2025 GMC Yukon XL

Not many families absolutely need a big SUV that can seat up to eight people, but for those who do, the Yukon could be the way to go. Sure, they could also look at the Chevy Tahoe or Suburban since they all have the same origin. However, the GMC proposition is slightly more upscale, though not quite at Cadillac levels. Then again, some of our consumer reviewers are quite happy with the luxury Denali trim and not paying extra for an Escalade.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size SUVs, including the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.

The GMC Yukon gets a thorough mid-cycle refresh for 2025. It starts with an aesthetic facelift inside and out. The highlights of the new interior include a 16.8-inch infotainment display, an available Executive Seating package, and a simple shifter stalk in lieu of the shifter buttons in previous Yukon models.

Powertrain options are largely unchanged, but the available turbodiesel has been improved to produce 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. Also, the diesel is now available in every trim.

The Denali Ultimate trim gets even more luxurious with 24-inch laser-etched wheels, the aforementioned Executive Seating package, new wood interior trim, and a 22-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system. A new AT4 Ultimate trim joins the lineup, as well. Think of it as a more rugged alternative to the Denali Ultimate. It retains the styling and capabilities of the off-road-ready AT4 trim but with luxuries like 20-inch wheels, four-corner adaptive air suspension, and upgraded interior materials like full-grain leather and Ash Burl wood accents.

To simplify the model range a bit, the SLE and SLT trims have been dropped from the Yukon lineup. Elevation is the base trim, AT4 and Denali are both a step up, and their respective Ultimate versions are the fanciest trims.

For some full-size SUV context, the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia start between $60-$65k. The Jeep Wagoneer got a big price cut for 2025, putting its starting price below $60k along with the Nissan Armada. The GMC Yukon justifies its higher starting price with lots of standard features, modern tech, and premium aesthetics.

Before buying a new Yukon or Yukon XL SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

Class-Leading Resale Values

The Yukon XL tops our tables as the full-size SUV that retains its worth the best, followed closely by the standard-length Yukon and the Chevy equivalents. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

The mainstay in the GMC Yukon’s engine bay is a 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8. This will do the job, even though there isn’t a turbocharger to help out. However, we reckon that someone buying a Yukon XL with the intention of taking a large family and all their luggage on road trips ought to consider the gutsier 6.2-liter V8 and its 420 horsepower. Or perhaps the even torquier turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel engine. This unit makes 305 horsepower and a meaty 495 lb-ft of torque.

We’ve always been impressed by the smooth ride of this current generation of the GMC Yukon. The Yukon offers an adaptive air suspension or Magnetic Ride Control for even greater cushioning and body control.

Generally, the Yukon is pleasant to drive if sometimes ponderous — in contrast, the Ford Expedition has a 380-horsepower turbocharged V6. We also add the caveat that the Yukon is a full-size SUV or even bigger (the XL) and, therefore, not the easiest thing to park or thread through city traffic.

Fuel Economy

The standard 5.3-liter V8 manages 17 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The 6.2-liter V8 is rated at 17 mpg with RWD and 16 mpg with 4WD (premium gasoline is recommended). These figures are similar to the Tahoe and Suburban but trail the Ford Expedition. Despite a hike in power, we still reckon the 3.0-liter turbodiesel will remain the most efficient engine in the Yukon, getting close to 23 mpg combined. Incidentally, the hybrid Toyota Sequoia achieves 22 mpg combined but isn’t quite as roomy.

Claustrophobic? Get a Yukon, or even better, a Yukon XL. There’s so much room in all three seating rows, while the Yukon XL adds more cargo space and even more legroom for the third row. Either way, average-sized adults don’t need to squabble over who’s going to sit in any row. Even with the standard wheelbase, third-row occupants get a generous 34.9 inches of legroom.

The centerpiece of the Yukon’s new interior for 2025 is a 16.8-inch infotainment display with Google built-in. Speaking of screens, an 8-inch clime control screen in the second row is also available.

