2025 GMC Yukon Denali review: Is it worth the price of two Nissan Patrols?

The GMC Yukon is a large, eight-seat body-on-frame 4×4 wagon from GMC, which is a division of General Motors, like Chevrolet and Cadillac. The Yukon represents the first time that the GMC brand has officially been sold in Australia. 

The GMC Yukon is being offered in just one specification grade here, that being the high-spec Denali model, and it’s priced at $174,990 plus on-road costs. That price does include LCT (luxury Car Tax) so it may drop if the government’s recently announced axing of that tax goes ahead, but for now you won’t be seeing much change from $180k if you drive a Yukon Denali home. 

GMSV has given the Yukon a comprehensive equipment list with several features included on all models being sold in Australia that are only offered as optional extras in the USA. 

JUMP AHEAD

• What does it get
• Interior
• On the road
• Safety
• Verdict
• Why not a Chevy?
• Specs

What does it get?

Powering the 5.3m-long wagon is GM’s 6.2-litre L87 petrol V8 engine sending 313kW and 624Nm through a 10-speed automatic transmission and a dual range transfer case that offers 2WD high range, 4×4 Auto, 4×4 high and 4×4 low range settings. The Yukon runs four-wheel independent suspension and ludicrous 24-inch alloy wheels wearing all-season liquorice straps.

Significantly for such a large and heavy vehicle, the Yukon Denali features adaptive air suspension with Magnetic Ride Control dampers which read road conditions every five milliseconds, adjusting the shock absorbers to best accommodate each corner or bump in the road. While all that happens undetected under the big wagon, the system does an amazing job of controlling the body movement in most driving conditions, cancelling any feeling of body roll or movement that you might expect from such a big and heavy vehicle. 

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If there was any complaint about the way the Yukon rides, it is over coarse-chip sealed roads where the fine, high frequency bumps are transmitted through to the cabin, but that would be more to do with the low-profile 40 aspect ratio tyres than the suspension. It would be interesting to drive the GMC on a set of 18-inch wheels with more sidewall in the tyres to see how it feels. In the USA, the Yukon AT4 model comes on 20-inch tyres but we think the 18s from the Silverado ZR2 should fit.

We have no complaints about the engine and transmission which deliver plenty of power and performance on the open road and backroads. As we’ve found in the Chevy Silverado – which essentially shares the same driveline – the 10-speed automatic is smooth and precise in its operation and is made even better in the Yukon with the inclusion of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for manual gear selection. 

Interior

The interior is very well equipped making the Yukon Denali a genuine luxury touring vehicle.

All three rows of seats feature leather hides with heating and ventilation for the front two seats, and heating in the second row, while anyone in the third row will have to make do with the air conditioning vents back there. All seats have power adjustment and/or folding, and the second and third rows fold flat to carry long loads. A huge full-length power sunroof lets in plenty of light for all vehicle occupants. 

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The front multimedia setup is a massive 16.8-inch touchscreen, while the 11-inch driver’s information screen is backed up by a 15-inch Head-Up Display in front of the driver on the windscreen. A pair of 12.6-inch screens are mounted on the back of the front seats for rear-seat entertainment and these have been positioned to be also visible to anyone in the third row. Sound pumps into the cabin via a premium 14-speaker Bose sound system.

On the road

We had time in the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat of the Yukon Denali on a range of roads and can say that it is a comfortable and pleasant place in which to ride and drive thanks to an abundance of space, quality materials and extensive features.

Venturing into the second row revealed it to be just as comfortable and spacious, with easy ingress/egress thanks to wide-opening doors. The auto-deploying powered side steps might be appreciated by smaller passengers but for me they just become a trip hazard when stepping out of the vehicle.

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We didn’t do any off-road driving or towing with the Yukon but significantly it has a 3628kg maximum braked towing capacity when using a weight-distribution hitch and a 70mm towball. This gives the GMC Yukon the highest towing rating for any 4×4 wagon in the country, which should make it appealing to those who haul big trailers. The petrol V8 would have no hassles hauling such weight and the tow modes would aid hitching and set-up.

Off-road driving on those low profile tyres would be another story as they are not suited to it and would be very vulnerable to damage with those thin sidewalls. Again, we’d love to try a Yukon on 18s with all-terrain tyres. It should be noted that the short arms on the independent rear suspension would restrict wheel travel when driving on uneven terrain, which would also hamper off-road use. 

Safety

Safety kit includes a tyre pressure monitor, ESP, ETC, trailer sway control, 360° HD camera with up to 11 views, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, Front & Rear Park Assist, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Rear Pedestrian Alert. It’s a comprehensive package. 

Verdict

The GMC Yukon Denali is imported to Australia in its native left-hand drive configuration and is re-engineered to RHD by GMSV’s partner the Walkinshaw Group, which is based in Melbourne where the Chevy Silverado is also converted to RHD.

The Yukon Denali brings a unique large-wagon offering to the Aussie market but it certainly won’t be for everyone at its current price. Yes, it’s well equipped and has the highest towing capacity for a wagon in this country, but it’s still a lot of money. Is it really worth the price of two Nissan Patrols, which is the vehicle we see as its closest competitor in Australia?

Why not a Chevy?

GMC (General Motors Company) sits alongside brands such as Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick but it’s a far cry from the once mighty General Motors that had Holden, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Opel, Vauxhall and other brands all under the one GM umbrella. GMC is considered to be a more premium brand than Chevrolet; it offers higher specifications of models that are often shared across the hall with Chevrolet. 

GMSV is the Australian and New Zealand arm of GM and it claims to have chosen the Yukon Denali over the Chevrolet Tahoe (essentially the same vehicle) due to the former’s higher available spec, even though the Chev brand has already been established here with the Silverado pickups and Corvette sports cars. 

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Yet a look at the Chevrolet US website reveals that you can spec a Tahoe to pretty much the same level as the Yukon Denali being offered here, and that leaves us wondering if we can expect more from the GMC brand here in the future.

The midsize GMC Canyon ute would be the logical choice depending on whether GMSV could get it here and re-engineered at a competitive price point in what is an extremely popular segment. With option packs on the Canyon including a 4.5-inch suspension lift, 35-inch tyres, front and rear locking differentials, and a sweet AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) fettled model, it could prove a unique and capable addition to the class. 

Specs