Capsule Review: 2015 GMC Yukon Denali

Over the last decade, General Motors observed a dramatic reduction in full-size SUV sales. GMC Yukon U.S. sales volume, for instance, fell 52% from 86,571 in 2004 to 41,569 in 2014.

Yet these vehicles remain relevant in the U.S. automotive landscape. GM, the best-selling manufacturer in the U.S., generated 8.7% of its volume with six full-size SUV nameplates in 2014, up from 7.7% in 2013. At this point, they’re not vehicles built exclusively for the rich and famous, the Secret Service, owners of big boats and RVs, and families with five children.

• USD Base Price: $67,965

How well would one version fare when GM Canada sent a CAD $84,695 copy for a one-week stay to a family with one child, no security team, no Jayco, no riches, and no fame? Quite well. But the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali did a better job of making the case for another GM vehicle than it did for itself.

I AM JUST A POOR BOY

In the U.S., 4WD Yukon Denalis start at $67,965, a $16,780 jump from the base Yukon SLE. Equipped like the one pictured here, the U.S. price would rise to around $77,000.

But let’s face it, this interior doesn’t scream money. As the guy who didn’t pay big bucks to actually own this Yukon, it wasn’t hard for me to enjoy the simplicity of GMC’s IntelliLink (certainly not after a week with Acura’s convoluted system) and the vehicle’s high feature load. Still, any time I was left waiting in the Denali, I remembered other interiors at this price point and was left balancing the lower-class ambience of the Denali’s interior with, “But I can tow 8100 pounds and the Audi A8 can’t!”

Making matters worse, standard-wheelbase models just aren’t that roomy in the back. Second row passengers have far less knee room than you’d expect in a vehicle that’s 17-feet long. (Key dimensions: 204 inches long; 80 inches wide; and 74 inches tall on a 116-inch wheelbase.) Third row space would be decent if not for a floor so high that it jacks up knees to chin height. Standard-wheelbase, full-size SUVs continue to have an issue with cargo space behind the third row, as well. 15.3 cubic feet is the official figure, but making the most of that space requires artful placement of very slim luggage. The 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row is box-shaped, but the load height has been elevated to make a flat floor possible. This reduces overall space and makes life a pain for dogs who don’t have extensive agility training.

SLOW DOWN, YOU MOVE TOO FAST

Sure, there’s a truck-like momentary lapse in the steering on and just off centre, but modern pickup trucks (and offshoots such as this Yukon) continue to impress with deftness that belies their size. Car & Driver says the Yukon Denali accelerates to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, a shocking figure which will likely be reduced by a smarter 8-speed automatic. This outgoing 6-speed never shifts poorly, but it doesn’t manifest the intelligence of newer automatics.

Officially, the Yukon Denali’s forthcoming 8-speed doesn’t make a huge fuel economy difference, increasing the 6.2L’s city number from 14 to 15 mpg and leaving the 21 mpg highway figure unchanged. (The real-world gains are surely more meaningful.) In our 6-speed tester, we saw 12.7 mpg, a figure exacerbated by winter rolling stock (285/45R22 Bridgestone Blizzaks), cold weather, excessive idling, and city driving. The 4WD system was left in auto mode for the duration of its stay, save for a handful of RWD moments at the end of our cul-de-sac after a light snowfall. You can imagine why.

GOING TO THE CANDIDATES’ DEBATE

The Escalade’s CUE will improve upon the Denali’s interior style quotient, if not its usability. There are smaller vehicles which do a better job of squeezing in seven occupants. Although the Yukon Denali handles well for what it is, there are genuine track-capable utility vehicles in existence. I couldn’t help but value the vehicle’s surplus all-around capability, however, and the GMC’s knack for coming across as a pleasant vehicle to live with despite being built to do rugged things conventional crossovers can’t.

As a three-row vehicle, it comes up short. As a luxury contender, I’m not sure it lives up to its MSRP. Nevertheless, the Yukon Denali convinces me that GM is at its best when GM is building their most profitable vehicles. It also convinces me that I’d prefer to pay less for more vehicle. Thankfully, that vehicle exists. It’s called the Chevrolet Suburban.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures.