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Tags: Hybrids vs. Diesels - GMC Yukon Hybrid vs. MB GL 320 CDI

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Hybrids vs. Diesels - GMC Yukon Hybrid vs. MB GL 320 CDI
Hybrids Versus Diesels

By Joe DeMatio
Photography by Jim Fets



America's environmental chickens have come home to roost. For nearly two decades, we've blithely bounded from sea to shining sea in ever porkier sport-utility vehicles fueled by cheap gasoline. Now, many of us face the prospect of personal bankruptcy, not to mention social ostracization, if we continue to indulge in the privilege of carting home our groceries in three-ton trucks. But old habits are hard to break. Isn't there some way we can have our proverbial cake - lower emissions, less consumption of fossil fuels, Al Gore's approval - and eat it, too, by still driving big SUVs that can haul our families and tow our toys?
Well, Tipper, perhaps there is.

General Motors has spearheaded a new Two-Mode Hybrid system in association with Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. The system has been described in detail in these pages in recent months, and in our February issue, we gave GM our 2008 Technology of the Year award in recognition of its work on the system. (The Two-Mode Hybrid system, or TMH, recently debuted in the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon. It will also appear in GM's full-size trucks this fall and eventually in cars.) But what remained was to put TMH to the test in the real world, by driving two GMC Yukons - a conventional 2008 model with a 5.3-liter V-8 and a 2008 Yukon Hybrid, both with four-wheel drive - back-to-back over several days and hundreds of miles. We also brought along a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, which is currently our favorite large diesel-powered SUV. (We know, we know, it's not like there are very many large diesel-powered SUVs from which to choose.) After all, in every discussion we've had over the past couple of years about alternative-fuel vehicles and the rising price of gasoline, diesel has been like a little monkey sitting on our shoulders, tapping its fingers and saying, "Hey, what about me?"

Let's cut right to the chase: as you can see in the chart below, the Yukon Hybrid crested the all-important 20-mpg mark on the freeway, achieving an average of 21 mpg versus the conventional Yukon's 16 mpg. But the diesel Mercedes did even better, averaging 27 mpg on the highway and, even more impressive, 23 mpg around town. The Benz's as-tested price, however, was much higher than the comparably equipped Yukon models; diesel fuel on average costs more than gasoline; and the diesel Benz is not sold in eight states because it doesn't meet their emissions standards. A fifty-state clean diesel - using urea-injection technology - is on the way for the Bluetec-badged Mercedes ML-, GL-, and R-classes this fall, however.
Jumping among the driver's seats of these three vehicles, as a number of magazine staffers did during our testing protocol, proved to be painless. With its ample reserves of torque, the diesel Mercedes is seamless to drive, and the 5.3-liter Yukon SLT has the easygoing nature of all GM's full-size SUVs and pickup trucks. What impressed us most about the Yukon Hybrid, though, is that it's actually better and more pleasant to drive than the conventional version, with stronger, more linear acceleration, even when towing. This is in stark contrast to most hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid, whose driving experiences are far less satisfying than their conventional-powertrain counterparts.

Sure, when you let up on the Yukon Hybrid's gas pedal, there's that typical bit of drivetrain whine that you get in many hybrid vehicles, such that at first you think there's a siren wailing in the distance, but overall this is a very well-integrated drivetrain. The Yukon Hybrid's electric power steering, which runs on its own 42-volt system, is especially satisfying for such a big vehicle, thanks partly to a mass-damped steering wheel that the conventional Yukon does without. The brakes, controlled and applied by a mixture of electronics and hydraulics, are tuned for a very natural feel.

The TMH system adds about 400 pounds to the Yukon's weight, which GM partly offsets by eliminating the starter, alternator, torque converter, roof rack, spare tire, and jack and by using aluminum for the hood and liftgate. The Hybrid's thin-profile front seats are also lighter. As you can see in the photo, the Yukon Hybrid gets its own aerodynamic treatment, too, including a new grille, fascia, hood, and running boards.

There are compromises, of course. Our Yukon Hybrid cost about $4000 more than the conventional vehicle, and the second-row seats, which cover the battery pack, will not fold flat. When you flip those second-row seats forward, there is no mechanism to keep them in place, so they rock back and forth under sudden braking. (GM is aware of that problem and is seeking a fix.) Neither Yukon's third-row seats are as comfortable or as accommodating as those in the Mercedes. And while the Yukon Hybrid's towing performance was exemplary while moving forward, reversing the vehicle up a steep driveway proved to be a challenge even with nothing attached to it: GM's two-mode transmission doesn't include a reverse gear.

All rearward propulsion is accomplished via one of the system's electric motors, so backing a loaded trailer up a grade could be problematic.

