2021 GMC Yukon Features Two Interior Designs: Feature Spotlight
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The next-generation 2021 GMC Yukon features a long list of changes and features, from the latest GM T1 vehicle platform underpinnings, to a fresh off-road-flavored AT4 trim level, to all-new styling both inside and out. The new Yukon’s interior design comes in two varieties, with a unique layout specifically for the range-topping Denali trim level. Now, we’re taking a look at what sets the two interior designs apart.
“Yukon was the model in which Denali originated in 1999, and now more than 20 years later, we’re introducing the quintessential Denali,” said executive director of Global Buick and GMC Design, Helen Emsley. “It delivers a first-class experience with an all-new, exclusive interior and a bolder, more distinctive exterior design.”
We were the first to report that the 2021 GMC Yukon would offer two different cockpit configurations in an exclusive post back in December, weeks before the next-gen SUV was revealed in Vail, Colorado, earlier this month.
2021 GMC Yukon Denali
2021 GMC Yukon AT4
The biggest differentiator between the Denali interior and the rest of the the lineup is the placement of the primary infotainment screen. The 2021 GMC Yukon Denali features a screen that’s integrated directly with the dash, whereas the rest of the lineup comes with a screen that’s mounted in a stand-up, tablet-style high on the dash.
2021 GMC Yukon Denali
2021 GMC Yukon AT4
What’s more, the rest of the upper portion of the dash is different. The 2021 GMC Yukon Denali mounts the central air vents in a horizontal line that connects with the gauge cluster behind the wheel, whereas the rest of the line places the vents underneath the tablet-style screen. The passenger-side seat comes with an extra trim strip as well.
2021 GMC Yukon Denali
Further interior differences include unique upholstery and four exclusive color themes for the Denali, each of which comes with authentic wood trim, plus leather surfaces that are hand-cut and stitched in a unique Denali pattern.
The Denali also offers tech goodies like a 15-inch diagonal multicolor Head-Up Display, High Definition Surround Vision camera, and Rear Pedestrian Alert.
The new Power Sliding Center Console is another highlight of the the 2021 GMC Yukon. Offered on Denali, SLT, and AT4 trim levels, this feature opens up extra storage up front on demand.
Are you a fan of the new 2021 GMC Yukon interior? Do you prefer the Denali layout over the rest of the line? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Yukon news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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If that picture is right it looks like tan Gray and brown in one interior not for me
I hate this current trend of plop a tablet screen on top of the dash roll.. but I would still rather have the AT4 interior.. the Denali looks like a 1970’s Lincoln dash…. come on GM! Can you please get someone who can approve a good design!? (Interior and exterior). Yes the grill is hideous on these things! They don’t flow at all with the body….
Both of these are a HUGE improvement over the interiors in the Silverado/Sierra. I cannot begin to express how much I hope that GM is working on a way to get these interiors, in some form, into the new trucks. Quickly.
Both interiors look great, and the dash controls/functions on each look easy to operate. Everything has been upgraded without messing up the logistical aspects for operating these vehicles.
Other brands take a more confused approach, which causes frustration.
If the GMC brand is open 2 “[new]” fresh designs; & Ford does NOT counter this design; I’LL be coming back to GM!!??
I prefer the Denali interior. Not fan of the tablet like screen. Ike the buil in more integrated look. That being said they both are nice.
What does the back rear of this beast look like? Interior I like the Denali but if it means spending $91,000 which will be worth $71,000 as I drive away from the dealership and $51,000 in 2 years all the while I’m still paying on the $91,000 I’ll
keep my 17 year old Avalanche. Another point I would like to make reducing the prices of vehicles. First who the heck buys an American SUV or can afford to make payments on $91,000? I’m not a millionaire but I like to drive a nice SUV. I can’t fit in anything smaller as I am 6’-6” tall and all your cars drive low to the ground.
Really like the trim on the Denali, but that cap stuck on top of the dashboard, with a very thick gap/seam around it, looks like an amateur add-on to my eye, particularly compared to the clean surface of the std version. Denali also appears to move the vents out of convenient reach for passenger, and visually looks very high/imposing. Prefer the more airy design of the standard model, but materials on Denali very nice.
