GMC Yukon Denali 2025 Review

It’s no secret the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali costs a pretty penny and the single high-spec grade available Down Under will set you back $174,990 plus on-road costs (ORCs).

That’s including a recent $5000 price hike, which GM attributes to economic conditions and foreign exchange rate volatility but says hasn’t dissuaded customers, with orders still coming through.

Describing it as a “luxury, niche” vehicle, GM’s local Managing Director, Jess Bala, admits there’s a “very particular buyer” for this very large and pricey SUV.

And, given its generous scope of standard equipment – huge 24-inch alloy wheels, adaptive air suspension, seating for eight, entertainment screens for the second row, 14-speaker Bose sound system, electric side steps, and no fewer than 11 camera angles – we reckon well-to-do families will be amongst those lining up.

More detail on the Yukon Denali’s standard equipment can be found here.

Another point of difference for the big US hauler is its stonking 313kW 6.2-litre petrol V8 – a rare beast on the automotive landscape these days.

The bent-eight comes paired to a 10-speed automatic that sends power to all four corners via GM’s ‘Active Response 4WD System’. In amongst that, it gets an electronic limited-slip differential and a two-speed transfer case, if you care for some off-roading.

It’s yet to be crash-tested by ANCAP but a long list of safety equipment should see passengers well protected – others perhaps less so, given its size and hefty 2.8-tonne mass.

That gear includes airbags that extend to the third row, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist with departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer sway control, and tyre pressure monitoring, among others.

The best thing about the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali is just how well it does what it sets out to do, namely haul people and/or things from A to B in comfort.

You feel every bit of its size on the move but somehow it doesn’t feel cumbersome or unwieldy out on the open road, instead delivering a surprisingly refined and quiet ride.

Once acquainted with those chunky proportions – a whopping 5.3m long, more than 2.3m wide and over 1.9m in height – this extra-large SUV is (almost) effortless to drive and that lusty V8 engine does a great job of shifting its significant mass.

It’s powerful but it needs to be, lugging all that bulk, and as long as you’re not expecting particularly potent pace off the line, you’ll be satisfied with the Yukon’s agility.

Those not used to a vehicle this large and heavy – or unfamiliar with physics – will also need to come to terms with the brakes; it takes a lot longer to pull up than you may initially expect.

But confidence grows the more time you spend behind the wheel and a brief tow test (admittedly with an empty horse float) provided even more assurance it’s up to the task of hauling boats, caravans, car trailers and other toys.

Some good news for those wanting to spruce up their Yukon is the addition of more than 25 accessories, including an illuminated GMC badge up front (which looks very cool at night), puddle lights, and a boot liner, among others.

Parents should find it very easy to live with. Like any good big American car, there are loads of storage cubbies, plenty of cup holders scattered throughout and those rear entertainment screens to keep back-seat bandits occupied on longer drives.

But there are limitations to those dual 12.6-inch screens – you can’t insert a disc or USB and there are no native features like games, although you do get access to limited vehicle info like speed and a trip computer, as well as wireless headphone connection.

So, the only way to watch something is to connect to a HDMI port, which will allow you to mirror your smartphone or device, for example.

That works well in theory but again, you’ll need phone signal to watch anything you haven’t already downloaded, which could be annoying on long trips in areas of patchy reception.

If you’re planning on utilising all three rows of seating, you’ll be glad to know the third row is genuinely spacious enough to accommodate two adults (or three smaller people), while those in the very back don’t miss out on creature comforts like air vents, lights or cup holders.

For the most part, it’s a positive experience from the driver’s seat of the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali, but there was a heaviness to the steering this time round that we didn’t get when we briefly tested a left-hand-drive Yukon Denali last year.

It’s also worth noting the majority of driving we did this time around was on high-speed rural roads, with very little suburban driving, so I dare say it’d be a more stressful experience navigating this large barge down narrow city streets or into a shopping centre car park.

Meanwhile, considering how much tech has been loaded into the Yukon Denali, its big 16.8-inch central touchscreen misses out on one key feature: navigation.

Local GM chief Jess Bala says the brand’s research shows that “a lot of people naturally now use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for maps”, so not having built-in maps in the Yukon shouldn’t be an issue for most.

But tell that to those wanting to flex the Yukon’s off-road skills and get off the beaten track where there’s little or no phone reception…

Another downer for many – particularly being a new brand in Oz – is the warranty, which extends to a measly three years or 100,000km.

That’s the same coverage period most big American vehicles get in Oz (including the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 pick-ups) but it pales in comparison to rivals like the Toyota LandCruiser and Lexus LX (five years/unlimited kilometres) and the Nissan Patrol (10 years/300,000km, albeit service-activated).

It’s also worth noting the class-leading 3628kg maximum braked towing capability is with a 70mm tow ball and weight distribution hitch; with a 50mm ball, the max braked towing limit goes down to 3500kg.

Another small grievance we had – which will probably only affect small children or weaklings – is how difficult the second-row seating can be to operate. It’s easy to fold forward with two yanks of a grab handle giving you access to the third row, but putting the second row back into position takes a fair bit of muscle.

For a lot of people, the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali won’t make much sense.

It’s an extra-large car that’ll set you back an extra-large sum.

But for families that genuinely need the space or people needing proper heavy-hauling capabilities (without the pick-up truck body), the Yukon adds up. And those with enough space to park it and enough money to maintain it, will likely be very happy with their purchase.

2025 GMC Yukon Denali at a glance:
Price: $174,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 6.2-litre petrol V8
Output: 313kW/624Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.8L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: Not tested

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