2025 GMC Yukon

Pros 

• The interior was peaceful, and the ride was steady.
• The standard V8 engine has a lot of power, and the optional diesel engine gets great gas mileage.
• A temperature system that works quickly and well.
• A lot of space for goods.

Cons

• It’s hard to get around in city streets and parking lots.
• The driver’s seat can’t be moved.
• Heavy medication.
• A lot like the Chevrolet Tahoe, which is less expensive.

How do you like to drive the Yukon? When you buy a Yukon Denali, it comes with a 6.2-liter V8 engine. It’s easy to drive and pull with its strong engine. The Invoice Pricing test track showed that it took 6.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. It takes the 10-speed automatic transmission a few beats to shift into a lower gear when you step on the gas, but it’s smooth and fun enough to use every day.

The Yukon’s great handling is hampered by its heavy weight and top-heavy shape. When it comes to a car this big, you have to deal with it. On the plus side, the easy turning makes it easy to get around in a crowded Costco parking lot, and the brakes make it easy to stop. Off-road, the Denali isn’t as good as the AT4 model, but its air suspension and two-speed transfer case will help you get out of those sticky spots.

How does the Yukon feel at ease? It is smooth to ride in. With its air suspension and variable dampers, our test vehicle wasn’t much noisier than an SUV built on a car. The peaceful house is another thing that stands out. The Yukon is like a huge brick going through the air, even though the wind noise is almost imperceptible. The temperature system is interesting because it sends a lot of air to each of the three rows.

The seats don’t feel as good. The front headrests are flat, and the seats can’t be adjusted as much as those in other SUVs. Some of our drivers got cranky after only a few hours of driving. The seats in the second row are also very flat, and none of the seats in the third row feel at all like they are shaped to fit a person.

How is the inside? Adults can stretch their legs and move their heads around in all three rows of seats. Just make sure there is enough space for the big doors to swing open. The Yukon is easy to get in and out of. The tall canopy, large door openings, and folding second-row seats all make it easier to get to the third row. The big back pillars do make it a little harder to see, but the front sight lines are pretty good. The built-in 360-degree video technology is very helpful in parking lots.

Both knobs and buttons make up the physical tools. Some are grouped together and in strange places, but others are easy to see without taking your attention off the road. It’s hard to find the best driving position because there aren’t any other seat changes, even though the driver’s seat can be moved and raised a lot.

How does the tech work? The Yukon has many useful tech features and driving tools. We haven’t had a chance to test the 2025 Yukon yet, but we have seen other GM cars with the 16.8-inch touchscreen and the newest operating system based on Google. The Google voice assistant can be used for many personal and car-related chores, and the maps powered by Google look great.

You can get the great 18-speaker Bose audio system, which has deep bass that doesn’t drown out singing or other sounds. You can connect to it wirelessly with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Our Denali had enough power outlets for all seven people to charge at the same time. It also had a wireless charging pad, USB ports, and seven seats.

Most of the Yukon’s driving aids are stock GMC equipment that does its job well. The Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance feature will cost extra. We liked the technology in other General Motors cars, even though it wasn’t in our test car.

How are things with the storage? There is 25.5 cubic feet of space under the third row, and when all of the back seats are folded down, there is a huge 122.9 cubic feet of storage space. There are many places in the cabin where you can store small things. There is a deep bin under the center stack and two-tier storage on each door.

Are you going to take your little ones on your Yukon trip? The Yukon’s interior is roomy, and the second-row car seat anchors are easy to reach and can be seen clearly, so it will be easy to place a set of child seats in it.

The Yukon can pull up to 8,400 pounds with rear-wheel drive and a 6.2-liter engine and up to 8,000 pounds with four-wheel drive and a 5.3-liter engine. The Ford Expedition can pull up to 9,600 pounds, which is more than most high-end SUVs that are built on cars can handle.

How much fuel does it use? The EPA says that the 6.2-liter engine in the Yukon Denali 4WD gets 16 mpg, and the 5.3-liter engine gets 17 mpg. Depending on the Yukon model that is being compared, the Ford Expedition gets 1-2 more miles per gallon, and the Jeep Wagoneer gets 2-3 more miles per gallon. There are turbocharged six-cylinder engines in both the BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS that get 22 and 21 mpg combined, respectively, if you don’t need the most towing power.

Products that compete with GMC and Ford are closer in real life than expected. The Yukon got 18.4 mpg on our real test route. The last generation of Expeditions reported similar numbers, but the EPA thinks this generation will be more efficient.

Is the price of Yukon fair? It’s hard to say how much the Yukon Denali is worth. It’s not as pricey as a BMW X7 or Mercedes GLS, but it costs more than a Ford Expedition or Jeep Wagoneer that has the same features. These two luxury SUVs are smaller and can’t pull as much, even though they are more expensive and fancy. The Yukon Denali is now an interesting mix of high-end and regular SUVs. Because of this, the fabrics used are fine but nothing special.

As is typical for the class, GMC offers a bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts three years and 36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty lasts five years and 60,000 miles, and roadside help is included. GMC pays for the first planned maintenance call.

The 6.2-liter V8 in the Denali gives you a strong thrill, while the Yukon is fun to drive in a straight line. But the very invasive stability control system and the transmission that won’t shift when you ask it to are both bad. Because of this and the harsh body roll, it’s not as fun to drive as one of its luxury rivals.

This big SUV does have its own charm, though. The chromed bodywork makes you feel great while driving it because it looks like something Nick Fury would drive. I really like how loud the V8 is and how great the back entertainment system and power-retractable side steps are as well.

To maximize this SUV’s value, style, and desired features, we suggest starting with the base Elevation trim level and adding the Technology package and its options. A stylish full-size SUV with bigger wheels and a nice paint job can help you stand out from the crowd.