LOOKS
You could say the Yukon XL has two personalities. With all three rows of seats up, it’s very comfortable for all passengers (up to nine fit in the base model), plus it has a large space in back for storage; With the 2nd and 3rd row seats folded down, you could fit a queen-size bed in this thing, maybe even a king-size. There are few vehicles available with this kind of cargo space.

Getting back to the bigness of this bad boy, it is one of the biggest consumer vehicles on the market. Coming in at a lengthy 224.4 inches (5.70 meters), it’s trailing only a few supersized pickup trucks and vans. Too big is a word some would use though -- parking is a pain at times, and driving it around tight city corners is sometimes a bit hairy.

One area where there will be little disagreement is the overall quality of the interior. From the overall spaciousness and headroom, to the well-designed displays on the touchscreen and instrument cluster, this is one sharp-looking vehicle that also happens to be user-friendly. Even tech newbies should be able to figure the systems out, though responsiveness to touch input is sometimes an issue.

The Denali design features, added to both the interior and exterior, increase the wow factor on the Yukon XL (and more than half of those who buy a Yukon opt for the Denali version). These features include a Denali-specific chrome grille, and upgraded 8-inch instrument cluster inside, 20-inch chrome wheels, turn signal on side mirrors, chrome accents, an upgraded interior with more wood accents, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, second-row power-folding captain’s chairs, and more. The Yukon XL is an impressive vehicle without the Denali package, but it’s even better with all the bells and whistles -- just be prepared to pay a pretty penny for the upgrade.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
The 2015 Yukon XL Denali features a 6.2-liter V8 engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offers 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, so you’ll definitely get moving … but even with that kind of number, it’s hard to get a nearly three-ton beast like this moving quickly.

Also, if you plan to do any towing, the XL can tow almost 8,000 pounds, which is an impressive number.

Driving a big vehicle like this is not for everyone. You’re up high, and this one especially is very high off the ground so smaller folks will feel like they are climbing the stairs to get into it or load the groceries.

I enjoyed my time driving the Yukon XL, not only for its power, but also in part because of its ability to maintain a quiet ride in the cabin even though there are a lot of horses working under the hood.

SAFETY, TECHNOLOGY
As with most of the big SUVs on the market, you get a full list of safety and tech options, some standard and some optional, on the Yukon XL.

Standard features include: traction control, antilock brakes, a multitude of airbags, OnStar (for roadside assistance and much more), front and rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.

Some equipment is standard on Denali versions, but optional on other trim levels, including: Lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision alert, and more. Government safety test results were not perfect, but still strong (four out of five stars overall).

In-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot is also available on the Yukon XL; allowing devices to be connected to WiFi during road trips.

MPG
Official numbers on the Yukon XL are 14 city/20 highway/16 combined; I got about 18 so I beat the average; Not bad for a car this huge, and it’s on par or slightly better than most of the competition. The gas tank holds 31 gallons, so you’ll be good for at least 500 miles.

PRICE
My test vehicle started at $70,220, and by the time features were added (Premium Package with head-up display and power running boards, adaptive cruise control, power sunroof and rear entertainment system, 22-inch wheels), the total had grown to $78,725.
Not a small price, but this is not a small car. Its similarly sized GM cousin the Cadillac Escalade will cost you even more and is a bit more flashy inside.

If you drop the Denali features and go with a base version of the Yukon XL, you will be spending just a hair over $50K.

BOTTOM LINE
The GMC Yukon XL’s massive size makes it a vehicle that not everyone will want. But those who do have lots of people and things to carry (and tow) and want to drive around in luxury and style will love it and the versatility it offers, and it’s more affordable than a Cadillac Escalade.

It won’t win any drag races, but the power under the hood is still strong and the towing capacity is a nice feature. Those who want to go big have a few options, but the 2015 GMC Yukon XL Denali is one to keep near the top of your list.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.