The next-generation GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL debuted today in a special media event in Vail, Colorado. The overhauled flagship SUVs arrive with a fresh design inside and out, a raft of new technology features, more space in the cabin, and the addition of the Yukon AT4 trim level.
The Denali trim level also makes its return, this time with an exclusive interior design highlighted by a new Power Sliding Center Console. The Power Sliding Center Console is also offered on the AT4 and SLT trim levels, and enhances available storage.
Additionally, the Denali is equipped with unique seats and offered with four unique interior color theme choices, each of which is paired with authentic wood trim and leather surfaces.
Meanwhile, the off-road-ready 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 comes equipped with a unique front fascia and available four-corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension with as much as two inches of additional ground clearance. The AT4 also gets a two-speed transfer case, 20-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires, Hill Descent Control, and skid plates, plus aesthetic differences pulled from the GMC Sierra AT4, such as dark body accents and red recovery hooks.
Even more rough stuff prowess can be had with the optional Active Response 4WD System, which combines a number systems into one. These include the transfer case, traction control, chassis control, and differential.
On the tech front, the 2021 GMC Yukon comes with upwards of nine camera views around the vehicle, and includes GMC’s ProGrade trailering system. There’s also an optional 15-inch diagonal Head-Up Display.
Three engine options are on deck. The naturally aspirated 6.2L L87 V8 engine is standard on the Denali, and produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the rest of the line comes standard with the naturally aspirated 5.3L L84 V8, while the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax joins the lineup as an option for the 2021 model year. Each engine mates to the new GM 10-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, look for more space for people and things, including an extra 2.2 inches of third-row legroom and an extra 23 cubic-feet of max cargo volume for the Yukon XL, as well as an extra 10.1 inches of third-row legroom and an extra 28.2 cubic-feet of max cargo room for the standard Yukon.
Under the skin, the 2021 GMC Yukon is based on the GM T1 vehicle platform, and now comes equipped with a multilink independent rear suspension.
We have a lot more to say about the next-generation 2021 GMC Yukon coming down the pipeline, so stay tuned. In the meantime, subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Yukon news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Why on earth would GMC get rid of the locking rear diff?
Looks like it actually is a step above the Chevys for a big good change. I love everything about it!
The interior is the same. Look at the Tahoe-identical IP and shapes throughout.
Does the Chevy have a locker? It *could* be an issue with the IRS…the two might be incompatible. Not a direct comparison, but back in the era of Quadrsteer, if that option was taken, they changed the locker to a limited slip.
Goes to eLSD. Active control of differential is integrated with chassis, transfer case, and power train controls.
It doesn’t matter. This new one is 6 inches too long. Won’t fit in the standard garage.
This might be the reason.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-gmc-yukon-hurricane-turn-spin-donut-feature/
Love the big grille on the Denali. I like how it also differentiate itself on the interior too. Might be a day one purchase. We’ll see what the big Caddy brings to the table first.
Yeah, I agree Jay. Not sure why GMA doesn’t have the Denali interior pics up, but regardless, there is a CLEAR differentiation not only between Tahoe and Yukon, but maybe most satisfyingly, between Yukon and Yukon Denali. LOVE how they made two different interior setups for the Yukon. This is a clear statement that GM understands just how important and critical the Denali sub-brand has become; and not only that, but how important it was to separate the Chevy, the GMC and the Cadillac from one another. Love the Denali white leather and totally different center stack setup. Materials look A-1 across the board, not just in Denali. And of course, that exterior, especially the front with those headlights…is SEXY.
Props to you Barra and GM, for doing the right thing, SPENDING THE $$$, and coming through on your promises. Well. Done. This gives me extremely high hopes for the coming Escalade (that will likely bear the best fruits, by far, of this interior differentiation effort) and the return of the Hummer. What a great week for GM!!
I just hope they bring hybrid option. These engines have not changed in the past 20 years.
Hope the diesel is available on AT4 unlike the Z71.
Nope. The same reason it’s not on the Z71 is the reason it’s not on the AT4. Unique lower front fascia to improve approach angle is in the way of the extra cooling radiator for the diesel. Looking at the differences between the Denali and AT4 in the press photos and you can see the difference causing the issue.
Has this been confirmed? I couldn’t find one anywhere
Why is GM so freaking cheap man. They just couldn’t bring themselves to offer the Denali Interior throughout the Model Range. Obviously with different content throughout the trim Lines. They just do not get it still.
