COMFORTABLE: The premium interior of the Denali trim.
The all new GMC Yukon is impressive — it retains its size, gets lighter, gains power and becomes sleeker than before, writes Umer Nangiana
From a distance it looks grand, very much like its predecessors. Get closer and it seems compacter than before. One stands wondering if the manufacturer has trimmed the massive body in this, what they say is the all-new 2015 GMC Yukon. Well, they haven’t much. The engineer tells us it is the new aerodynamics exterior and more refined contouring that gives it a compressed look.
It definitely looks smarter and handsomer, or as some would say more beautiful, than its older models. For all those GMC Yukon fans, the much-awaited and much-required upgrade has finally arrived. In fact the GM team claims the vehicle has been entirely lifted inside-out from ground up. Except for “nuts and bolts” you would find nothing from the previous models in this new, more luxurious and more powerful Yukon, we were told.
“The Yukon and Yukon XL was engineered from the ground up, building on a strong legacy of capability to take them to the top of the segment with exceptional refinement and purposeful technology,” said Nadim Ghrayeb, GMC Brand Manager. “And when it comes to the tasks people rely on a full-size SUV for, they do it better than ever-and with more style,” he added.
Before I get behind the wheel on one of these machines lined up for us to test drive, let me first tell you what the manufacturer promises in the upgraded 2015 model, to be made available across Gulf region from mid-July this year.
The all-new 2015 GMC Yukon, XL and the flagship GMC Yukon Denali models will deliver greater capability and refinement, with more power, new fold-flat rear seats and a “Whisper Quiet” interior. It indeed was that quiet. Thanks to a new family of advanced EcoTec3 engines, the lineup is promising to deliver the segment’s best V-8 performance and fuel economy.
Bolder styling, advanced technologies, new safety and security features with more comprehensive list of standard features and enhanced infotainment options are “designed to broaden the appeal of one of the industry’s most-popular full-size SUV lineups.”
Yukon and Yukon XL share design, architectural and powertrain elements, but XL has an approximately 14-inch (355.6 mm) longer wheelbase and is approximately 20 inches (508 mm) longer overall, providing greater legroom for third-row passengers and almost twice the cargo room behind the third-row seat — ideal for bigger families.
“Versatility and spaciousness are valued by customers for both vehicles, but the Yukon XL is the choice for families with more children and those with lifestyles that require its unique combination of passenger and cargo-hauling capabilities. In fact, Yukon XL owners are more than twice as likely to transport passengers daily in the third-row seat,” said the GMC Brand Manager.
Personally, I am a big fan of huge machines’ and would like them to run the roads with authority and grandeur. I would even not mind them to be a tad longer, like the Yukon and its cousin Suburban’s XL models. But then, the handling has to be super smooth and ride more fun. To me, the 2015 GMC Yukon, Denali in particular, delivers almost all of it. Remember, you cannot get everything in a single vehicle. In traditional SUVs, GMC Yukon XL 2015, after all its upgrades, is easily one of the best when it comes to towing heavy loads and to haul large families.
As I approached one of the Yukon 2015 SLT models, I paused to give it a good look before hoping on. Bold styling cues include highly detailed chrome-accented grilles matched with GMC’s signature C-shaped light-emitting diode lighting motif, front and rear.
Projector-beam headlamps are standard on Yukon and Yukon XL. The Denali models are instantly identifiable by their signature chrome grille and unique exterior appointments including exclusive high-intensity discharge headlamps.
The inlaid doors, a new on this model, fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly reducing wind noise and contributing to improved aerodynamics. Laminated windshield and front door glass further enhances quietness inside the cabin. Lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels further reduce overall mass.
Move around and you will find a standard rear spoiler on the liftgate housing a relocated rear window wiper that is hidden when not in use, the new worm screw-style liftgate arms taking up less interior space than the previous gooseneck arms besides illuminated power-retractable assist steps available on Denali trims with new family of 18, 20 and 22-inch wheels, standard 20-inch on Denali.
Once inside, the vehicle demands a good look around before putting your foot down on the pedal. The GM team is right when it says the interiors are all-new. Those familiar with GMC vehicles would find some resemblance in design of console and soft-touch instrument panel with that of 2014 Sierra’s but largely it is Yukon’s personal new make-up.
It features a quiet cabin, authentic materials and premium infotainment choices. The door panel materials come with real stitching and purposeful use of ambient lighting in functional areas, including first and second-row foot wells and the centre console. All models have a standard Bose sound system, seats with dual-firmness foam and an ambient air vent designed to enhance comfort for front-seat passengers.
Enhanced storage options include a compartmentalised centre console that’s large enough to store a laptop or iPad and has provisions for hanging file folders and other organisational features. This is especially useful for people whose vehicle also serves as a rolling office.
It is time to rev the beast. Under the hood, Yukon is powered by EcoTec3 engine technology that GMC introduced in upgraded Sierra 2014 model. A 5.3L V-8 is standard in Yukon and Yukon XL models. I first drove an SLT before moving on to Denali with its exclusive 6.2L engine.
On a straight road, you might not feel remarkable difference between the two; however, the Denali with 420 horsepower (hp) and 624 Nm of torque — the segment’s best, according to GMC — would give you more acceleration and a stronger kick. GM says the vehicle has also shed some weight.
From the previous models, there is a marked increase in power and torque on the 2015 model. The GMC points out that the EcoTec3 engines feature state-of-the-art technologies, including direct injection, cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.
More precisely controlled combustion enables the new engines to run with a higher compression ratio, which delivers greater power and efficiency. Hydraulic engine mounts, electronic throttle control, adaptive exhaust systems, improved aerodynamics and other technologies help the engines operate in four-cylinder mode for longer periods of time with Active Fuel Management, further increasing efficiency, they said. Both engines are matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission.
The ride, through and through, is comfortable. In Denali models, you can also keep a look on your speed while keeping your eyes on the road, thanks to the heads-up display option.
The fully boxed frame composed of more than 75% high-strength steel supports a quiet and controlled ride. New shear-style body mounts attached to the frame significantly improve stiffness and contribute to the Yukon’s smooth ride.
When it comes to safety, the Yukon line-up incorporates new technologies to help protect the driver and passengers before, during and after a collision. A forward radar system and the “segment’s only” front seat centre-mounted air bag (in models with bucket seats) is engineered to provide additional protection to drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes, where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.
GM’s “Safety Alert Seat” offers directional vibrations to alert the driver about potential crash threats. Though, in rush hours you would like to deactivate the option unless you are a massage fan.
Different from previous models
Wider rear track that contributes to a more planted stance, half-inch wider wheels reducing tire flex for improved cornering performance, electric variable-assist power steering system enhances fuel economy and tailors steering assist to vehicle speed, 9.5-inch (241.3 mm) rear axle and standard automatic locking rear differential, standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, auto grade braking and hill start assist.
New four-wheel-disc brake system with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life, along with brake pedal revisions that improve pedal feel for stronger-feeling.
Denali models include third-generation magnetic ride control, a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control by “reading” the road every millisecond and changing damping in just five milliseconds.
BELOW:
1) MODERN: GMC’s new infotainment system in the Denali trim.
2) ALL NEW: It definitely looks smarter and handsomer, or as some would say more beautiful, than its older models.
3) CONVENIENCE: In Denali models, you can also keep a look on your speed while keeping your eyes on the road, thanks to the heads-up display option.