo, which must be subtracted from allowable trailer weight. The standard-size Yukon can carry more weight than the equivalent-trim, much longer and roomier Yukon XL due to the latter's higher curb weight.
Ride and handling characteristics are typical of large SUVs. The Yukon leans in turns and is not agile. The ride quality, on the other hand, is commendable, even with the Denali's available 20-inch polished wheels that add a touch of fashion trendiness.
Two four-wheel-drive systems are available. All-wheel-drive models use Autotrac, a system that can be engaged on dry pavement but does not repeal the laws of physics as some owners believe. Four-wheel drive with low-range gearing is available for rugged terrain, boat ramps, severe traction conditions.
The Yukon is a good choice for those who need four-wheel drive, cargo space and towing capacity. Those who don't tow might be better served by a larger crossover, such as the GMC Acadia, or an all-wheel-drive minivan.
Yukon shares the same basic full-size truck platform used for the Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado, Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade. Yukon is in the same class as the Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia. Those in need of mileage should put the Hybrid on their shopping list alongside the Lexus RX hybrid, and the diesel versions of the BMW X5, Audi Q7, VW Touareg and Mercedes ML and GL that provide hybrid-like city economy and good highway economy.
Read more at http://www.grandbuickgmckia.com/reviews/2011/GMC/Yukon/introduction.htm
2011 Buick Regal
All-new small sedan is Buick's best-driving car.
Introduction
2011 Buick Regal
The 2011 Buick Regal is initially offered only in mid-line CXL trim with leather upholstery. The new Regal is powered by a 182-hp four-cylinder with six-speed automatic, or a 220-hp turbocharged, direct-injected 2-liter with a six-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged engine delivers a huge boost in torque for more relaxed yet more powerful propulsion. Fully independent suspension has been tuned for ride comfort but this Buick won't shy away from the winding road alternative, and the steering and brakes are up to it.
Best thought of as a four-passenger car that could carry a child seat rear-center, the Regal's interior is mix of sporty and luxury much like an Acura TSX. The degree to which you favor the efficient sporty look or warmer luxury feel may well dictate which cabin color scheme you choose.
The Regal CXL comes nicely equipped and amenities, be they standard or optional, include Bluetooth, navigation with real-time traffic, and heated front seats. We did not see memory seats on the option list yet there should be enough to keep anyone comfortable and connected.
We found the Regal very quiet, with a very smooth ride, a welcome respite on miserable commutes and a good partner for cross-country drives. It may be the quietest car in its class. Mix in a solid thud to the doors, tactile clicks to the controls and a structure safe and secure, and the Regal is a well-rounded package.
The Regal competes with the Acura TSX, Audi A4, Mazda 6, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo S60, Lexus ES. Much of the direct competition has more power, less weight or both. The Audi and Acura are sportier, the Mazda and Volkswagen larger, and the Lexus ES driver could get a well-equipped Regal turbo for the requisite luxury in a better driving car.
Read more at http://www.grandbuickgmckia.com/reviews/2011/Buick/Regal/introduction.htm
2011 Kia Sorento
All-new car-based version of midsize SUV.
Introduction
2011 Kia Sorento
During our test drive, we found the all-new 2011 Sorento quiet, its rigid new structure providing an impressive feeling of sturdiness. The new suspension is nicely tuned to muffle rough pavement. On smooth curves when driving a bit more aggressively, it feels decently agile and easy to control with perfect steering feel.
Larger in every way than prior models, the 2011 Sorento can be ordered as a three-row crossover seating seven. The new Sorento also has 15-percent greater cargo volume than its predecessor. One walk around this stylish new Sorento makes clear that it means to compete toe to toe with the premier midsize crossovers, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota Highlander, Ford Edge, and Honda Pilot.
The exterior styling of the Kia Sorento is crisp, freshly contemporary. And looking over its uniformly accurate body-panel gaps confirms that Kia is paying close attention to the industry's ever-higher build-quality standards.
