2024 GMC Yukon review

Growing better than ever!

Bigger and better – that just about covers it when it comes to the GMC Yukon for 2024. This full-size SUV, starting at $60,195, doesn’t just have the option of third-row seats to brag about – it is chock full of power with a high-quality interior that is worth its weight in gold! From trim levels, each of which carry their own unique feel, to all-out space and comfort, the Yukon is your next best choice, perfect for road trips with large families! See what’s in store!

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A closer look!

The Yukon is offered in a variety of trim levels, including the SLE, starting at $60,195; the SLT at $66,895; the AT4, starting at $73,500; the Denali at $78,800; and the Denali Ultimate at $101,245.

When it comes to spaciousness, the Yukon has you covered. It is large enough that one gets 25.5 cubic feet in the trunk, even with the seats upright. A car designed for large families, the Yukon offers 40 inches of headroom across the board, with passengers equally comfortable in the first two rows, as well as in the third row, access to which has been made easier due to an available power-release function for the second-row buckets on upper trims.

A quality interior boasting an array of premium materials is found within, with a particularly attractive dashboard featuring a smartly integrated touchscreen display framed by air vents and just a few physical controls. Higher trim levels are presented with a high-tech head up display and an impressive sound system.

At the base level, cloth is standard, yet a pair of interior colors, including jet black and dark walnut/slate are offered. Even the steering wheel is wrapped in leather at this level, with the seats also leather as you move up to the SLT trim. Bolder overall is the design that comes with the AT4, with the Denali expanding that palette to include Very Dark Ash/Gray and Light Shale, with Walnut and Teak interior trim.

Other pluses within include 10-way power driver’s seats, tri-zone climate control, a wireless charging pad, and a 12-inch digital gauge cluster. The base level also provides keyless entry, a 10.2-inch touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android, a Wi-Fi hotspot and six speakers. That jumps to nine speakers in the SLT, which also benefits from heated and ventilated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a universal home remote.

Although it keeps the same infotainment suite, drivers of the AT4 relish in a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats and driver-seat memory. The Denali offers a 15-inch color head-up display which is installed alongside power-release second-row bucket seats and an 18-speaker Bose sound system. The Denali Ultimate is also the only trim level that gets a power sunroof, 16-way front seats, adaptive cruise control and a rear seat entertainment system.

In the area of power, the GMC Yukon’s base powertrain is a 5.3-liter V8 that makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, although this can be swapped out for a 6.2-liter V8 that develops 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque in the AT4 or Denali trims. The latter uses a 3.0-liter Duramax six-cylinder engine as their base engine, and it is also made available in the SLE and SLT trims.

Every model and engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and aside from the AT4 and Denali Ultimate, buyers get a choice between a rear- or four-wheel drivetrain.

Those choosing the Yukon have the privilege of a maximum towing capacity of 8,400 pounds with the base 5.3L V8, although top performance is found in the 6.3L V8. With that option, the Yukon jumps from 0-60 mph in about six seconds and achieves a top speed of 112 mph.

Extremely confident off road as well, especially when equipped with the 4×4 drive, the Yukon truly has it all. Upper trims with the Magnetic Ride Control offer a particularly plush ride, and light steering aids in keeping the heavy cruiser perfectly under control.

The AT4 sits on 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, underbody skid plates and an optional air suspension capable of offering up to two more inches of ground clearance.

Fuel efficient, the Yukon in its most basic setup – the 5.3L with RWD – leads the vehicle to achieve 15/20/17 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles, with the larger 6.2L V8 dropping to 14/20/16 mpg. Most efficient is the 3.0L turbo-diesel at 21/27/23 mpg. With the four-wheel drivetrain, the 5.3L V8 manages the same figures, with the 6.2L only achieving 14/18/16 mpg, and the diesel unit gets 20/26/22.

With the larger Yukon XL, EPA ratings are 15/20/17 with the 5.3L; 14/19/16 with the 6.3L and 21/27/23 mpg with the diesel when using RWD or 15/18/16 mpg, 14/18/16 mpg and 20/26/22 mpg respectively with the 4WD. The regular Yukon is presented with a fuel capacity of 24 gallons, compared to the Yukon XL’s 28-gallon tank.

Although not at the highest level due to its three out of five stars on rollover crash tests based on its size, the Yukon comes with advanced driver assists including such features as forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking and front and rear parking sensors. There is also lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, hill-start assist and an HD rearview camera. Blind spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert can be had with the SLT, while the AT4 adds hill-descent control and the Denali, an HD surround-view camera and rear pedestrian alert. The high-end Denali is presented with reverse automatic braking, a smart trailer integration indicator, trailer blind-spot assist and hitch view.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the Yukon is how well the GM’s Super Cruise autonomous driving technology performs. Considered the best system out there due to its high level of redundancy and ease of operation, the Super Cruise helps everyone, not just the driver, focus more.

While the 2024 GMC Yukon is largely unchanged in this model year, it holds much appeal. With rough-and-tumble trim levels boasting ideal off-road equipment, and luxurious touches within, the Yukon has all you need and more. With a plethora of connectivity features, and a host of driver-assistance help, this is surely your next best choice! Growing better than ever – reserve yours today!