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When an opportunity presented itself for Chris Braun to visit his oldest daughter, Jordan, at school in Kelowna, he was happy to get behind the wheel of a 2024 GMC Yukon Denali. He drove himself, wife Cathy and younger daughters Danika and Taylor from Calgary to the Okanagan, B.C. city to visit during a break in classes. While there, they loaded the seven-seat Yukon with passengers and packages and put it through its paces. During his week in the Yukon Denali, Braun also spent time commuting in Calgary and says the entire experience exceeded his expectations. “But some of that,” he explains, “was due to this being the top-of-the-line Ultimate model.”
Introduced for the 1992 model year, the Yukon was at first a two-door SUV. By 1995, the SUV was available only with four doors and is now in its fifth generation. The Yukon is based on the Chevy Tahoe/Suburban but offers a slightly more luxurious ride. The latest iteration launched in 2021 with available powertrains, depending on trim level selected, including 5.3-litre and 6.2L V8s as well as a 3.0L Duramax diesel inline 6-cylinder. All engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Although based on a truck chassis, since ’21 the Yukon has benefitted from the use of an independent rear suspension system. And, in the case of the Ultimate, the SUV is equipped with adaptive air ride at all four corners – this feature is available as on option on the AT4 and Denali trims.
Braun’s Yukon Denali Ultimate was finished in titanium rush metallic with a brown alpine umber leather interior. The paint added some $500 to the almost $133,000 purchase price, which included the $1,100 enhanced trailering technology package. The price alone should indicate the Yukon Denali Ultimate bristled with technology and luxury. And according to Braun, it did.
“I was living in the lap of luxury for a week in this SUV, and it was a feeling that started on the exterior because it’s incredibly classy looking,” he says. “And that had something to do with the understated trim, which wasn’t full chrome, because it almost looked like it was painted body colour. Walking away from it, one would probably often turn around to look at it after it had been parked; it’s a commanding vehicle that looks handsome, sharp and chiseled.”
Getting into the Yukon was made easier thanks to that air ride suspension, it can be dropped down and the power running boards ease the step up. Braun says the doors opened wide and there was plenty of room for access to the third row of seats. “I was able to just hop in, but the rest of the family used the running boards,” he explains. “And the leather interior was lovely – this truck isn’t faking luxury, it is luxury.”
Braun found it intuitive to locate all controls to adjust items such as the power tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel and the heated and ventilated 16-way front power driver’s seat. The front passenger seat is similarly equipped. Controls for the heating and cooling system were tactile knobs and the headlights operated through a switch. Other tasks, such as pairing a phone, were completed through the 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. “Even with sunlight hitting the (configurable) dash display with all of the driver’s information it was visible at all times – there was never a time I couldn’t see it,” Braun says.
Of the 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque provided by the 6.2L V8 that hauls the 2,641 kilogram 4-wheel drive Yukon Denali Ultimate around, Braun says, “With the 10-speed automatic, there was always plenty of power on tap whether in the city commuting or taking the long drive out to Kelowna.” He continues, “I was pleasantly surprised by the fuel economy, too. At the end of the test, I’d added 1,821 km to the odometer and achieved 13.4L/100km – I’d estimate that to be about 75 per cent highway, and 25 per cent city driving.”
Braun drove the Yukon Denali on the Trans-Canada Highway and says this gave him an opportunity to test the GMC Super Cruise driver assistance feature. This is subscription based, but the first three years are included. “I’ve dabbled with some of these systems in the past,” he says. “This was by far the most advanced, and as long as you’re paying attention, OnStar is connected, the adaptive cruise control is on and the road is mapped for Super Cruise, it will drive hands free. “I’d like to say I’m a driver, and I’m usually the first to shut off all tech in any of my vehicles, but I gave this an honest go. I’d say it worked well, and I liked that it was watching me to see that I was watching what was going on around the vehicle while on the highway – if you’re not paying attention, it lets you know.”
While driving the highway, Braun set the air suspension to Sport mode. In this setting, he says body roll in corners was nearly non-existent. In Normal mode, he says the SUV simply floated down the road with near zero wind or road noise. As for manoeuvrability, Braun says, “It was shocking at how agile this thing was in parking lots, and it had a tight turning radius; I didn’t feel like I was driving a barge. In parking situations, there were enough cameras and sensors, and there were plenty of parking assists available.”