I was in the market for a 2020 2500 Denali. However, after looking at the interior and colors available, I walked away. It is hard to understand what GMC is/was thinking with the current interiors on an $80k truck. The current interior looks cheap/cheesy and full of plastic. For $80k I what some wow factor in the interior, much like what both Ram and Ford have done in their trucks.
I too hope that the Denali interior shown here makes it into the GMC Sierra 2500 Denali line, if so, I will be one of the first in line to buy one.
I prefer the 2021 Denali dash design. This dash style would also be a HUGH improvement if it could be fitted to the new Silverado/ Sierra pickup trucks. The interior design that GM came up with for the new Silverado/Sierra is downright TERRIBLE.
It is good move from last generation but this interior is relevant more for pickup line then to luxury SUV (outdated central console with too many the same knobs, zero full digital cluster gauges, Denali version with less view forward and lower touch screen …). Compare it with Kia/Hyundai SUV models and you will see modern way of SUV interior. Even the Palisade profil looks more elegant and modern then this always the same copy paste GM oldschool design. So, please GM try harder. It is 21th century not oldtimer parade.
Oh, hell no! I can’t even believe those two interiors are for the same “basic” vehicle. I love the Denali interior. I hate the base Yukon’s.
For those who seem to think this fad of a tablet stuck to the top of a dash looks good, please take a hard look at those two pics and explain again why?
Denali interior: 10+
Yukon interior: 3 at best.
I much prefer the Denali, with the integral screen.
I also like the vent location as higher up, they seem to blow down upon you instead of up across the body as to dry your eyes etc. on a long trip.
If I had to pick one thing it would be the top of the dash !
I so, so, so, so, much prefer the top of the dash to cover the entire dash as one flow. Like the lower level trim.
I’m not quit sure why they needed the dash pad to be in between the screen and the vents, anything would have worked their, then just flow the top in one piece !
Do you all know how those top dash seams look in 10 years, full of dirt and warped apart !
I sure hope when they redo the Denali truck dash, it flows as one, h3ll the one they have now it the truck has like 6 seams on the dash to try to keep clean and looking nice.
GM Guy, seriously! Palisade and Telluride. Hell never! For you guys that compare those two Korean SUVs with these T1 behemoths, are damn blind.
In my opinion, the Telluride is blasted well ugly, and its interior is certainly not in this type of class. However, while the Palisade is better looking inside and out, it’s still no damn match to these T1 stablemates.
So it’s best to compare them to the Chevy Blazer, which is better looking than both. Furthermore the Blazer’s interior looks interesting and somewhat attractive. One thing for sure, the Blazer’s interior looks better than the ‘ugly ass’ Telluride’s interior.
The Palisade’s interior might be classier than the Blazer’s, but that’s it for my analogy of the Korean twins.
General Motors needs to focus more on it’s deep rooted quality issues (they are there, still, watch) and less trying on aesthetics. The lipstick on the Pig.
Class Action,
I’ll jump on this thought !
Not only Quality issues, but just try to keep up with the competition !
From standard safety on more vehicles, to the high tech on more vehicles, other brands are just killing GM on this standard front ! With GM as you add the standard features of the competition, most of the time the GM product is just simply a lesser value !
Now to the lipstick on the pig !
GM struggles, or $ucks at the quality and reliability issues do to ONE major problem !!
And it is a HUGE problem !!
And the largest audience on this site, just simply hates to hear it, and THEY are literally the problem !!
And at this point in time GM is to NAIVE to see, the BIGGEST wall preventing GM from just the breakout, of total success !!
Its the DEALER and the LACK of true CUSTOMER FEEDBACK !!
GM, has left the MOST IMPORTANT part of vehicle ownership, up to a bunch of uncontrollable independent profit seekers ! Most auto dealer in the US any longer are NOT single brand dealers, they are multi brand conglomerates and there is no need for pushing a single brand to success. If you are a GM customer today, and have troubles with anything, its the GM dealer who IS the SOLE feedback to GM on the issue, NOT YOU !! Until YOU, YOURSELF are there, in this situation, you simply can mot believe how your concerns are handled by GM. IT IS HORRIBLE, just TERRIBLE !!!!!! I would have never believed in a million years myself, until it happened to me !! Its the TRUTH, and it is HORRIBLE !!!!
