2023 GMC Yukon

Pros:

• The inside is quiet, and the ride is comfortable.
• Excellent climate control system
• You can choose to have a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine.
• Significant cargo capacity

Cons:

• Hard to get around on city streets, and in parking lots
• Can’t move the seat for the driver.
• Arduous technique
• Same as the less expensive Chevrolet Tahoe

How is the driving in the Yukon? We drove the Yukon Denali, the only model with a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine. Because the machine has a lot of power, it only takes the Denali 6.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is one of the fastest times in the segment. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly into a lower gear when the gas pedal is depressed, maintaining a comfortable and relaxing ride. Also, we found that the transmission takes inputs from the manual gear selector button as suggestions instead of orders.

The Yukon could handle better because it is heavy and top-heavy. You must be ready for this size of the vehicle. On the plus side, the low steering effort makes it easy to get around a busy Costco parking lot, and the brakes make it easy to stop smoothly. Even though it isn’t as good off-road as the AT4 grade, the Denali’s air suspension and two-speed transfer case will get you out of some tight spots.

How lovely is the Yukon to ride in? The Yukon rides much better now that it has a new independent rear suspension system. With this and the adjustable dampers and air suspension, the ride is slightly noisier than in a car-based SUV. The cabin is also a plus because it is quiet. Even though the Yukon cuts through the air like a giant brick, you can hardly hear the wind. The climate system is excellent because it lets a lot of airflow through all three rows.

Seat comfort could be better. The front bolsters are flat, and you can’t adjust the seats like you can stay in other SUVs. After only a few hours, some drivers started feeling nervous. The seats in the second row are also flat, and it doesn’t look like any of the seats in the third row are shaped to fit a person’s body.

How does the inside look? All three rows have enough room for an adult’s legs and head. If you have enough room to swing the big doors out, getting in and out of the Yukon is easy. The third row is easy to get to because the doors are significant, the roof is high, and the second-row seats slide. Even though the wide back pillars block your view, the view from the front is usually good. The 360-degree video system on offer is beneficial in parking lots.

There are physical switches, knobs, and big virtual buttons on the front. Some are close together and in strange places, but others are easy to see without taking your eyes off the road. There are a lot of sliding and height adjustments for the driver’s seat, but there are no other adjustments. This makes it hard to find the best driving position.

How good is the tech? There are a lot of helpful technical features and driving aids in the Yukon. The infotainment interface isn’t as pretty as what you’d find in a high-end car, but it does the job and responds quickly. The Bose sound system is excellent. It has a strong bass that doesn’t drown out the instruments or vocals. You can use it with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which let you connect wirelessly. Each of the seven seats in our Denali had enough power outlets—USB ports and a wireless charging pad—so everyone could charge simultaneously.

There are few standard safety features on the Yukon, and we don’t know why adaptive cruise control is only available on the top-of-the-line Denali trim. At the very least, all of the systems work as they should.

What about putting things away? The Yukon’s cargo area has been redesigned from the ground up. Behind the third row is space for 25.5 cubic feet, which is more than 50% more than the old design. When the back seats are folded down, there is more space than in the Ford Expedition, the Nissan Armada, or the Toyota Sequoia. There are two levels of storage on each door and a big bin under the center stack where you can put your small personal items. Even though the optional sliding center console separates the cubby into two pockets, it’s a great place to hide small things.

Do you want to take little kids on trips in your Yukon? The Yukon’s cabin is roomy, so it won’t be hard to fit a set of child seats, and the second-row car seat anchors are easy to see and use.

With the 6.2-liter engine and 4WD, the Yukon can pull up to 8,000 pounds. When it has a 5.3-liter engine and rear-wheel drive, it can pull up to 8,400 pounds. Luxury SUVs based on cars can’t pull this much weight, but a Ford Expedition can haul 900 pounds more.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA estimates that our test 4WD Yukon Denali gets 16 mpg on the highway (14 cities, 19 routes). The Ford Expedition Platinum gets three mpg more in all areas and goes straight faster. The Yukon is slightly more fuel-efficient than the Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia. If you don’t need to pull the most weight, the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7’s turbocharged six-cylinder engines get 20 and 21 mpg combined, respectively.

GMC and Ford’s competitors are closer than expected in the real world. The Yukon got 18.4 mpg on our 115-mile test route, mostly freeway. At the same time, the Expedition showed similar numbers, but the EPA thinks it will be more effective.

Is it worth going to the Yukon? It’s hard to say how much the Yukon Denali is worth. On the one hand, it costs more than a similar Ford Expedition or Nissan Armada and is almost as expensive as a Mercedes GLS or BMW X7. Even though they can’t pull as much, both high-end luxury SUVs are more stylish and comfortable. The Yukon Denali is in a good spot between regular SUVs and big luxury ones. Because of this, the materials inside are suitable but could be better.

The GMC warranty covers the car from bumper to bumper for three years and 36,000 miles. The powertrain and roadside assistance are covered for five years and 60,000 miles. GMC will pay for the first visit for scheduled maintenance.

The 6.2-liter V8 gives an intense thrill, and it’s fun to drive straight in the Yukon. But the annoying stability control system and the transmission won’t shift when it needs to take away from the fun. Along with a large body roll, this makes driving less fun than a luxury competitor based on a car platform.

But this vast SUV has a unique charm all its own. It looks like something Nick Fury would drive because it is chrome, so moving it makes you feel pretty cool. The loud V8 is a lot of fun, and the power-retractable side steps and rear entertainment system are great extras.

We suggest the Yukon SLT, a vehicle in the middle of the road. The SLT costs more than the standard model because it has extra leather upholstery, heat and excellent front seats, and an upgraded audio system.

GMC Yukon models

The GMC Yukon is a big SUV with three rows of seats. It can fit between seven and nine people, depending on how it is set up. The 2023 Yukon comes in five trim levels: SLE, SLT, AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate. Denali Ultimate is a new trim level for this year.