Yukon and Denali are GMC’s versions of the General Motors SUVs also sold with Chevrolet and Cadillac nameplates. Yukon is an upscale sibling of the Chevrolet Tahoe. The longer Yukon XL is a retrimmed Chevy Suburban. Denali and XL Denali are Yukon’s luxury versions.
You can get the yukon xl in either the 1/2 ton 1500 or the 3/4 ton 2500. In the denalis, you get front bucket seats but will have to ask to replace a 3 person bench if you want them in a yukon. You can also replace the next row from a bench to bucket seats. The third row bench comes with the yukon xls and denalis, but you will have to ask for it with the regular yukon.
No matter what you go with, you’re gonna get a v8 engine. Standard, you will get a 4.8l 285 hp engine, but you can upgrade to a 295 hp 5.3l if you want. The yukon xl autmatically get the 5.3l engine. And the denalis got 10 more hp from the previous model, up to 335 hp. And the yukon xl 2500 gets the 6.0l 325 hp engine standard, with the option for the big whopper of 8.1l engine.
Everyone one of these models will come with automatic transmissions setup with GM’s tow haul mode. Of course you get all wheel drive included with the denali. With the yukon you can get either gms autotrac 4 wheel drive or rear wheel drive. The 2500 yukon xls that have 2wd get traction control.
Antilock disc brakes and a monitor for tire pressure comes standard as well with all models. And to top it off, in the ’05 models gm started putting in their stabilitrak in the yukons and denalis. With the denalis, you get front side airbags but will have to ask for them if you want them in the yukon. An option you might want to consider with the yukon xl 2500 is the quadrasteer, which will help with towing and turning.
16 inch wheels are standard on the yukon, and you have the option to go to 17 inch wheels. Denalis get the 17 inch wheels standard. And if you want to get really fancy, you can get the 20 inch wheels on the newer model of denalis. You’re gonna get onstar as well with all these models.
In the denalis, they have put in the climate control system with front and rear controls and also adjustable pedals. They did make these options available on the yukon as well. You can also get a touch screen navigation as an option, for those of you who get lost easy.
The time is coming for some new models, and that leaves us curious as to what improvements might be made to things like the rear suspension. Something like that might help handling and also help include a thrid row seat that folds down. And of course, with everybody going green, look for some improvements in the hybrid area as well.