10 Reasons the Yukon Denali is the Best Luxury SUV

The Denali sub-brand allows GMC to elevate its already premium, professional-grade trucks and SUVs to a higher level, further allowing it to compete with renowned luxury brands from across the world. The Yukon and Yukon XL Denali, for instance, are roughly in the same price point as the largest SUVs available from BMW and Mercedes-Benz – the X7 xDrive40i and the GLS 450 4MATIC, respectively. Both of those models are unquestionably high-end models from established luxury brands, but can the Yukon Denali compete?  TopSpeed.com thinks so and offers 10 reasons why it is, in fact, the superior choice. Ewing Buick-GMC agrees and passes those reasons on to you. 

Super Cruise 

Like many of the features listed here, the SuperCruise system is an option on the Denali but is standard on the Denali Ultimate. On the Denali not-quite-Ultimate, it is part of the $5,235 Advanced Technology Package, which also includes a rear-camera mirror and a rear-seat media system featuring dual 12.6-inch touch-sensitive screens mounted to the front seat backs, along with two wireless two-channel headphones.  

SuperCruise has consistently been considered the best hands-off driving system in the industry. Reviewers have tested it on the open road and on city highways. They have tested its exclusive automatic lane-change features and its compatibility with towing, and the system emerges with flying colors every time. If you drive out of state and cross-country regularly, it is difficult to imagine a more appropriate feature for a luxury vehicle than what the Yukon offers, while its expensive Euro-competitors do not. 

Air Ride Adaptive Suspension 

TopSpeed.com describes this as one of the Denali’s best options, and it comes as part of the Sun & Power Step Package, which also includes a panoramic sunroof and power retractable assist steps.  

This air suspension system includes variable spring-rate adjustment and can adjust the system’s stiffness and pressure to optimize ride comfort. It also offers automated ride-height options that can help improve ground clearance, enable passenger entry and exit, and improve aerodynamic performance. With automatic load-leveling, your suspension will always remain within the ideal ride-height range, even with a heavy load or a trailer. 

Magnetic Ride Control 

The air ride system provides spring adjustment, while the Magnetic ride control focuses on the dampers, or shocks. These sophisticated parts contain a special fluid that can instantly and variably stiffen the shock movement when subjected to a magnetic field. This allows the shocks to adjust as quickly as 1000 times per second based on road conditions. The result is a very soft compliant ride that can quickly grow firm when conditions warrant. When combined with the Air Ride system, it offers some of the best cabin isolation from the road in the industry while remaining composed on curves and on less smooth surfaces.  

Choice of 6.2-liter V-8 or 3.0-liter Duramax Turbodiesel 

While lower-level Yukons have the 355-hp 5.3-liter V8 as their standard engine, the Yukon Denali comes standard with the big 420-hp 6.2L V8. The Duramax turbodiesel is available as an option. The Duramax may cost a little extra in most circumstances, but offers 35 more lb-ft of peak torque (495 vs. 460) and about 35% better fuel economy. If you plan to tow and/or drive long distances, the diesel should be a serious choice. If your driving will be primarily in the city, the gas engine may be a better fit. Thanks in part to these engines and the robust chassis structure underneath, Yukon can also tow about 500 more pounds than either the BMW or Mercedes. 

Performance Upgrade Package 

Available strictly with the 6.2-liter gas V-8, this improves the engine vehicle both on the intake and exhaust levels. The 13-hp and 17-lb-ft of torque are modest gains, but the real story is the improved throttle response and an exhaust tone that sounds better under acceleration and tones things down at steady highway cruising. 

Unmatched Passenger and Cargo Room 

This isn’t an option and is standard across the Yukon and Yukon XL model lines. If luxury still means plenty of space and cargo room for your things, the Yukon definitely beats the European competitors, and the XL even more so. Consider that the BMW X7 offers 90.4 cubic feet behind the front-row seats. The Yukon XL provides more than that behind the second-row seats. At 144.5 cubic feet, its total cargo capacity is about 60% more than the BMW and 70% more than the Mercedes GLS 450. The Yukon is smaller but still boasts a three-figure maximum cargo capacity of 122.8 cubic feet. True luxury could well mean never having to compromise on space. 

Bose 18-Speaker Sound System 

This is a Denali Ultimate feature. While all luxury SUVs can be expected to have nice audio systems, the UltraNearfield headrest speakers provide, as Topspeed.com put it, “a level of immersion that must be heard to be understood. The result is a deep 3D soundscape that provides remarkable clarity and power without blasting the volume.” 

16-Way Power Front Seats With Massage Function 

Within the beautiful perforated full-grain leather of the Denali Ultimate’s front seats are 16 adjustments to ensure you are comfortable and help keep you that way over long trips, with massaging seats that offer different massage styles, such as roll, knead, and wave, along with additional customization and intensity levels.  

Available Executive Second Row Seating Package 

Simply stated, this package gives second-row passengers the same seats as in the front row, with heating, ventilation, 14 power adjustments, the massage function described above, and the same Bose headrest speakers to provide the same aural experience.  

15-inch Diagonal HUD 

Standard on the Denali, this provides you with the key information you would normally glance down at the driver’s display to view, but does so in a manner where your eyes can remain on the road ahead. Other luxury SUVs have this feature, but the Yukon’s HUD is particularly robust, with a 15-inch display and the ability to adjust its height and brightness using either the physical toggle behind the steering wheel or the center touchscreen. 

If you want everything a luxury SUV can provide: opulence, convenience, space, towing ability, and more, the Yukon and Yukon XL Denali and Denali Ultimate are the first and last models you should check out, and there is no better place to do that than the vast Yukon Denali inventory at Ewing Buick-GMC in Plano, TX.