The GMC Yukon is promoted as a not-quite luxury SUV, but it certainly brings trims and features that can push it into the top market of driving excellence.
Whether you’ve got a big family or simply want a big, high-class SUV to drive, the Yukon has what you’re after. This big brute comes in five different trims, including a new Denali Ultimate trim. When you put this big GMC up against other full-size three-row SUVs that offer lots of space and seating, you’ll realize this SUV is priced right, offering value in its position. Here are ten things you should know about this impressive GMC full-size SUV.
1. Lots of Cabin Room in this SUV
It’s not cliché to continually tout the spaciousness of this big SUV. The Yukon uses the same platform as the Tahoe and Suburban models from Chevrolet. This means you’ll have a big and imposing SUV that has lots of room for passengers and cargo wherever you need it. Everyone can feel comfortable when riding this big GMC SUV. Behind the rear seats, you’ll find 25.5 cubic feet of cargo room, which is really good for a three-row SUV.
2. Enjoy the Torque of the Duramax Diesel Powertrain
The GMC Yukon can be had with a Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine that gives you 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft o torque. This engine mates to a 10-speed automatic transmission and sends this power efficiently and effectively to the wheels. If you’re looking for the best way to have the Yukon for some off-road adventures, the diesel engine is what you want when you’re ready to head out for some fun on the trails.
3. The Cabin is Filled With Incredible Features
There are several ways to enjoy a high-class, opulent SUV when you choose the Yukon. This big SUV has a simple dashboard design, a relatively large infotainment screen, alpine full-grain leather upholstery, and open-pore wood inserts. Your rear passengers also enjoy two 12.6-inch screens to give them the entertainment desired. The Denali Ultimate model brings you a ton of great features, including a power sliding center console, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a heated second row.
4. Some Driver-Assistance Features Are Optional
Not all of the driver-assistance features are standard on the GMC Yukon. You’ll enjoy the benefits of automatic emergency braking, forward collision monitoring, and rear park assist on all models. Other items either come in higher trim packages or are options for your SUV. These upgraded/optional features include lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Other features that can be added to this SUV include StabiliTrak, tire pressure monitoring, OnStar, and the GMC Connected services. The Yukon receives a crash safety rating of 4 stars from the NHTSA.
5. If You Want to Go Off-Roading, the AT4 Trim is the Right Yukon
The Yukon AT4 is an extremely capable off-road SUV that offers features to make it easy to enjoy when you hit the trails. This version offers red tow hooks, 20-inch 6-spoke machine aluminum wheels, Goodyear all-terrain tires, and heavy-duty skid plates. The AT4 model has an approach angle of 32 degrees, which is pretty impressive. This trim comes standard with the 5.3-liter V8 engine and can be optioned with the 6.2-liter V8 engine. This trim is also eligible for the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, which increases the ground clearance by two inches.
6. This Big SUV Has Excellent Stopping Power
The braking hardware of the GMC Yukon has been improved to offer better stopping power. This SUV has massive 17-inch rotors and impressive brake pads to make sure you can come to a stop quickly. The Yukon is a big and heavy SUV that can be hard to stop without the right equipment. This modern full-size SUV stops well and has the features required of a modern behemoth. Other items that benefit this SUV include automatic emergency braking, hill hold control, hill descent control, and ventilated front rotors.
7. The Warranty Coverage is Competitive
The standard warranty offered by this big GMC SUV covers three years or 36,000 miles. The powertrain coverage takes you to five years or 60,000 miles. The first service visit is complimentary when you choose the Yukon. This warranty coverage is competitive, but the Toyota Sequoia offers better complimentary maintenance by covering you for two years or 25,000 miles. The J.D. Power survey ranks the Yukon higher than most other three-row full-size SUVs.
8. The Infotainment is Excellent for a Full-Size SUV
The GMC Yukon has a 10.2-inch touchscreen to operate the GMC Infotainment System. This system is standard on all trims and it’s a Google-based system. You’ll enjoy the benefits of the Play Store, Google Assistant, and other Google app compatibility functions. The screen is integrated into the dashboard, and is one of the best systems in the market. This is a system that allows you to get connected with features including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
9. The Diesel Powertrain is Pretty Fuel Efficient
The fact that you can add a diesel powertrain to the Yukon is pretty special. Most SUVs in this class are inefficient and use only massive V8 gas engines. The Duramax diesel engine delivers as much as 21 city/27 hwy mpg. This is much better than the V8 engines that offer 16 city/20 hwy mpg. The Yukon has a 24-gallon fuel tank which means the diesel-powered Yukon can drive for up to 650 miles on a full tank of gas.
10. Two Excellent V8 Engines Are Offered
If you want a V8-powered GMC Yukon, you have two engine options to give you lots of power. The base engine is a 5.3-liter V8 that makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, but if you move into the Denali or Denali Ultimate trim level, you’ll have the 6.2-liter V8 engine. The bigger engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-t of torque while offering up to 8,000 pounds of towing capacity. Both engines use a 10-speed automatic transmission and can be set up in either RWD or 4WD for all trims.
When you want a big and powerful SUV for a large family or for its sheer size and brute force, the GMC Yukon is an excellent choice. Is this the SUV you’ll love to drive?
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