LOOKS
The Yukon remains one of the few vehicles that hasn’t become a crossover; it’s a full-sized, truck-based SUV (with the option to make it even more full-sized if you choose the Yukon XL).

The Yukon Denali is a unique offering, one that combines a luxurious setup with a powerful towing capability and a general underlying theme of ruggedness. It’s big, flashy and catches your eye, but perhaps not quite as much as, for example, an Infiniti SUV or it’s GM brethren the Cadillac Escalade. It looks all business, so you wouldn’t guess what the interior of a Yukon Denali holds.

Inside, it’s massive. My daughter could literally run around inside the vehicle, and adults can sit in the third row comfortably (something I rarely can say). The amount of head space and leg room is among the best you’ll find in the class, and storage space with all seats put away is enough to haul a large load. Max cargo room is 94.7 cubic feet. The size will be a big selling point for larger families and those who travel a lot.

The key here is the Denali trim. While a regular Yukon will get you the utility and space, the Denali boost takes things to a new level, featuring leather-appointed seating, aluminum trim, wood inlays, detailed stitching, and a heated steering wheel. On the exterior, you will see the Denali-style grille, chrome accents, LED turn signals, 22-inch aluminum or chrome wheels, and optional power assist steps to help you get in and out of the vehicle.

While it’s not considered on the level of an Escalade or a Navigator in the minds of everyone, I can say that in my view a Yukon Denali is every bit as much a luxury SUV as those competitors.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

I had a blast driving the Yukon Denali; and not only because of its plush interior.
The vehicle’s 6.2-liter, V8 engine (which produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque) offers significant oomph to propel this large ride through the highways and byways.

For those who have a load to carry, the Yukon Denali has a max of 8,400 pounds towing capacity, impressive for the class. Inside, the Yukon is a quiet ride, and steering is responsive. The Yukon moves well for a large vehicle, though at times it will feel like you’re in a truck.

The Yukon’s powertrain sounds strong, not like it’s being overly taxed -- a deficiency I sometimes hear on other larger vehicles. The power impresses, and if you’re behind the wheel it’s a very pleasant experience overall.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Among key safety features on the Yukon Denali: forward collision alert, side blind zone alert with lane change alert, lane keep assist, rear vision camera, rear cross traffic alert, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Overall safety ratings are generally strong, though rollover rating was a bit lower than the other ratings (side and frontal ratings were five stars; overall score four stars, rollover only 3 stars).

The 8-inch touchscreen features navigation and GMC’s Intellilink system. Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility are both offered.

Being a GM product, OnStar (and all the safety/security it brings) is offered on the Yukon.

The vehicle can also become a 4G LTE hotspot, and a 10-speaker Bose surround sound system is standard.  Other helpful features include a hands-free liftgate, and wireless phone charging.

One tech note that I didn’t like: If you choose the DVD/rear entertainment system, you’ll notice the screen hangs down in the middle of the aisle, which can block the rear view of the driver. Placement of this screen was not ideal.

MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers on the 2016 Yukon Denali are 15 city/21 highway/17 combined. Not great numbers, but better than some full-size SUVs.

PRICE
My test vehicle came in at $74,725; base price for the Yukon Denali starts just over $65K. This is no small chunk of change, but falls somewhere between what you’d pay for an expensive truck, and what you’d pay for an expensive SUV from a traditional luxury brand.

BOTTOM LINE

A majority of people who buy the GMC Yukon end up choosing the Denali model, and I can see why. It takes a strong, rugged vehicle, and spruces it up to the point where it can compete against some of the biggest luxury names in the business in terms of sharpness and likeability.

GMC has done a great job over the years establishing itself as a workhorse brand, but these Denali offerings bring a whole new viewpoint to the table, and this combination of luxury and power is a rarity in today’s auto industry.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.