News: 2021 GMC Yukon Makes Its Debut

With the recent unveil of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe & Suburban, the all-new GMC Yukon was not far behind.

Like many other GM vehicles, the all-new GMC Yukon shares much of its platform with the all-new Tahoe/Suburban. Under the hood will be the tried and tested 5.3L V8 making 355 hp. The optional engines will be the 6.2L V8 with 420 hp and a 3.0L inline-6 cylinder Duramax diesel making 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with power going to the rear wheels or all wheels via a 4×4 system.

2021 GMC Yukon Denali – Photo courtesy GMC

Just like its Tahoe sibling, the GMC Yukon will have for the first time fully independent suspension on all four wheels. An optional air suspension system can be fitted which can raise or lower the Yukon by a total of 4-inches to aid in getting in and out or when traveling over rough terrain. For Yukon’s without the air suspension system, GMC’s adaptive dampers will do the job of providing a smooth ride.

The new Yukon and Yukon XL are both longer than the outgoing models which in turn means more passenger room, especially in the back seats. The third row in the Yukon sees an upgrade of more than 10-inches over the previous model.

The interior styling features cues from current GMC models as well as its new Tahoe/Suburban sisters. The steering wheel and driver instrument cluster is identical to that of the GMC Sierra 1500 while the large touchscreen, climate controls, and gear selector buttons are similar to those of the new Tahoe/Suburban. Interestingly though, the dashboard of the Denali and AT4 are styled differently with the AT4’s touchscreen protruding from the dashboard rather than being integrated like int he Denali.

Exterior styling also takes some inspiration from current GMC models as well as the new Tahoe/Suburban. The C-shape daytime running lights and LED headlamps are similar to that of the GMC Sierra while around back, quad exhaust pipes on the Denali trim are shared with the Tahoe & Suburban. Boomerang-like taillights are similar to that of the GMC Terrain.

In terms of features, the new 2021 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL will be available with pretty much every safety and convenience item that is available in the GMC family. This includes forward emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keep, blind spot sensors, surround view camera system, a 15″ heads-up display, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless phone charging, and so on.

Pricing has not been announced but expect it to be similar to that of the current GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. The 2021 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL will go on sale in the summer.