On the drive to Kelowna, Braun had the power folding third row seats down, which gave them 2,056L of cargo hauling capability. With those seats upright, there’s 722L, and with all second and third row seats folded, some 3,480L of cargo volume is available. “The four of us and all of our luggage, including a campus-sized bar fridge, were swallowed up, we didn’t come halfway close to packing this thing full,” he explains. “There were plenty of little storage spots up front, too, for wallets, drinks, just about anything.” With the panoramic roof uncovered, there was plenty of light and Braun adds there were no blind spots anywhere he looked.
“It’s perfect for hauling a whole bunch of people and their gear around in full comfort,” Braun says. “I felt pampered by this Yukon, and a lot of that had to do with the trim, but I believe even a lower-level Yukon would deliver as much competence. This was an eye-opener.”
Driver’s Journal
DAY 1
Very luxurious ride and soaks up bumps with its air suspension in normal mode. Surprising given that it’s equipped with 22-inch wheels (still plenty of sidewall to absorb bumps). Spent some time looking and reviewing/adjusting all the buttons and features. HUD projected on the windshield in front of driver – with control to raise/lower and change the brightness as well. Box in back is for enhanced trailer package (contained an aux. camera and 30-feet of cable to mount on back of trailer) — now wish I had something to tow this week to try it out. (Towing capacity of the Yukon Denali Ultimate with the Max Trailering Package, as equipped, is 3,629kg).
DAY 2
Commute to work. Massage seat functions discovered. Game changer. This is going to be great later this week. Although, I wish the massage functions could be operated through touchscreen, button makes it difficult to navigate. Commute home. Found a switch for power sliding centre console, revealing tons more storage space and a drink delivery service to second row passengers. Power folding second and third-row seats is a neat function. Able to operate from driver’s seat (and from the rear hatch area). Noticed the Illuminated GMC symbol at night off right rear corner — place your foot there and lift gate opens. It’s the little touches that make it fancy.
DAY 3
Cold Calgary morning. Command start used, seat and steering wheel nice and warm. Noticed a lot of buttons are near driver’s knee down low. Bad location as you must divert eyes from road to look at them. Noticed the wood and leather trimmings on dash, console and seats. Startup screens show Denali Mountain and those coordinates are listed on seat badges. Also, the contoured theme of Denali Mountain is present throughout the interior. Rear seat screens (when not in use) have a lot of glare and reflection, needs a cover or retract function.
DAY 4
Did finally locate the manual air ride suspension mode buttons. Played with various settings and heights. Sport is a great compromise for taut handling and ride. Air suspension button looks like headlight knob and is right next to it. Would be easier to use through screen.
Left for Revelstoke after work. Tried out Super Cruise. Wow. Makes for extremely relaxing highway “driving.” Super Cruise was mapped all the way to Revelstoke (except for construction zones). Median and concrete barriers seem to challenge it a bit too. After dark, I resumed normal cruise. Wind and rainstorm, Yukon was extremely stable (not getting blown around by wind) and sure footed. Passengers swapped out in front seat to try the massaging functions during that entire drive. Passengers also fell asleep due to it being so quiet inside. Feels very solid. This SUV was built for trips like this. Exudes confidence and stability.
DAY 5
Finish travelling to Kelowna this morning. Super Cruise not mapped for stretch south of Sicamous. Tight curvy road handled well by the air suspension and magnetic shocks. Costco run, swallowed parcels with no problem. Five passengers with all our luggage.
DAY 6
Playing tourist today in Kelowna and six of us pile in. Tons of room and everyone had lots of space. Those large rear seat screens got some complaints from my teenage passengers, hard to see around if you want to just see the road. No way to rotate them out of the way. Hate to admit we ended up covering them over with pillowcases to stop the glare/reflections. This unit fits right in with the ultra-fancy homes and wineries. Very understated, classy. Has a certain aura/presence about it.
DAY 7
Packed up the Yukon, including a bar fridge, with no problems, along with all our other gear (luggage, computer bags, backpacks). Four of us piled in for the long drove home. Quiet highway cruise, this is when Yukon is truly in its element. Soft (or firm if you want) ride. Effortlessly clicks off the miles, plenty of passing power. Made short work of our drive today. Arrived refreshed in Calgary.
PROS
Incredibly luxurious and pampering, comfortable and smooth ride, options galore
Super Cruise — incredible hands free “self-driving” cruise control, even changing lanes by itself
Competent and confident people mover and cargo hauler
Honourable mention – that fancy Bose sound system. Crisp, loud and headrest speakers were fantastic
CONS
Rear seat infotainment screens impede forward visibility of rear seat passengers (should be able to rotate or collapse)
Super Cruise — need more roads mapped out to get full use of technology (perhaps me getting greedy)
Too many buttons near driver’s knee and out of sight – some should be integrated into dash screen or elsewhere higher to be seen at a glance
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