Welcome, Alien; Gas-electric hybrid goes the distance, but at what price?(News)

Byline: BOB GRITZINGER

For buyers looking for maximum fuel economy in a $3-to-$4-per-gallon world, the 2008 GMC Yukon probably holds little promise. But General Motors is betting a big chunk of the farm that a lot of consumers don't want to give up big-ute capability to get a reasonable increase in fuel mileage.

Against that backdrop, the Yukon Hybrid represents a solid entry in the green sweepstakes, coming close to living up to GM's claim of a 50 percent improvement in city fuel economy over a two-wheel-drive 5.3-liter V8 Yukon rated at 14 mpg in the city. The truck's combination of electric motors in the transmission, a 6.0-liter V8 with cylinder deactivation, lightweight components and more aerodynamic and lightweight sheetmetal produced a 19.8-mpg average during our week of mostly city driving. When the truck hits the market next month, the window sticker will read 21 mpg city/22 mpg highway for 2wd models, 20/20 for 4wd.

Okay, so on the green meter of fuel economy, the Yukon passes the first-and arguably most important-test. What's it like otherwise?

First off, it's expensive, listing at $13,000 more than a base 2wd 5.3-liter Yukon. The price isn't quite as painful when compared with a $46,470 Yukon Denali with similar features, such as leather seats, navigation, rearview camera and Bose premium sound. Regardless, you'll have to drive a lot of years and miles to make it up at the pump.

The Yukon Hybrid is also a different animal when it comes to driving quality. Owners will have to get used to electric-motor whirring sounds, transmission shifts that sometimes mimic the high-strung revving of continuously variable units, less precise electric steering and hypersensitive regenerative brakes. Those are the kinds of compromises hybrid owners ...