Most models come with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It delivers adequate performance and adequate fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 21/27 mpg City/Highway for Sorento 4WD with 6-speed automatic. The top-line V6 delivers spirited performance, putting the Sorento at or near the front of its class.
While not intended as an off-road vehicle, a four-wheel-drive Sorento with its 7.2-inch ground clearance would be happy to head out over open desert with no thought of turning back. Furthermore, if you live in vertical country, hill start-assist control and downhill brake control, standard across the Sorento line, will make life easier.
Inside is a roomy cabin with a rich inventory of occupant-convenience technologies, including voice-actuated navigation. Its interior uses quality materials throughout. Attractive design themes, handsome interior color schemes and available leather upholstery declare that this is a quality family vehicle.
For back-seat riders, Sorento offers separate front and rear air conditioning controls and an available rear DVD player with an overhead screen and headphones. To keep the front-row proprietors amused, the well appointed Sorento features an AM/FM/satellite/CD/MP3 (or add available high-power 10-speaker Infinity audio), Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio input jacks, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and either an available rearview mirror with backup display or a full-on rearview backup camera.
All in all, the 2011 Kia Sorento is a fully equipped contemporary family crossover. It will compete with the best mid-size crossovers from Japan and Detroit, and give you the goods at a somewhat lighter price than the rest.
Read more at: http://www.grandbuickgmckia.com/reviews/2011/Kia/Sorento/introduction.htm
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2012 GMC Sierra HD
Professional capability, Cadillac comfort.
Introduction
2012 GMC Sierra HD
As a result, changes for 2012 are minor: The 2012 Sierra HD Work Truck now comes with cruise control and a spare tire lock as standard, vertical camper mirrors standard on 3500 Work Truck, and a new HDD navigation system with AM/FM/SiriusXM stereo with CD/DVD player, MP3 compatibility and USB port available on middle trim levels.
GMC Sierra HD heavy-duty pickups are well-suited for real-world use and abuse. They can haul tons of brick and cement and tow the concrete pump, then turn around to be used for a night on the town or grocery shopping while the fifth-wheel's left in camp or the horses are in the corral. If your hauling happens once or twice a year or you tow a bass boat or ski boat, then the 1500-series may be better suited. If your load is heavy, however, or you do a lot of towing, then the Sierra HD is the ticket, especially with the torquey diesel. It towed our 5000-pound trailer load like it wasn't there.
A luxurious Denali model is available in both 2500 single-rear-wheel and 3500 dual-rear-wheel models. The 2012 Sierra HD Denali comes standard with heated and cooled front seats, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and rear camera. Polished aluminum 17-inch wheels are standard on Sierra HD Denali duallies and are available on Sierra HD SLT duallies. Denali is GM's answer to Ford's King Ranch, Ram's Lariat Limited. The availability of the Sierra HD Denali gives the GMC buyer more a more luxurious option than is available to the Chevrolet buyer.
The GMC Sierra HD is built on the same chassis as the Chevrolet Silverado HD and shares all the sheetmetal, including the hood, with it. Different hood trim, lights, grille, wheels and ruby red badges distinguish the GMC from the Chevrolet.
As with all heavy-duty pickup lines, the Sierra HD offers plenty of configurations with three cab styles, two bed sizes, single or dual-rear wheels and 2WD or 4WD. A 6.0-liter gasoline V8 is standard, rated at 360 horsepower in 2500 models and 322 hp in everything else. It isn't quite as powerful as the competition's gas engines.
The 6.6-liter turbodiesel with 765 pound-feet of torque (more than twice the gas engine's) is fully competitive with Ford's Super Duty at 400 hp and 800 lb-ft and Ram's 350 hp and 650-800 lb-ft. GM and Ford use 6-speed automatics in their trucks; Ram offers a choice of manual or automatic.
Sierra HD offers two distinct interior concepts, one bred for work, function and simplicity, the other emphasizing luxury and features over outright seating space. Almost anything you can get in a GMC sport-utility is available here, including OnStar, a subwoofer-equipped sound system, rear-seat entertainment, driver memory system, heated leather seats and a moonroof. For the entry price of around $29,000 you get a functional pickup with real load-carrying ability, but for big towing in a properly equipped diesel expect to pay much more. Options can add up quickly, the most-expensive the diesel engine ($7195) and its required transmission upgrade ($1200).
