Road Test: 2013 - 2014 GMC Yukon Denali
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GMC Yukon Denali Review: A Luxurious Driving Experience
Overview
The GMC Yukon Denali, popularly known in the ME region as just the Denali, is a slightly more upmarket brother of the Chevrolet Tahoe and one step shy of the Cadillac Escalade. Practically, all three are exactly the same vehicles with minor levels of ‘Luxury’ level increases from the Tahoe to Yukon to Escalade.
Drive
The Yukon Denali comes with a six-speed AWD (permanent all-wheel drive) powered by a 6.2 Lt 403 HP Vortec engine. In our sprint runs, it pushed the Denali from 0-100 km/h in just above 7.5 seconds. The vehicle is responsive; however, when stepping down on the accelerator to overtake another vehicle, the gearbox takes its time to decide what to do, which can result in a noticeable jerk as it shifts into the correct gear. This experience is similar to that of the Tahoe.
The overall drive feels exactly the same as the Tahoe. Read my review of Tahoe for more details on the driving experience.
Interior
Space and seating arrangements are quite similar to the Tahoe. The entertainment system is also the same and is likely the best audio performance in the class, featuring surround sound for movies and other digital media. The major differences we noted in the Yukon Denali compared to the Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ include:
- Bigger engine
- Heated steering wheel (which may not be needed in the region)
- Different front grill and hood design
- Better color combination on the front dash panel with slightly improved materials
- Absence of the transfer case control knob
In summary, the Yukon Denali offers a more premium finish with the same technology under the hood. Additionally, the Yukon Denali features an auto-leveling rear suspension, but we didn't feel any significant difference compared to the non-Denali suspensions, which are identical to the Tahoe. Only the Denali trim comes with the 6.2 Lt engine, while the rest of the Yukons have the 5.3 Lt engine.
Verdict
According to popular American perceptions of these sister companies:
- GMC is considered the "Professional Grade"
- Cadillac is regarded as the "Luxury Grade"
- Everyone else buys Chevrolet!
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