Until GM has someone from GM who talks directly with the customers, this horrible system failure, will just continue to hold back GM from true success !
I have said this before, GM is rewarding a dealer, or basically allowing the dealer to profit more, from the continued 5 star service rating !!
Look if anyone does not believe me, test it yourself, when you take your GM vehicle to the GM dealership, in a few days you will receive a survey, 2 times don’t give them a 5 star, just try it, you will never get another GM survey ever again. somehow the dealer just does it for you, or simply does not report you had anything done !! If you call GM and ask, they literally put you on the phone with the very dealership you the customer had troubles with. GM calls the dealership and asks the dealership, rather than calling you, the customer !!
By GM rewarding the very people who are responsible for the customers happiness, of course the customer is happy, the dealer is making more profit !! Like I have said before.
This is exactly like the Wells Fargo, fake accounts, issue. Wells Fargo was basically paying people more for something the customer had no idea was happening !! Failure !
Look at Boeing again, Boeing was in charge of the very regulations that prevented a crash !! Failure !
By GM allowing the dealer to fake the customers satisfaction !! Failure !
I will leave your comments regarding GM quality alone as the 09 GMC dually that I own has been the best vehicle that I have ever owned, without exception.
Regarding your comments regarding Boeing, I offer the following as someone that has worked very closely with Boeing for the past 4 years (I am not a Boeing employee).
Your comment regarding that Boeing being in charge of the regulations that could have prevented a crash is completely off base. Boeing does not write federal airworthiness regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration is solely in charge of civilian aircraft airworthiness/certification, regardless if the aircraft in question is a Boeing product or not.
The failure here is with the FAA for not holding Boeing completely accountable during the certification process. Yes, some of the Boeing engineers hid information and in some cases lied to the regulators. So, there is some blame to be shared by both sides. However, to say that Boeing is in charge of the regulations could not be more untrue. The FAA should have taken a more proactive approach in the certification process with more of a “show me” procedure rather than taken information solely by word of mouth. Based on everything that I have heard regarding the issues with the Max, both the FAA and Boeing have learned a very hard lesson that has resulted in the loss of > 300 lives. As a result of this lesson, the aircraft certification process will now be much more stringent, as it should have been from the start.
Enough about airplanes, now let’s get back to truck talk…….
IFLY,
OK maybe not ” in charge ” of those regulations ! My dads uncle was an electrical engineer for Boeing, before his, accidental death at a young age, and we would sit around and talk when visiting him, and that’s all I will say about that !
However it is not , out of the normal, that the very companies being regulated, are in the makings of the regulations, its a give and take of requirements, laws, regulations ! The government or governments just do not have the people with the knowhow to set this level of scrutiny. And it is just another example of the government being out of touch with the real world we live in today ! and that’s enough on that topic!
Now to the topic at hand, I was just EXACTLY like you !! I was a loyal GM fan, customer for 38 years. I to owned ” the best truck of my 38 years” at the time, a 2007 Silverado HD LBZ, best truck I have ever owned, again, in 38 years !! And even the rest of our 10 GM vehicles were just good all around ! Our 2004 Cadillac CTS, was and still is the best sedan I have ever owned in my 40 years of driving GM !
So how did I get here then ? Others on this site are cringing right now reading this, as they have heard it o so many times !!
The last 4 GM vehicles have been to the dealer and have had more troubles than the last 38 years of GM vehicles, all totaled up !!, My replacement for the best GM truck ever owned, was a 2017 HD Denali, still a Duramax, and was at the dealership more in 3 years and 1,200 miles, yes I said 1,200 miles, than my 2007 in over 10 years and 140,000+ miles !! Our replacement for our 2005 Cadillac SRX is a 2015 GMC Canyon, and it has been at the dealership more in the first 4 years than the 2005 SRX was in over 10 years and 140,000+ miles. Our replacement for our 2004 Cadillac CTS ( which we still have ) is the biggest piece of GM $hit I have owned in a long, long time a 2014 Cadillac ATS 2.0T AWD ! And it to, has been in the dealership more in 4 years than our 2004 CTS with 140,000+ miles. And as the 2004 CTS sits in the garage right next to the 2014 ATS , the ATS is leaking out the rear end, and still not a spot under the 2004 CTS.