Having said that, It looks much better than the Tahoe in my humble opinion. The Denali Interior Design is great and the Materials used in the Denali Interior looks great as well.
That’s why they call it Denali. It’s suppose to be different from the regular Yukon.
Okay, so other than a gauge pod with chamfered squirkle gauges, what makes a Yukon XL different than a Suburban on the inside….I am not seeing anything! In 1999, GMC made the Denali special with a center console, premium leather that was much nicer, stitched logos on seats & door panels, upgraded radio, more sound deadening, upgraded frame if i recall correctly, and last but not least, full time AWD. A unique dash should have been a GMC element, with other more premium upgrades to Denali. This is lipstick on a Chevy unless you get the Denali….then is is a GMC! Good thing the new GLS is finally getting serious about competing, its far more worth the similar price, and American made too! MB isn’t so cheap as to frame the Grill logo to make it cheaper to as the Denali does either!
@Jay
Oh ok well that makes so much sense now. Quick question for all of you.
Does Avenir Line offer it own completely different Interior in a Buick?
Does Platinum Lines or Luxury Lines in Cadillacs offer a completely different Interiors as well?
What are all of you talking about? A Trim Line is just that, a freaking Trim Line. Meaning more Luxury or Sport or Tech or all of the above on some vehicles.
GM once again talked a Big Game prior to this reveal and when it came time to Deliver the Beancounters won out yet once again.
Like I said the Denali interior is very nice. Should be the Interior on all Trim Levels with different Content for said Trim Levels.
Besides like Two Generations ago Silverado/Sierra, can anyone name a Model vehicle that utilizes two interiors but one interior is Strictly for one Trim Level?
I would really like to know.
I would like for you to go and ask GM why they don’t do it. The Denali sub-brand has always been different from the rest of the line, especially on the exterior. Now, GM did it on the interior.
@Jay
Oh really?
When was the last time any Denai had a completely different Interior?
And I am still waiting for someone to answer my question from yesterday.
Besides like Two Generations ago Silverado/Sierra
(Name a Model vehicle that utilizes two completely different interiors but one interior is Strictly for just one Trim Level)
Please I would love someone to learn me about how wrong I am.
Again, you’d have to ask GM. Denali is the luxury line. You pay a premium for it. What you get for it here is a different experience than the regular Yukon. I’m not sure why you don’t understand that. I guess you just want what you want. Since you won’t it so badly you’ll pay for the Denali or ask GM why they chose to put premium features in the premium SUV.
@Jay
Exactly. You just answered it yourself. Denali is a Luxury Trim Line and not another Make.
The Beancounters won this round yet once again. I am willing to bet a year from now or sometime in the Future we will learn that the Original Plan was for the Yukon to have its very own unique Interior but the Beancounters wanted no part of the cost.
Nobody develops two different interiors for one vehicle Model and especially if the second interior is strictly for just ONE Trim Level. Makes Zero sense and everyone here knows it but are afraid to get the Thumbs Down for stating the obvious Lol
But like I said with my first post, the Denali interior is great at least. Makes me excited that maybe just maybe GM will give us a proper Modern EV Hummer.
I didn’t ask a question. So how did I answer myself.
You are just trolling now. My bad. I should have caught on earlier.
@Jay
I am not Trolling. I am not even trying to pick at you at all. Sorry if it seems that way.
I am a GM fan but Call it as I see it. The Denali interior is great. It really is.
It just makes Zero Sense that any Auto maker trying to save money would Develop two completely different interiors especially when one will ONLY be used for One Specific Trim Level. No Auto Maker Does that. The only explanation is that GM yet once again went the Cheaper route. The Beancounters won this round too. Why isn’t anyone else upset over important things as this? Does anyone not see the Interiors that the other Auto Makers have when Compared to GM in each Segment?
Th Denali Specific Interior in my onion is Far Superior to the Competition.
The Denali should have been the interior on All Yukons. Everyone here knows that to be the case Deep Down inside but are afraid of some Backlash for voicing their opinion on what GM did wrong.
By the way, I am still waiting for someone here to answer my question on what other Make has Two completely different Interiors in today’s Marketplace. Especially for one Trim Level.
