The GMC Yukon is an icon among American SUVs. The full-size offering has been around for a long time and has grown quite luxurious and tech-forward in recent years. The same is true with its corporate siblings—the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade—but GMC has announced a new trim level for the Yukon that takes luxury and opulence to a new level.
The Yukon Denali Ultimate is a new range-topping trim that brings luxurious interior finishes, great standard tech, and standout styling. It’s available with two of the Yukon’s three powertrains, and 4-wheel drive (4WD) is available for light off-roading and all-weather performance. GMC has yet to announce pricing or availability information for the new SUV, but it will likely be quite a bit more expensive than the standard Yukon Denali.
The Yukon received a complete overhaul for the 2021 model year, bringing sleek styling and more liberal chrome applications around the SUV’s exterior. The updates gave the Yukon a more upscale and cleaner look, and the Denali Ultimate builds on that foundation. The top trim gets 22-inch 7-spoke machined alloy wheels and exclusive chrome touches around the exterior.
GMC’s latest Yukon was already one of the more luxurious options in its class, but the Denali Ultimate takes everything to the next level. Alpine Umber full-grain leather upholstery is standard across all three rows, and the front seats feature 16-way power adjustments with massaging. Trim-exclusive contrast stitching and aluminum trim set the Ultimate apart from lower trims, and the SUV’s open-pore wood trim features a laser-etched topographical map of Mount Denali.
The standard Denali has three powertrain choices, but GMC limited the list to two for the Ultimate. The standard engine is a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. An available 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-6 produces 277 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines pair with a 10-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel drive or 4WD.
GMC says the standard V8 can propel the full-size Yukon to 60 mph from a standstill in around six seconds. The engine makes a great sound under heavy throttle, and GMC did a great job of dialing in the right amount of muscle and refinement when needed.
GMC added independent rear suspension and upgraded stabilizers with the most recent updates that give the Yukon a much more comfortable ride and composed handling on the road. The Ultimate’s 22-inch wheels won’t make the best companion for off-roading, but there’s an AT4 trim for that.
The Denali Ultimate should get all the standard features that come in the regular Denali, including:
The Yukon Denali Ultimate builds on the tech from the standard SUV with a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system that runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging and an 18-speaker Bose stereo are standard, and Amazon Alexa functionality is available. GMC says the audio system features headrest-mounted speakers and stainless-steel speaker grilles. A 12-inch configurable gauge cluster is also standard, along with a 15-inch full-color head-up display.
GMC also offers Super Cruise in the Yukon Denali Ultimate for the first time. It’s the same system seen in the Cadillac Escalade, but the Yukon’s setup features trailering capability, enabling lane changes and hands-free driving while towing.
The 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate competes with the BMW X7, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS.
GMC is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of May 4, 2022, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
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