2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL Ground Clearance Explained
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General Motors completely overhauled the GMC Yukon nameplate for the 2021 model year, introducing a wide variety of changes, upgrades, and features. Among these was the inclusion of GM’s Air Ride Adaptive suspension, which provides multiple settings for the vehicle ride height, thus affecting the GMC Yukon’s ground clearance. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the ground clearance for 2021+ GMC Yukon and Yukon XL models.
The GM Air Ride Adaptive suspension is available on 2021-and-newer GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL models, including the new-for-2021 AT4 off-roader trim level, as well as the range-topping Denali trim level. The system incorporates a centrally located air pump that adjusts the air pressure for each shock absorber, thus either lower or raising the vehicle’s ride height as needed.
The system comes with multiple driver-selectable settings to suit the conditions at hand, whether more or less ride heigh is needed. Ride height can be adjusted several inches, with the four selectable modes including (listed from the lowest setting to the highest):
- Entry exit ground clearance
- Normal ground clearance
- Increased ground clearance
- Maximum ground clearance
The lowest setting is ideal for passenger ingress and egress, while the highest setting provides more capability when venturing into the rough stuff. The taller ride height settings are available at lower speeds and with the proper off-road drivetrain settings (such as 4WD LO for Maximum ground clearance).
Additionally, the GMC Yukon’s Air Ride Adaptive suspension will self-adjust as needed, including a self-leveling feature which automatically changes ride height settings at all four corners to adapt to passengers or cargo. The system will also self-lower when cruising on the highway to enhance overall aerodynamics and fuel returns.
The exact ground clearance settings for GMC Yukon models equipped with Air Ride Adaptive suspension can be found below. The settings range from 6 inches of clearance in the lowest setting and 10 inches of clearance in the highest setting:
| 2021+ Yukon/Yukon XL | |
|---|---|
| Standard Suspension (in / mm) | 8.0 / 203 |
| Air Ride Suspension, Entry Exit Ground Clearance (in / mm) | 6.0 / 152 |
| Air Ride Suspension, Highway Ground Clearance (in / mm) | 7.25 / 184 |
| Air Ride Suspension, Normal Ground Clearance (in / mm) | 8.0 / 203 |
| Air Ride Suspension, Increased Ground Clearance (in / mm) | 9.0 / 229 |
| Air Ride Suspension, Maximum Ground Clearance (in / mm) | 10.0 / 254 |
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My 2021 Denali XL has the system and it works very well. On occasion it does seem to take on a mind of its own. If it is set to drop in the “easy entry exit” setting it sometimes will move at stop lights or longer stops. It’s a noticeable sensation and always makes me wonder how they have the settings calibrated. After normal driving trips, once I pull in the garage and exit I can hear the system releasing air and the front and rear will drop a little. I have the system set to normal ride height which makes more wonder if that is a way of taking pressure off the system when not being driven. Seems to be a great feature.
If you turn off the ignition and exit, while the vehicle is still in the process of lowering, it will stop when you open the door. The air will continue to be released after you close the door.
I usually wait until it has completely lowered, before opening the door. I agree, it’s a nice feature.
Has anyone had lifter problems and been successful at getting both banks of lifters replaced even if the failure so far was found only on one side? My 2021 Yukon XL is in the shop now with the lifter problem, but the service team says they can only replace the one side. I have 11,000 miles on it, so it is past the 8000 mile cut off where they could have replaced both banks of lifters (according to what I read on this website). But I was wondering if there is a way I could push to have both banks replaced.
Also, does anyone know about how much it would cost for me to pay for the other bank of lifters to be replaced if I wanted to do that? If the dealer is not allowed to do it yet under warranty, I am curious what it might cost if I offered to pay for it so they can do it at the same time they replace the faulty bank. Thanks