2022 GMC Yukon Denali Review
2022 GMC Yukon Denali
6.2 Liter V8
420 HP
Base Price: $95,295
MPG: 12.4 as observed
—
Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
While all the fame and accolades tend go to the crossovers on the market, there is no forgetting the imposing beasts of burden that are the Full Size SUVs. Especially when one is parked along side a lowly ole crossover.
The GM twins (Tahoe and Yukon) along with the Ford Expedition command a steady dominance of full size SUV market. There is good reason for that…look at any study showing the most dependable and longest lasting vehicles…the aforementioned 3 will populate the top 5.
So does this 2023 GMC Yukon Denali still have what it takes? Let’s break it down!
The Great
Super Cruise!
Good ole horsepower
Road Presence
Super Cruise!
Super Cruise is GM’s self driving technology and it’s absolutely game changing! Just one button on the steering wheel, the Super Cruise system does everything from maintaining distance, turning around bends and even changing lanes to bypass slower traffic! All by itself! The only thing the driver needs to do is to keep an eye on the road.
I’m not smart enough to fully explain how the system works and for that explanation, click HERE.
But what I can tell you is that this is the best self driving system on the road today. I don’t care how much it costs…if you are in the market for a new GM vehicle, this is the system that is worth paying for!
Good ole fashion HP
In an era of forced induction powerplants, getting behind the wheel of a big old fashion V8…makes you appreciate the simpler things in life. Yes, it’s competitors make more torque and are faster in some instances but the way this big lump produces instant, linear and smooth power cannot be replicated.
Oh and the way it sounds can only be described as pure honey to one’s ears
Road Presence
You can’t beat a body on frame SUV. A crossover can try and many do but nothing on the road commands a respect like a garguatan ‘old-school’ ute that is taking up all of your rearview mirror
The Good
Interior
Infotainment
Interior
Borrowing some elements from it’s closest competitor (Navigator) the Denali’s interior is filled with soft leather, fine metallic trim and minimal use of the obligatory GM hard plastics. Is it the best in class?
Well…no
But it’s on another realm compared to it’s prior generation.
Infotainment
GM’s newest infotainment system is a fine piece of tech. Easy to use, navigate and look at…it’s everything an infotainment system needs to be. Add that with Google Assistant…errr assistance..speak any command and it’s ready
The Bad
Transmission
Clunky-town
Co-developed with Ford, this 10-speed automatic can be found on everything from this Yukon down to the Mustang. While it’s Mustang application is pretty amazing, it’s application in both brand’s trucks…not so much.
They all suffer from the same low speed clunkiness that is ever present. The 1st to 2nd gear clunk/lurch is ever present and ever annoying.
The Ugly
Ride Quality
Jittery Ride
Now looking at the Denali you would think:
‘My word! That behemoth must be like riding a cloud!’
Well…it isn’t. Driving the Yukon Denali down the road…the only prevalent sensation is jitteriness. The Yukon constantly vibrates over every crack, undulation and pebble on the road. It would be easy to blame the 22 inch wheels but with a 50 series sidewall, it’s pretty decent considering.
Unfortunately majority of the blame can be attributed to the suspension tuning. GM’s magride system is the preeminent suspension system in the world but someone added an 0 instead of 1 in the programming code because this is very non-magride like!
Overall:
So what do I think of the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali? On one hand it’s a handsome, rugged and personable beast of a thing with an exhaust note that makes it’s competitors wet themselves.
On the other hand it’s clunky transmission and nervous ride quality…tends to sullen one’s enthusiasm. Is it enough to sway you to it’s competitors?
…well it is for me
