The 2025 GMC Yukon has been treated to a mid-cycle refresh for the forthcoming model year, and GM Authority has kept a close eye on the full-size SUV since we first caught wind of the inbound update back in 2022. More recently, General Motors confirmed the refreshed model in January, and since then, we’ve spotted several prototypes undergoing testing, albeit draped in camo. Now, our most recent spy shots show the 2025 Yukon XL Denali Ultimate almost completely undisguised, leaving very little to the imagination regarding the upcoming refresh.
The lighter camo wrap adorning this 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate puts the full-size SUV’s front end on full display. While it retains the C-shaped lighting elements seen on the pre-refresh model, the LED headlights themselves are arranged differently. The headlights are stacked in a tighter vertical formation that leaves more space between the uppermost forward-facing light and the horizontal lighting strip that lines up with the curve of the SUV’s hood. Meanwhile, the iconic Denali grille features bold rectangular mesh with a monochrome GMC badge front and center.
The doors of this 2025 GMC Yukon XL Denali Ultimate are not camouflaged, and are painted in Onyx Black (paint code GBA). It rolls on a set of 24-inch multi-spoke wheels, which are a factory first for the full-size SUV.
Out back, the 2025 Yukon sports a revised set of taillights. Notably, the reverse lights have been rearranged, taking up only the upper half of the inner assembly, bracketed by the familiar curved lighting element that extends well into the vehicle’s liftgate. Quad exhaust tips are also visible, featuring a squared-off shape.
While not visible in these photos, the refreshed 2025 GMC Yukon range features a reworked interior pair of huge screens, as per previous GM Authority coverage. A horizontal screen will be mounted behind the steering wheel and a portrait-style screen mounted to the center stack. Note that there will be no difference in the screen layout between Denali and non-Denali trims, as is the case currently.
Under the hood, the Yukon Denali trims are expected to offer the same naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine found in the pre-fresh model, while the 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax engine will be offered as a replacement for the current 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax. The naturally aspirated 5.3L V8 L84, meanwhile, will be available on other trims.
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Comments
It will be over $100k.
So what A Jeep Wrangler is over 100K now.
I know it’ll probably look better when the rest of the camo is off, but there’s something about those headlights that looks weird to me. The current headlights look tougher, more in line with the full-size truck vibe. Those new ones look too, I don’t know, sleek?
I wish GM made a full size SUV that looked like a truck. They’re getting too soft looking to me.
I agree. Honestly, I don’t say this lightly, but I think GM pretty much perfected headlights with the current Yukon. The angular running lights and the way they cradle the recessed headlights, the overall proportions, and how it all fits into and compliments the surrounding fascia. I loved it when it was first unveiled, and I love it now.
I knew there was a real chance that the refresh would be a regression in my opinion, but I think this may confirm it. I have the same issue with the new Acadia headlights. They just look a little… off.
It’s the part of the bumper that comes in between the triple beam LED’s and the DRL strip at the top. Just looks off with the headlight portion sitting too low from the hood(imagine your eyes being where your cheeks are lol), almost in the middle. Funny how they improved the look of the lights on the trucks but appear to have taken a step back with the Yukon?
Reminds me of Ford’s 2022 Expedition refresh. They messed up the headlights too on that vehicle.
I’ll reserve my final judgement for the official inveil, but based on this, I think this is a step backwards from the current generation design-wise.
Btw the same was with aston martin vantage 2024. With camouflage I thought it looks ugly nut after presentation I changed my mind
lights are getting lower in the bumper to help with glare
Where are the fog lamps? They need to release the final images for the interior and exterior and a build sheet. I don’t like the big rectangle tablet screen on the GMC. Will go with Tahoe. Waiting to order.
Cool.
The major design flaw is how low the rear suspension in these rigs’ hangs. Just not pretty. Loooks untidy and defeats the whole point of having an SUV.
No ground clearance, not able to do much offroad beyond a gravel road, like a Mazda miata
Major design flaw? “not pretty. Loooks untidy”. Yeah, you lost all credibility with that comment.
On the AT4 and Z71 the suspension has caused no issues, no one is taking these in to extreme rock crawling areas where it may create an issue. Land Rover has their pretty low historically and hasn’t caused any issues and they do way worse things off road. Nice try though…
No, Fwangi Silonzo is right – it looks like a mess from the back. . . all the benefits of independent rear suspension aside, it just hangs down so low it looks like it’s gonna get caught on something.
I agree with the awkward suspension look from the rear. It’s kinda like the earlier Navigators when they designed the vehicle and had that fugly round single exhaust sticking straight out. It’s like they went, “oh f@#k, we forgot the muffler. Bought the wife a new 2016 XL Denali. MSRP was $91,000 Canadian. Now it’s $135,000 plus 10% luxury tax over $100,000. Ya….ok.
I swore OFF GM V-8 Engines when mine and thousands of OTHER Yukon Ownwers had theirs “Blow up” at 30K mikes and MUCH LESS! First time GM “ate the $5500” price for new lifters and
valve springs. Then at 54K again, my expensive ( $3K) Extended Warranty covered it at $6K !!!
(Its that damned 8/4 Cyl Eng trick) After stuck TWICE on road at night , Needing a FLATBED TOW I only traveled local with it after that fiasco….for a $85 K SUV!!
Now I see SAME engine is STILL being used?? ( 6.2 L V-8) Could it be??
Finally I saw the 2021 Redesign, with the Erector Set rear suspension!!! FUGLY !!
Sadly….BYE BYE GM V-8 engines….
Im done GM……. RIP
with the price of these vehicles going up and up the common Joe working person can’t afford one anyway, so with that in mind the way it looks and where the headlights are really doesn’t matter! It has to be well over a hundred thousand.
Most Denalis are driven by well to do Contractors/Businessmen. I know……I had the “write Offs” !
The refresh on the Tahoe looks better to me. I like the lights better than the Yukons. Was waiting to see how the new Yukon would look like but might have to wait till they fully redesign it. Wife already driving a 21’ yukon at4 and the new refresh on these 25’ Yukon front end looks meh!
So they are using camo to “highlight” the new changes???? Isn’t that the opposite of what camo is supposed to do? lol. Genius!!!!
Ya, it seems odd. The headlights I would expect to be the biggest change in the facelift.
Seems like the Tahoe’s facelift was more extensive.
Yaaawwwn
They look like they making them look just like EV which I figure is they new design language for GMC going forward , what y’all expect. If you real car person you already knew they would do this.
Have they done anything to make the driver and passenger seats more comfortable? I have a 2019 that the seats are very uncomfortable for trips.
They were redesigned in 2020. The seats are bigger and more comfortable than the previous generation. I had a 2014 and a 2021 as well.
Seats in my 2003 Yukon SLT were SUMPTUOUS!! Thick padded…not tombstones! LOL
I like the refresh. It looks updated. Especially the headlights. After a few years things get stale.
One thing that bothers me about this current generation is the way the doors are sculpted – when the light catches the side just right, you can see the inconsistency or slight variation where the doors meet up. . . It’s like the doors are hard to make match up just right. Just makes it look cheap / poor quality. I know they’re not, just don’t want to see that on this level of vehicle!
Something about those headlights is giving me 2016 Nissan Frontier vibes.