By: Joshua Lee
June 20, 2023
Most of us dream of having the finer things in life. With patience and hard work, we can achieve the goals that we’ve set for ourselves. When that time comes, it’s safe to say we go straight to finding some reward for our accomplishments. How about a six-figure SUV?
GM Canada has let us live with the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate for a week, and this has been a real treat! If you aren’t aware, GMC has the Denali trim for those who want the premium treatment on their models. Back in May of last year, GMC released the Denali Ultimate trim, offering the pinnacle of luxury for its sub-brand.
Our Yukon Denali Ultimate has a 6.2L V8 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission, making 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque at 4100RPM. There’s no question that this is a giant on the road, but there is a great amount of power to move this SUV around. It’s incredibly smooth with the help of its Magnetic Ride Control and adaptive air suspension, which are standard. The Yukon is also standard with 4WD and the Autotrac 2-speed transfer case that offers 4HI and 4LO modes. Putting it in ‘Auto’ lets the SUV run mostly in rear-wheel drive for better fuel economy but will engage the front wheels when it detects any loss of traction. The Yukon Denali Ultimate has a towing capacity of 8000 pounds with the V8 and 7800 pounds with the optional 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel engine.
The boxy design of the Yukon is robust and bold. The Denali trim has a lot of exterior chrome fittings, but the Denali Ultimate has Vader Chrome accents, which are a darker chrome finish. With the Onyx Black exterior, blacked out GMC emblems, 22″ 7-spoke ultra-bright machined finished wheels, and quad exhaust tips, this chrome treatment gives the Yukon a slightly more aggressive demeanour.
Power-retractable side steps with LED perimeter lighting help you step in and out of this luxury SUV gracefully. Inside is where you can see where GMC has done most of its upgrades. The full grain Alpine Umber leather interior on all three rows is beautiful. There is double contrast stitching on the seats, fractal stitching on the centre console armrest and door panels, and Denali Ultimate metal badging on the front seats. Open-pore Paldao woodgrain trim complements the interior; the front dashboard trim has a laser-etched topographical map of Mount Denali along with its coordinates. Just like the Sierra 1500 AT4X, the Yukon Denali Ultimate has a lot of displays that are very easy to use: a 15-inch heads-up display, a 12-inch digital driver’s display, and a 10.2-inch infotainment system with Google Built-In.
The 16-way power front seats are heated, ventilated, and have massage functions, keeping you comfortable in all situations. The Yukon Denali Ultimate features a power sliding centre console that slides back 10 inches to fit larger items like your bag. The 18-speaker Bose Premium Series audio system is fantastic, while the speakers embedded in the front headrests immerse you in even more sound. Second-row passengers can lounge in peace with their own climate controls, heated seats, and dual 12.6-inch rear seat entertainment displays. The cargo room behind the third row is 722L and expands up to 3480L with both the second and third rows folded down.
Driving the Yukon isn’t too difficult, but we did find the bulky dashboard layout to be slightly intrusive in terms of outward visibility. Parking sensors, a digital rear camera mirror, 13 camera views, and parking assist will navigate the SUV out of anything. One available feature that isn’t on our test model is the advanced hands-free highway driving system, Super Cruise.
According to GM Canada, the fuel economy rating for the Yukon Denali Ultimate is 16.6L/100KM city, 13.1L/100KM highway, for a combined 15.0L/100KM. The Yukon has Dynamic Fuel Management that deactivates cylinders for better fuel efficiency when cruising on the highway. We got 15.6L/100KM during our time with this vehicle, and while it was fun feeling on top of everything throughout the week, fueling the 91L tank back up was quite humbling.
The Yukon Denali starts at $102,197 for the 6.2L V8 and $102,772 for the 3.0L diesel; the Denali Ultimate starts at $124,197 for the 6.2L V8 and $126,692 for the 3.0L diesel. If the standard wheelbase isn’t big enough for you, there is the XL version that will cost you $127,697 for the V8 and $130,192 for the diesel.
There’s just one question that has been weighing on our minds; why choose this over the Escalade? While both SUVs share the same platform and powertrains, the Escalade reigns as the most lavish SUV with its curved 38″ OLED display and 36-speaker AKG audio system. The Yukon Denali Ultimate is priced below the Escalade, offers similar luxury appointments, technology, and can tow more. We also believe the Yukon does the luxury set up a little bit better, as it’s the best all-rounder. You can visualize going to a ski trip with your friends, en route to the cottage, and to that fancy congratulatory dinner from that promotion you just got. It’s understated, and only those who know of this trim will truly appreciate it.
