Used 2022 GMC Yukon

Price: The 2022 GMC Yukon starts at $51,600.

The 2022 GMC Yukon is a spacious full-size SUV with three seating rows. The 2022 Yukon XL has a longer body that adds a little more legroom and a lot more cargo space.

Trim levels are SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali. The AT4 takes this SUV’s off-road aspects a little further; the Denali adds luxury features.

As is invariably the case with GMC vehicles, this one has a Chevrolet twin, the Tahoe (one of KBB’s best family cars for 2021). In the case of the Yukon XL, it’s the Suburban. They’re all built on the same body-on-frame arrangement as the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck (and, of course, the GMC Sierra pickup).

GMC versions tend to offer more equipment as well as having their own interior and exterior designs. Some buyers might easily prefer the GMC approach over the equivalent Chevy. Most Yukon models will seat eight occupants (or seven with second-row captain’s chairs), but seating for up to nine is available if you opt for a front bench seat in the base SLE trim.

The essential vehicle beneath all the GMC/Chevroelt branding and their respective variants entered a new generation last year. It replaced the previous model’s solid rear axle with an independent rear suspension that has resulted in more interior space, a lower load floor, and greater comfort to the ride quality.

A new Buckle to Drive feature added this year keeps the 2022 Yukon in Park until the driver’s seat belt is clicked into place. It might stay there a moment longer before a new driver works out that putting it into D means pressing the right button, because there’s no traditional shifter.

Some reviews of big cars might make a comment that the vehicle seems to “shrink” once on the move. That’s not going to happen here. There’s no getting away from the Yukon’s considerable mass.

It is nevertheless a comfortable mass, propelled by a meaty standard V8 that works well enough for everyday duties. Large families heading to the ski slopes should definitely look into the larger V8 or diesel engine, though.

Magnetic Ride Control is standard in the AT4 and Denali. It consists of electronically controlled shock absorbers adjusting their responses in real time, almost no time, to work with whatever is happening. This keeps body roll in check.

To help fulfill the Yukon’s potential is the adaptive air suspension that’s optional in the top two trims. In the AT4, it brings optimum ground clearance. In the Denali, it achieves the greatest comfort.

The SLE is an 8-seater as standard, or can be had with a front bench seat that increases max capacity to nine passengers. The SLT and AT4 trims have the option of two captain’s chairs in the second row, bringing the occupant count down to seven. These are standard in the Denali.

Denali comes with a bespoke dashboard design, featuring wood trim. This is accompanied by special Denali front seats. In any 2022 Yukon, however, the seats are comfortable, even the third row.

The second-row seats slide forward and back, creating maximum legroom of 42 inches. The third row enjoys 34.9 inches of legroom, unless it’s in the XL, where there’s 36.7 inches.

A powered sliding center console is optional in the SLT and AT4, standard in the Denali. It adds a lockable compartment and a little novelty.

Cargo configurations are serious business, however. The regular-length 2022 Yukon has a luggage area behind the rear seats of 25.5 cubic feet. That’s great, but the XL, um, excels with 41.5. The third row folds to create 72.6 or 93.8 cubic feet, respectively. The second row tumbles to make a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet or 144.7 in the XL. If any antiques hunters come across a lovely old wardrobe, it’ll probably fit in the XL.

Every version of the 2022 Yukon has roof rails and exterior lighting that includes standard LED fog lights. Lower trims have fixed side steps; the AT4 and Denali offer optional power-retractable versions with perimeter lighting.

The AT4’s front fascia is reshaped for a more advantageous approach angle when off-roading. This model also runs on all-terrain tires and sports a black grille.

The Denali model has its own ornate grille design. It might be wrong to throw terms like “magnificent” around, but that’s kind of how the GMC Yukon Denali looks, thanks to the Yukon’s sheer size and this variant’s chrome accents.

ADAPTIVE AIR SUSPENSION
Available in the AT4 and Denali models, which already have Magnetic Ride Control as standard, this feature really puts the ride quality of the 2022 Yukon into luxury territory.

DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER
A new feature for 2022, this 12-inch driver information display is partly digital, with an analog speedometer and rev counter. It’s standard from the STL level. In tandem with the 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, it adds to the cabin’s vibe of user-friendly tech.

In SLE trim, the new Yukon comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/ignition, remote start, 3-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, Driver Information Center, and two 120-volt outlets.

Among the safety features are forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, front/rear parking sensors, rear-seat reminder, programmable Teen Driver key, Buckle to Drive, trailer sway control, and automatic high beams. There are head-curtain airbags for all three rows.

The infotainment system includes a 10.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, six USB ports, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

It’s quite a substantial price jump of more than $6,000 to the next SLT trim, but as well as coming with more standard features, it also qualifies for more options.

Extra features in the SLT making it more compelling are things like hands-free tailgate operation, Safety Alert Seat (see the Safety Technology section below), 20-inch alloy wheels, 9-speaker Bose audio system, memory settings for the driver’s seat, heated/ventilated front seats, perforated leather seating surfaces, self-dimming rearview mirror, garage door opener, and wireless charging.

General options include 4-wheel drive (standard on the AT4) and different engines. Blind-spot monitoring is optional in the SLE, standard in the trims above.

The AT4 model has 4-wheel drive with a 2-speed transfer case as standard, along with heated outboard second-row seats, and a heated/power-adjustable steering wheel.

The Denali has a 14-speaker Bose surround-sound system, 360-degree camera system, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert.

A Luxury package for the SLT model brings some of those extra safety and luxury features in the higher trims. An AT4 Premium package also adds things like a powered panoramic sunroof and power-retractable side steps.

Most of the extras available for the Denali trim are collected into the Ultimate package, which includes adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic braking, rear camera mirror, and the Max Trailering bundle with enhanced cooling.

The top three trims are all eligible for a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

A 5.3-liter V8 running on 87-octane gasoline is the standard engine in most variants of the 2022 Yukon. It makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.

The AT4 has the option of a 6.2-liter V8, which is standard in the top Denali trim. Using premium 91-octane gasoline, output is 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

All versions except the AT4 offer an optional turbocharged diesel engine. This inline-6 creates just 277 horsepower, but torque is the star quality here: 460 lb-ft, the same as the bigger gasoline V8. But with better fuel economy.

Regardless of engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting duties. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, except for the AT4 which has 4-wheel drive (4WD) as standard. Every other trim level has 4WD on its options list.

5.3-liter V8
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg (RWD), 15/21 mpg (RWD XL), 14/19 mpg (4WD regular & XL)

6.2-liter V8
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 mpg (RWD), 14/19 mpg (RWD XL), 14/19 mpg (4WD regular & XL)

3.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-6
277 horsepower @ 3,750 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg (RWD: regular & XL), 20/26 mpg (4WD regular & XL)