GMC Yukon Diesel

The GMC Yukon Diesel is a variant of the Yukon SUV with a turbodiesel engine. It was first introduced for the 1994 model year, and has thus far been produced across two separate generations.

Quick Facts

	First-Gen	Second-Gen
Model Years	1994 – 1999	2021 – Present
Platform	GMT400	T1
Engine	Turbocharged 6.5L V8 L56	Turbocharged 3.0L I6 LM2 (2021 – 2024), Turbocharged 3.0L I6 LZ0 (2025 – Present)
Transmission	Four-Speed Auto	10-Speed Auto
Production	GM Janesville Plant, Wisconsin, U.S.A., GM Arlington Plant, Texas, U.S.A.	GM Arlington Plant, Texas, U.S.A.
Segment	Full-Size, Three-Door SUV	Full-Size, Five-Door SUV
Availability	U.S.A., Canada, Mexico

First Generation (First-Gen Yukon)

First-Gen GMC Yukon

Model Years	1994 – 1999
Assembly Location	GM Janesville Plant, Wisconsin, U.S.A., GM Arlington Plant, Texas, U.S.A.
Segment	Full-size, Three-Door SUV
Availability	U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Middle East
Layout	Front-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s)	Turbocharged 6.5L V8 L56
Transmission(s)	Four-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels	Four-Wheel Drive
Platform	GMT400
Refresh(es)	N/A

Introduced a few years into the lifecycle of the first generation GMC Yukon, the Yukon Diesel featured the turbocharged 6.5L V8 L56 Detroit Diesel. While not developed to directly compete with the Ford Powerstroke or Dodge Cummins turbodiesels in regard to horsepower and torque figures, the 6.5L Detroit Diesel instead featured a simple design that delivered reasonable horsepower, decent fuel economy, and passed emissions requirements for half-ton pickups like the GMC Sierra 1500.

Interestingly, the GMC Yukon Diesel was only offered in a single body configuration – a three-door variant with 4WD. Production last until the 1999 model year.

Year	Engine	Fuel	Aspiration	Transmission	Horsepower @ RPM	Torque @ RPM
1994 – 1999	6.5L V8 L56	Diesel	Turbocharged	Four-Speed Auto	180 @ 3400	360 @ 1700

It’s worth noting that the torque ratings were detuned due to the first-gen Yukon’s rear axle capacity.

Second Generation (Fifth-Gen Yukon)

Second-Gen GMC Yukon Diesel

Model Years	2021 – Present
Assembly Location	GM Arlington Plant, Texas, U.S.A.
Segment	Full-size, Five-Door SUV
Availability	U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Middle East
Layout	Front-Engined, Longitudinal
Engine(s)	Turbocharged 3.0L I6 LM2 (2021 – 2024), Turbocharged 3.0L I6 LZ0 (2025 – Present)
Transmission(s)	10-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels	Rear-Wheel Drive, Four-Wheel Drive
Platform	T1
Refresh(es)	2025 Model Year

Making its debut in conjunction with the 2021 GMC Yukon, the second-gen Yukon Diesel was a far-cry from the first generation in regard to efficiency and smoothness. Available across a majority of the full-size SUV’s lineup, the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax is notable for delivering exceptional fuel economy, with the EPA rating the Yukon Diesel at 23 combined mpg.

Second-Gen GMC Yukon Diesel

The refreshed 2025 GMC Yukon equipped the Yukon Diesel with a reworked 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax engine, which develops more horsepower and torque than the outgoing LM2 thanks to a series of upgrades, including steel pistons with a revised combustion bowl, retuned turbo compressor, new fuel injectors, and improved temperature control features.

Year	Engine	Fuel	Aspiration	Transmission	Horsepower @ RPM	Torque @ RPM
2021 – 2024	3.0L I6 LM2	Diesel	Turbocharged	10-Speed Auto	277 @ 3750	460 @ 1500
2025 – Present	3.0L I6 LZ0	Diesel	Turbocharged	10-Speed Auto	305 @ 3750	495 @ 1500