Denali is 60% of sales of Yukon so there is enough volume to put the nicer interior in there. They probably kept the AT4 interior the same as the Chevy to keep the cost lower than Denali. It seems like they are pushing GMC sales towards the higher cost AT4 and Denali trims…there is very little mention of any other trim levels in the release materials
The 2020 Ford Explorers have two different interiors, with Platinum being different from the rest.
@ma
Ok so the logic everyone has here on the Denali line is that ALL Future Denali Models from GMC need to have Denali Specific Interiors. Correct?
So you are all telling me that GMC going forward will have two completely different interiors for the Following vehicles going forward.
Terrain and Terrain Denali
Acadia and Acadia Denali
Yukon and Yukon Denali (which it does)
Canyon and Cannon Denali
Sierra and Sierra Denali
Does everyone now see how silly this is?
GM was supposed to have the Denali interior on ALL Yukon vehicles with different Trim Levels obviously but the Bean Counters won and everyone here knows this to be true. No Auto Makers Designs two completely different Interior designs for the same Vehicle Model. That is just silly.
Does the Base Porsche 911 have a completely different interior Design than the Turbo model which costs almost 100K more to purchase?
Give me a break. Makes Zero sense.
@TMcLare
The 2020 Ford Explorer does not have two different interiors.
It does however offer two different size infotainment screens.
Momolos,
I do agree with you that GM probably will not sprinkle this greatness down to the Mid-sized average GM blah vehicles.
In GMs eyes the only thing its worth spending money on is the full-sized line.
But I bet they do to at least the trucks !
They will do the same thing there as here. The Denali might even get this exact interior in the truck !
So now GM can use this interior in all the full-sized Denali’s !
And they should do the same thing for the next step down !
Just use the Chevy interiors in the low end GMC mid-sized vehicles, and use a step up in the Denali’s !
Its still only two interiors if GM does that !
Will GM do it, I do not think they will.
GM is simply to cheap, and that’s all there is to it !
Why don’t you just buy the Denali and be done with it?
That’s why its a Denali !!
And I am SOOOOOOOOO glad that GM has listened to people like me, and offered a better something for the Denali !!
This is what my 2020 Denali HD truck should look like on the interior !!!!
Bring it GM, Bring it !!!!
Show the others how its done, you have a lot of work to do down the line !!!!
This is how you come to play!! This is all we ask for GM, come to win!!! I want to lease on soooo bad!!!!
Now that’s a Denali interior dash !!!
I give that a GREAT JOB !!!!!!!!!
The rear tail lights and rear proportional lines work very well together, making for a lean and sharp appearance.
Great looking vehicle, in all trim levels.
Everyone will want one!
Denali dash looks great.
But the other trims are bla. And if this is going to be the Silverado’s next interior it still won’t match the RAM’s premium interior which will be noticed by buyers and the car press immediately.
Dodge sucks! Dodge truck have a 150,000 mile engine in a 50k mile truck! The Dodge trucks are fugly!
Thank you GM for proving you can if you really want too.
I missed seeing the SLE model with 18” wheels. I like the lower level interior as it is more spacious.
So you can get a fully digital (screen) gauge cluster in a VW Jetta, in Hyundais, Ford Explorers, etc. but not in a near-six-figure Denali and not in a CT5. That’s the kind of thing GM can’t get right. But the Denali looks good.
The only thing non digital is the RPM and speedometer. I find that okay, you also get a 15″ HUD, that’s perfectly fine.
Beautiful SUV, and I almost loved the AT4…right up until I saw it’s only available with the black-with-peanut-butter-stripes interior. Why the hell does GMC keep doing that??? I HATE that interior!!! For $75K let ME choose the interior color I want, don’t force black + skid marks on me to get an offroad package with a diesel.
They can die scrap leather black to hide defects and only be out 2 inch wide strips of good leather?
I’m seeing a lot of Navigator-esque in terms of the interior of the Denali
That AT4 in a pickup/Avalanche model would be one BadA truck!
@Dipstick
I agree. I wish GM would bring back the Avalanche
I wish they would bring back the avalanche as well. But NOT a larger sized Avalanche. The 2013 I have is so easy to handle in cities,agile & not as big & clumpy as the new pickups. Same with the Yukon, why are they making them so much bigger? If it won’t fit in my garage it’s a deal breaker.
My 2001 Yukon is the same length as the current Exploder and only 5 inches longer than the 2020 Acadia. A foot short than this new Yukon.