The trick in buying the right GMC Sierra HD is to give fair consideration and choose wisely. Compute the permutations among three cabs, two weight classes, two beds, two engine/transmission combinations, two drive systems and four trim levels, and then sort out options that cover everything from a diesel radiator cover to rear park assist, and you can see why prices run from that base $28,800 to well past double it.
Read more at http://www.grandbuickgmckia.com/reviews/2012/GMC/Sierra%20HD/introduction.htm
2012 Buick LaCrosse
New eAssist system improves fuel economy.
Introduction
2012 Buick LaCrosse
Smooth and quiet, the Buick LaCrosse is a nice luxury sedan. Roomy and comfortable, it's larger than the Lexus ES and Lincoln MKZ yet it's easy to maneuver around town. Out on the highway, it glides along quietly. It's smooth but feels taut and stable, with no floating about or wandering.
New for 2012 is Buick LaCrosse eAssist, which uses a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a small electric motor. It's an on-demand system designed for startup acceleration, long uphill grades, highway passing maneuvers, and freeway on-ramps. The electric motor adds about 15 horsepower to the gas engine's 182 horsepower and 172 foot-pounds of torque. In addition, a Start/Stop feature shuts off the engine at intersections, then it seamlessly restarts the engine as the electric motor thrusts you forward. A regenerative braking system recharges the battery when the car is coasting or when the driver hits the brakes. You could call eAssist a mild hybrid. With all this technology going on in the background, the LaCrosse eAssist drives pretty much like a regular luxury car. It comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The 2012 LaCrosse eAssist offers a significant improvement in fuel economy with an EPA rating of 25 mpg City, 36 mpg Highway, 29 mpg Combined. Aerodynamic improvements including automatic shutters in the front grille of the LaCrosse eAssist further highway fuel economy.
2012 LaCrosse V6 models get more power than last year, thanks to a retooled version of Buick's 3.6-liter V6 that now makes 303 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. The V6 comes on Premium and Touring trim models and is also paired with a 6-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is available. Fuel economy numbers remain virtually unchanged at 17 mpg City, 27 mpg Highway, 21 mpg Combined on front-wheel drive models and 16 mpg City, 26 mpg Highway, 20 mpg Combined with all-wheel drive.
Other changes for 2012 include a revised trim level structure.
Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the Buick LaCrosse midsize sedan still looks contemporary, elegant and refined. The 2012 LaCrosse looks as fresh as the all-new 2012 Buick Verano compact sedan does. It's conservative but not conventional. Buick heritage cues are evident, such as the waterfall front grille and the signature portholes. The result is a fluid exterior design that flows around the vehicle.
The interior has a finely detailed, high-quality character. Sweeping lines, soft-touch materials and genuine stitching define the dash and doors. Chrome and wood trim are used tastefully, and the materials in the headliner and upper parts of the cabin have a premium look and feel. The navigation system features a big display and is easy to operate.
We found the LaCrosse comfortable yet still responsive. Engineers worked to give the LaCrosse a stiff structure for a quiet cabin and a smooth ride. The suspension eats up bumps and ruts in the road, unlike the previous-generation LaCrosse, but it isn't overly floaty. Braking feels confident and able. All of this makes the LaCrosse a compelling choice among premium midsize sedans.
Still, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse has stiff competition including the lauded Hyundai Genesis sedan, the luxurious Lexus ES 350, and the newly refreshed Acura TL. The LaCrosse eAssist model compares with the Lincoln MKZ hybrid and the underwhelming Lexus HS 250h sedan.
With its well executed design, quality materials and solid driving dynamics, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is a good choice for those looking for a comfortable midsize sedan with several combinations of available features.
Read more on website at: http://www.grandbuickgmckia.com/reviews/2012/Buick/LaCrosse/introduction.htm
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