Used 2023 GMC Yukon

Drivers looking for an old-school, full-size SUV with modern niceties will be interested in the rugged and refined GMC Yukon. It continues to be a family SUV with truck-like towing capabilities. With the latest redesign, it has greater interior space, improved driving manners, and more variety in its model range.

Plus, the GMC reputation carries a lot of power.

Its chief competitors are the Ford Expedition, Jeep Wagoneer, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia, which is all-new for 2023. Other than its Chevy counterparts (the Tahoe and Suburban), the Yukon is the only SUV in its class available with a diesel engine.

There’s no getting around the fact that the GMC Yukon drives like a huge SUV. It’s a little more agile and composed than previous generations of the Yukon, but it’s not as poised as some of its rivals.

A couple of options that improve comfort and reduce body roll are Magnetic Ride Control and adaptive air suspension.

The two available V8 engines both deliver ample power and torque. The base 5.3-liter V8 is more than enough for commuting and family-hauling duty, but the optional 6.2-liter mill is more potent while returning very similar fuel economy numbers.

Meanwhile, the available Duramax turbo-diesel 6-cylinder engine offers a high torque rating and the best fuel economy in the Yukon engine lineup. It may have the lowest horsepower rating, but 460 lb-ft of torque at just 1,500 rpm makes up for it.

The Yukon has pretty impressive off-road capabilities with the AT4 trim. On top of standard 4-wheel drive (4WD), the AT4 model has hill descent control, a 2-speed transfer case, skid plates, all-terrain tires, and an improved approach angle. The Ford Expedition Timberline and Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro are also worth considering if you’re looking for a capable off-roader in this class, not to mention the new Jeep Wagoneer.

The vast interior of the GMC Yukon has three roomy rows of seats and pretty good cargo room, too. Naturally, the long-wheelbase XL model has more interior space, and it’s the one to get if you need to haul a lot of people and a bunch of cargo at the same time.

Seating for up to eight comes standard in the Yukon. That can increase to nine if you get the optional bench front row, or decrease to seven if you opt for second-row captain’s chairs. If you want that bench front seat, it’s only available on the base SLE trim.

The interior of the Yukon can get pretty luxurious, especially in the top Denali Ultimate trim. It comes loaded with a Bose 18-speaker audio system, power-sliding front center console, rear camera mirror, massaging front seats, and exclusive materials.

The GMC Yukon carries its massive size with some elegance. It has classy styling that does an excellent job of looking both rugged and premium. The AT4 trim has an off-road attitude with a revised front fascia for an improved approach angle, while the Denali models look more upscale. The new Denali Ultimate trim has unique styling details like dark “Vader Chrome” accents and special 22-inch wheels.

The dimensions of the GMC Yukon are in line with the full-size SUV class, and it’s the biggest SUV in the GMC lineup.

Two Sizes: Large and Extra Large

There are two wheelbase options for the GMC Yukon. The standard wheelbase is plenty roomy for most families, but if you’re looking for maximum cargo and passenger space, consider the even bigger Yukon XL with 15 extra inches of length. We love the fact that every trim can be had in either wheelbase; a claim the Ford Expedition can’t make.

Three engine options
Three engines are available in the Yukon, and they’re all excellent. There are two V8 options and a Duramax turbo-diesel, which is uncommon in this class.

Denali Ultimate
The new top trim of the Yukon is the Denali Ultimate model. This luxurious SUV has massaging front seats, exclusive leather appointments, unique wood and aluminum trim, 22-inch wheels, and much more.

Super Cruise
The Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system allows for hands-free driving on over 200,000 miles of compatible highways in North America. It comes with the Advanced Technology Package available for the Denali Ultimate trim.

Large and XL
The standard-wheelbase Yukon is big enough for most SUV shoppers, but the XL model adds an extra 15 inches of length and more interior space.

Air ride adaptive suspension
With this optional feature, you can select the right height by turning a dial and pushing a button. You can raise or lower the ride height by up to two inches in either direction for extra ground clearance for uneven terrain or go lower for easier entry and exit. It also improves ride comfort.

ProGrade trailering system
The available ProGrade trailering system bundles Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, an in-vehicle trailering app, and a Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert. This is a must if you’ll be towing regularly.

The base SLE trim of the GMC Yukon is pretty well-equipped. The standard powertrain is a 5.3-liter V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD).

Standard features include 3-zone automatic climate control, remote start, roof rails, running boards, and LED exterior lighting.

The standard infotainment system is a 10.2-inch screen loaded with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other tech features include SiriusXM, 6 USB ports, and a 12-inch digital gauge cluster.

Standard safety tech features in every Yukon include the GMC Pro Safety suite, which bundles lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, IntelliBeam automatic high beams, forward collision alert, a following-distance indicator, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Before we even get into the different trims, let’s talk about the popular mechanical options of the Yukon. For starters, every trim of the Yukon is available in the standard wheelbase or the long-wheelbase XL model.

Four-wheel drive (4WD) is good for drivers in snowy climates and off-road enthusiasts. It’s standard on the AT4 and Denali Ultimate trims, and optional on every other trim of the Yukon.

The two optional engines over the standard 5.3-liter V8 are a powerful 6.2-liter V8 and an efficient 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. The diesel is optional on every trim except AT4.

Upgrading to the mid-range SLT trim adds some excellent standard features and opens up some options you can’t get on the SLE model. Added standard features include the GMC Safety Pro Plus package, which adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, a hands-free power liftgate, Bose 9-speaker audio, and a leather interior with heated and cooled front seats.

The AT4 trim is the model to get if you’re an off-road enthusiast looking for a big SUV. On top of standard 4-wheel drive, you get a rugged appearance package with a unique front fascia with an improved approach angle, a front skid plate, and all-terrain tires. This is also where Magnetic Ride Control becomes standard, and adaptive air suspension is optional. This is the lowest trim where the 6.2-liter V8 is available.

The Denali trim is where things start to get really fancy. Standard features include Bose 14-speaker premium audio, a power sliding front center console, surround-vision camera, head-up display, rear pedestrian alert, a unique appearance package, and the 6.2-liter V8as standard.

An Ultimate Package used to be available for the Denali model, but now Denali Ultimate is its own luxury trim of the Yukon.

Several features are standard on Denali Ultimate and optional on Denali. Our favorite is the Advanced Technology Package, which bundles the Super Cruise hands-free driving system, reverse automatic braking, automatic parking assist, and a rear camera mirror. Other options in this category include adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, trailer side blind-zone alert, an Advanced Security Package, power-retractible side steps, and an alarm system.

Some features unique to the Denali Ultimate that you can’t get on any other Yukon include Bose 18-speaker audio with speakers in the front headrests, a special appearance package with “Vader Chrome” trim, and massaging front seats.

Second-row captain’s chairs are standard on the Denali models and optional on SLT and AT4.

Not sure which one is for you? Compare the most popular trims of the GMC Yukon side by side.

The variety under the hood is one of the highlights of the GMC Yukon. GM hasn’t gotten the memo that the old-school, naturally aspirated V8 engine is going out of style in full-size SUVs. A nice curveball is the availability of a Duramax turbo-diesel 6-cylinder engine, which makes a lot of torque and gets the best fuel economy in this engine lineup.

Every Yukon uses a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and 4-wheel drive is optional.

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)

More Yukon fuel economy information is available at the EPA’s website.

3-year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The GMC Yukon is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This is on par for the segment, with virtually every full-size SUV in this class offering essentially the same coverage.