The Yukon’s new Executive Seating package gives the second row first-class accommodations with heated, cooled, and massaging seats, a rear entertainment system with two screens, and a center console with wireless charging.

The big screen and fancy seats are terrific, but this year’s interior update we’re most excited about is the shifter’s relocation away from the awkward button layout in earlier versions of the Yukon. This SUV is now shifted via a more user-friendly stalk on the steering column.

Class-leading cargo space

Along with its Suburban brother, the Yukon XL beats the Ford Expedition Max and Jeep Wagoneer L in the cargo space stakes. Behind the third row, there’s 41.5 cubic feet. Behind the second with the third row folded: 93.8 cubic feet. Behind the first row with all the other seats folded: 144.7 cubic feet. Basically, if you need to carry anything bigger, it’s time to hire a U-Haul or call a moving company. The regular-length Yukon is also impressive, going from 25.5 to 122.9 cubic feet.

Big or bigger, that’s the choice with the Yukon or Yukon XL. There are also other things to consider, since various trims come with their own looks. The AT4, for example, has an off-road attitude with a raised suspension and all-terrain tires, while the Denali goes for an ornate and chromed grille.

The Yukon’s refreshed exterior for 2025 is a bold expression of the GMC design language and is now available with animated headlights and taillights. One of our favorite exterior updates is a new set of laser-etched 24-inch wheels on the Denali Ultimate model; the biggest factory wheels ever for the Yukon.

It’s probably a good idea to do a little measuring to make sure the Yukon can fit in your garage. The regular model is 17.5 feet long, the XL is about 18.8 feet.

Infotainment touchscreen
Set vertically, this new-for-2025 screen measures 16.8 inches on the diagonal. It’s big, especially considering the previous standard screen was only 10.2 inches. The 2025 Yukon gains an optional 8-inch rear climate control screen as well.

Side steps
OK, not the most tech-y item ever, but a great help when clambering into or out of this massive SUV. They’re standard and run from wheel well to wheel well.

Air ride adaptive suspension
The perfect addition to one of the more luxurious Yukon trims. As well as the enhanced comfort, it has adjustable heights for easy entries and exits and for things like increasing ground clearance over tricky terrain.

Super Cruise
General Motors’ hands-free adaptive cruise control now works on more than 400,000 miles of roads in North America. We’ve used this a lot in Cadillacs, and it’s now available in GMC and Chevy vehicles. It’s one of our favorite systems of its kind.

ProGrade trailering system
Plenty of Yukon owners will be happy to get some really useful help from this optional feature when they hitch up a trailer and go to the lake or wherever. It includes trailer-specific blind-spot monitoring.

Denali Ultimate
This top trim comes with fine leather upholstery, massaging front seats, executive second-row seats, 24-inch alloy wheels, and a whole raft of other desirable extras. If you prefer the rugged look of the AT4, the new AT4 Ultimate trim is approximately as fancy as its Denali counterpart.

The base engine for the 2025 GMC Yukon SUV remains the 5.3-liter V8, making 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims offer the option of a 6.2-liter V8 developing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The other alternative — and a rarity for the class — is a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-6, which raises output to 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque for 2025. We’re happy to report that the diesel is now available in every trim of the Yukon.

A 10-speed automatic transmission is employed throughout. Rear-wheel drive is standard; 4-wheel drive is optional, or standard with the AT4 and Denali Ultimate. The maximum towing figure is 8,400 pounds, achieved by a rear-drive model with the 5.3-liter V8. If this is important, the Jeep Wagoneer L can tow up to 10,000 pounds, while both the Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia go past the 9,000-pound mark.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

GMC’s new vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These terms are typical among mainstream manufacturers. The first scheduled service is also included.

Safety Ratings

This generation of Yukon has earned four out of a possible five stars overall in crash testing carried out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s the same as most of its competitors, with only the Ford Expedition earning the top 5-Star overall rating and the Toyota Sequioa’s rating still to be announced. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.