Now to top that off, the GM HORRIBLE customer support, which again, I was just like you, and have never had to call GM directly before, was and is THE MOST HORRIBLE , absolutely REPUGNANT, experience I have EVER went through, over customer service of a product purchased, HORRIBLE !!
% layers of lying staff, to the point of making stories up, on the fly ! GM Customer service called the dealer on the phone, with me on the line, to resolve one issue, and the dealer service manager just made stuff up and lied right on the phone knowing I was on the phone. Then to top that off, told me to take my business elsewhere and that they would not work on any of our vehicles again, INCLUDING WARRANTY WORK !! The dealership has since removed this a$$hole, and the dealer CFO drove to my house and paid me for the GM KNOWN FAULTY PART, that I had paid for TWICE and BOTH WERE BAD !!!, However, NOTHING from GM, not a word, no labor was paid for, extra trips to the dealer, NOTHING !!
In 38 years !!
So my reference to Wells Fargo, and Boeing, are references as far as the corporate systems, put in place, by the corporations themselves, to handle, or ” hide ” the truth of KNOWN FAULTY PARTS !! or profiting from ” FAKE FEEDBACK !!
And at GM you get BOTH, at GM you get stuff like the key switch, the CUE, the GM 8 speed junk transmission, the Corvette wheels breaking, the Cadillac headlights you cant see out of, and I could go on, and on, and on, and to top that off, all GM sees is 5 stars of satisfaction from the dealer on your behalf !! GM engineers, knew about the key switch spring, engineers know about the CUE screens, engineers knew about the Boeing sensor, and flight software. Yet GM, O we knew nothing, its someone else’s fault, Boeing, o we know nothing, its the piolets fault, Wells Fargo, O we know nothing, its the tellers fault !
How come its ALWAYS, we have learned from our mistakes, AND ” they ” JUST CONTINUE TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES !!!
And its ALWAYS !!!!, ALWAYS !!! Someone else pays, and its someone, else’s fault !!!!
It WAS GM’s fault, they needed this Denali interior, the $80,000.00 Denali truck interior is a rubber coated foam felling material on the dash like in the 80’s, $hit !! And who did GM blame that on ? GM, ” Well we had asked 7000 people, and they said this $hit Denali interior was great” You see, not GM’s fault, someone else’s fault !!
If the Silverado, wouldn’t have slipped into 3rd place, and people like me didn’t write, night and day, GM would still be trying to sell $hit, in the Yukon and the Escalade !!
GM hasn’t a CLUE what the customer wants, or how the customer feels about a GM product,
How would they ?
Somebody can correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the base Yukon interior the same as the Tahoe. If so, why use it in the GMC at all. I much prefer the Denali interior/dash so I would suggest using it in all GMCs to ensure proper differentiation but obviously to use superior materials for a Yukon Denali vs. a regular Yukon.
Have owned Yukons and Suburbans over last 25 years and was excited for and holding out to upgrade to the 2021. No thanks. Not a big fan of either dash!! GMC it’s a new decade…get with the times. Looks like you’re going backwards. Clean up the lines. Make the tablet flush with wood panel and less leather trim (Right side of display on Denali looks like a pair of lips). Both dashes look like a LEGO set stacked on each other. Agree with someone above too many creases for dust and dirt build up over time. The AT4 display placement is just plain stupid.
I don’t like either interiors. Gm, it time you clean house in the design department and come up with some new and bright designers. What you are producing now is just plain garbage. May be go see what Dodge is doing. I hate to move to a Dodge, but might not have a choice. I will not spend 90k with a puky interior like they have now. That includes these 2 also. My 2015 hd looks 10 times better.
All I can say is that I like my Yukon Denali and the problem I had was repaired to my satisfaction. A GM representative was in touch with me the entire time. I also like the dash layout. I was driving an Escalade but with the shortage the dealers were marking up the car more than I wanted to pay. I will now stay with the Yukon Denali.