It’s a strong offer, well done. Hopefully we’ll see semi aniline on the upper trims, on offer for option if nothing else. At the price point it should go without saying.
Something’s missing. Did someone rip the bumpers off these vehicles?
Looks like a nice ride for a long road trip.
A beautiful SUV indeed, GM has done it again by making an SUV of the century, look forward to seeing more of these. The future of cars and SUV is an Electric car charging stations and i work as a support engineer
GMA are you guys going to put this as a main story instead of blasting the meh Tahoe and Suburban everyday????
It was a bit more subdued. The Denali trim blows the Tahoe away. I won’t say the Tahoe/Suburban are meh though.
Now this is how I know GM can do things right! Proper product differentiation and implementation. GM’s gonna make money off these SUV’s!
GM will definitely make money on these For Sure!!!
Could you list the standard and Available powertrain options by Trim Level ? Thanks.
The 2021 Yukon with the push button tranny makes me nervous, as does the first year with Independent rear suspension. I don’t want to the first cowboy on this horse. Will watch and listen to the reviews.
In the meantime, I did need a new SUV, I got tired of waiting for the new Yukon, it was supposed to be a 2020. So, I bought a 2019 Yukon SLT a month ago with the Graphite Performance package. Got a 6.2 liter engine, 10 speed tranny, and more. Very happy with it. First American car I have purchased
Got a hell of a deal with the Employee pricing promo.:)
Why the hazard button in the Yukon AT4 is placed far away from the driver. Who made such “stupid” design decision?
It is not practical at all, it is rather weird.
Oh idk, maybe because it is something that is rarely used.
The gap between Yukon Denali and Escalade is getting closer and closer. The Escalade better be really special in order to separate itself from this Denali trimmed Yukon.
Looks great !!
I expect one of the primary “separations” between Denali and Escalade will be powertrain. Historically, GM has held back the “premium” engine (6.2’s, of late) from “lesser” (non-Denali/Escalade) models/trims, in an effort to make the Denali/Escalade appear more exclusive. The fact that you can now get the 6.2 in a “lowly” 2wd LS Tahoe screams to me that the Escalade will have an engine that is well above the 6.2 we see available in practically every other T1-series vehicle. That engine may well be a 6.2, but it will, at the very least, have a supercharger bolted on to it. It might also be a 32V DOHC with lesser displacement.
The AT4 looks fantastic. As does the Denali interior.
I want the Denali interior in the AT4….
Personally, it seems to me GM finally listened and did NOT come out with just a Suburban with different trim. Higher quality materials, better features show up on the Yukon, especially the AT4 and Denali.
Funny, no one here has mentioned this little tidbit I found at Motor Trend (at least not that I saw). Witness the “Hurricane turn” trick. https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-gmc-yukon-hurricane-turn-spin-donut-feature/
These and the Chevy versions are looking very Ford like I hate to say. What has happen to GM styling??
Looks like a GMC to me.
I think the current version of the Expy started looking like a GM.
This styling theme is an extension of the prior generation Yukon-Tahoe which Ford virtually copied with the new Expedition. I think you have your argument backwards.
Automakers copy each other all the time. It’s nothing new. That’s why all vehicles follow the same trends all the time. That being said, I don’t see much of a similarity between the Ford and the GM. In fact the Ford’s front end has a slant to it. Where the GM is a simple straight up and down. Which brings me to a point that I don’t like at all. GM doesn’t have any protection for the front fascia. No bumper, no guards, not even anything standing out at the bottom to provide any type of protection. One little minor mishap, and the whole front end will need replacing, adding unnecessary costs for repairs. And it looks too naked to me also. For a vehicle that is priced close to 100 grand, there is no need to skimp.
Comment #1 “These and the Chevy versions are looking very Ford like I hate to say”
Comment #2 “That being said, I don’t see much of a similarity between the Ford and the GM”
So which is it?
Man the Yukon AT4 looks so good. That’s a great looking off-road package for the Yukon. Still being professional with some off-road capabilities. I’m am impressed.
I’m disappointed that GM made these vehicles larger and heavier than the previous generation. I’m also disappointed that they didn’t upgrade the engines with more power to at least offset the increased vehicle weight. Other than that it appears that they have come up with worthy successors.
Maybe I’m missing something – does the Yukon XL not have the badging on the rear hatch that reads “Yukon XL”, and just read “Yukon”?