GMC is a red, white and blue icon that’s as American as apple pie, as the saying goes, with the brand selling large trucks and SUVs across that region since 1911. The Yukon Denali is its first offering in Australia as part of a new wave of General Motors products.
The fact apple pie was created in England aside (and despite Donald Trump claiming the USA invented everything), the big GMC is offered here in a single variant – a top spec 8-seater that counts towing as one of its standout capabilities.
With a braked towing capacity of 3,628kg, it even comes with a built-in brake controller. There are some caveats though. To achieve that figure (and its maximum 363kg ball weight) you’ll need a weight distribution hitch and a 70mm towbar tongue and ball.
A 50mm setup drops it to 3500kg and 350kg respectively. Lose the hitch kit and you’re down to 2720kg with a maximum tow all weight of 272kg. Tipping the scales at more than 2,00kg also means it’s going to need some grunt too.
A 6.2-litre Ecotec V8 petrol engine does the heavy lifting. Delivering 313kW and 624Nm, power travels through a 10-speed automatic gearbox for efficient gearing and better fuel economy.
The on-board tank can hold 91-litres and you’ll need all of it as the Yukon Denali chews its way through it. GMC claims 12.8-litres/100km but we couldn’t actually find a readout to show how much fuel we were using.
Our best (or worst) maths calculations had it somewhere well north of 14.5-litres/100km. Let’s face it, this thing is big and heavy and carries an engine from what could now be considered the old world, so why taunt the driver.
Despite its bulk, the suspension package is quite sophisticated, with wishbones up front, and multi-link at the rear. That’s accompanied by air bag support, which allows for ride height adjustment on the go and through driving modes.
It makes for a safe dismount for the elderly too. When combined with its auto folding side steps, getting in and out becomes a simple task. Stopping the big SUV comes thanks to ventilated brake discs all round.
Measuring 5.34m in length and 2.06m in width, it rides on a 3.07m wheelbase. Inside, things feel a little Texan fashion show than standard interior, with more leather than you can poke a stick at.
It’s on the doors, the dash, and the extremely comfortable and suitably large seats. The latter is accompanied by a rather obnoxious amount of space, including a first row that takes seconds for the seat to reach you forwards to the steering controls.
The second row is big enough that three burly lads could sit in without touching elbows or knees, while the final row has more room than the middle pews than most other SUVs. Boot space is 3,480-litres with both rows dropped. The technology is impressive too.
That includes adaptive cruise control, powered front seats, tri-zone climate control, and a huge 16.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system up front. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but there’s no native sat-nav.
In the second row, you’ll find dual 12.6-inch HD LCD screens with HDMI inputs and GMC official Bluetooth headsets. The 14-speaker Bose surround sound system with Centrepoint audio is an absolute class lead.
Sit in the car with your boys or entourage and turn the volume up past half way to instantly be transported into a rap video or movie star’s world. We had the pleasure of taking a few mates for a spin one night and this one line for me really sums up this SUV.
“This will never not be cool, rolling around with your boys listening to your favorite tunes.” While maybe not a privilege for the common folk given the price tag, it’s definitely one we think many will take up if they can afford it.
To add a touch of class, there’s something resembling aged wood at various points of the trim. That’s enhanced with some chrome accents to match those found outside (on the front grille with red GMC lettering and the massive 24-inch rims).
It all sort of works together, but there’s a few harsher plastic surfaces too, and the combination feels a little underdone. Due to the overall size of the Yukon, the self-park option is a God-send.
The accompanying full HD cameras (there are 13 of them) are truly impressive, especially given its more than 5.0-metre length and 2.0-metre width. We’re not going to lie, it was a car that had us wondering why you’d own it, unless you were towing a huge van or float.
It was initially perplexing, but after spending a week with it, the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali is genuinely charming, despite its girth. At a cost of $174,990 plus on-roads though, Aussies are paying an enormous penalty thanks to luxury car tax and other charges.
That aside, there’s no mistaking the fact it’s a big, flashy SUV with a tonne of prowess. There’s a lot to like, and a little to not, including the price tag, fuel consumption, and whether you can cope with its sheer presence.
You can find out more on the GM Specialty Vehicles website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by GM Specialty Vehicles for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