On the face of it, 14 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway are probably not figures that will have the editors of the Green Car Journal dancing in the streets. But everything is relative: the Yukon Hybrid's fuel economy gains over its conventional sibling are tangible and considerable, and the driving experience has been enhanced, not lessened, by the addition of the Two-Mode Hybrid system. What really surprised us, though, was that the Mercedes diesel exceeded even its EPA fuel economy ratings in both the city and highway cycles, and in the process achieved mileage that would do an ordinary family sedan proud. That seems like something even Al Gore could get excited about. Read Article
Hybrids vs. Diesels - GMC Yukon Hybrid vs. MB GL 320 CDI



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TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 4/17/2008 12:32:44 PMView My AgentSpace
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"What really surprised us, though, was that the Mercedes diesel exceeded even its EPA fuel economy ratings in both the city and highway cycles, and in the process achieved mileage that would do an ordinary family sedan proud. That seems like something even Al Gore could get excited about."


Observed Mileage:

Mercedes GL320 CDI - 23/27 mpg city/hwy
GMC Yukon Hybrid - 14/21 mpg city/hwy
GMC Yukon SLT - 11/16 mpg city/hwy





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TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 4/17/2008 1:21:38 PMView My AgentSpace
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senilefendersenilefender - 4/17/2008 9:27:55 PM
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You are an idiot. Maybe you SHOULD read the article so you at least have SOME idea of what the hell you are talking about.

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bazoongabazoonga - 4/17/2008 10:26:35 PM
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Everyone, grow a brain and ignore this fool. Don't even bother deboosting him, and he'll go away.

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adamsaf723adamsaf723 - 4/17/2008 1:30:25 PM
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One thing that I've noticed with Hybrids is that you can't have fun with them if you want to get even close to the EPA rated gas mileage.

You have to start off REALLY slow and you can't get hard on the gas until after around 30mph... or else you'll use the gas engine earlier than you want.

This article is saying a lot of what we already know... in larger vehicles, deisel is a much more efficent way of travel.

But I have to hand it to GM, they are really getting into the whole "Green" trend.

We need to see some deisel hybrids in the US

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Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 4/17/2008 2:14:56 PM
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It's funny you mention that. Almost everyone I know with a diesel Mercedes (including myself) get far greater than the EPA sticker on the window says. What's best, the way to get better mileage is by getting up to speed as quickly as possible then letting off the gas and coast with only a little gas. So, having fun and hauling ass at every light is actually getting you better mileage!


MonkMonk - 4/17/2008 3:00:22 PMView My AgentSpace
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I'll try that w/ our GL


Threepoint1415926Threepoint1415926 - 4/17/2008 3:32:09 PM
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How do you like your GL CDI? Do you ever tow anything or haul a lot of weight (people)? I'm almost considering selling my Powerstroke but the darn boat might be too much for the little CDI motor.


MonkMonk - 4/17/2008 4:52:30 PMView My AgentSpace
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I'm probably not the person you should be asking. The CDI engine seems to be very tough, very torquey at low revs. However, I have never towed anything and usually carry only 4-5 people with stuff (i.e. camping gear for 5 days, golf bags). I've never been a serious boat-tower and probably will never be one. I really don't know...


CarboyCarboy - 4/17/2008 3:33:08 PMView My AgentSpace
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27MPG in the highway and 23 MPG in the city. That is absoulutely brilliant.

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RupertRupert - 4/17/2008 6:40:05 PMView My AgentSpace
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Doing something for the environment...yes - 5.3 V8s are known for their cleanliness. The fact is if the GL gets better MPG it will have lower CO2 emissions than the Yukon, hybrid or no hybrid.

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TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 4/17/2008 6:44:08 PMView My AgentSpace
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Well, I know that in the Autobild test of the Lexus LS600h versus three German diesel luxury sedans the Lexus had the worst measured CO2 test emissions.

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/hybrid-lexus-gegen-die-konkurrenz_435966.html

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gregsfcgregsfc - 4/19/2008 7:20:06 AM
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For all of those who automatically assume that all hybrids are cleaner-burning than all diesels, think again.

A V-8 gas guzzler (hybrid or not) is set up to pass gas-power-friendly emissions standards in the U.S.. If we could, we would look at each pollutant individually and see that the diesel would score better in three out of five categories and much better in CO2 which is conveniently not regulated for a gas-power-dominated society in the U.S.

Additionally, any diesel driver can improve his or her greenness by choosing blends of three different renewable fuels which can all go in diesel vehicles without modification and without significant loss in fuel economy. As one increases his or her blend percentage in renewable fuel, he or she improves pollution scores, even though this fact is being kept secret from the American people.

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autoproautopro - 4/19/2008 5:48:55 PMView My AgentSpace
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Diesel is 4.35 a gal. no diesel for me thank you.

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