2020 GMC Yukon Review

　　

2020 GMC Yukon Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The 2020 GMC Yukon's appeal is pretty familiar: It has lots of interior space, three rows of seating, and enough capability to tow just about anything you put behind it. Just like its corporate twin, the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Yukon is based on a truck platform and has two robust V8 engines on offer.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 GMC Yukon SLE 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$209/mo  for Yukon SLE

　　Yukon SLE

　　SLE 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A) - $49,600 MSRPSLE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A) - $52,600 MSRPSLT Standard Edition 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A) - $54,800 MSRPSLT Standard Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A) - $57,800 MSRPSLT 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A) - $57,600 MSRPSLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A) - $60,600 MSRPDenali 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 10A) - $66,700 MSRPDenali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 10A) (Most Popular) - $69,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　The Yukon's traditional approach, however, isn't without some drawbacks. Compared to most crossover SUVs, the rear seats are mounted high and the cargo area has a high liftover height, which makes for difficult loading and unloading. What's more, the standard 5.3-liter V8 feels a bit overmatched in such a large vehicle, as do the merely adequate brakes.

　　If a three-row SUV with serious towing capacity is a must-have, we'd recommend looking at the Ford Expedition. It does a better job of combining truck-based utility with modern comfort. You could also check out the Tahoe if you want to save a bit of cash. The Yukon is a little nicer, but the differences are pretty minimal.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Yukon drive? With the 6.2-liter V8, the Yukon is quick to accelerate. We measured a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. The 10-speed automatic shifts smoothly, but it's not as responsive as we'd like in city driving or traffic. You have to push the pedal down quite a bit to get a strong braking response. In our panic-braking test, the Yukon took a lengthy 141 feet to come to a stop from 60 mph.

　　The Yukon's steering is precise, but there's no denying physics — it is a big and heavy SUV. We do like how the optional adaptive suspension does a good job of resisting body roll when cornering. The Yukon stays planted as long as you're not making tight turns.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Yukon? Comfortable front seats and a quiet cabin are the highlights of the Yukon's interior. But even the MagneRide suspension can't correct for the oversized wheels and unsophisticated chassis. Small, sharp bumps are transmitted into the cabin, making for a busy ride.

　　Noise isolation is excellent. You won't hear much traffic and tire noise, and wind noise is no more than a low whooshing sound at speed. The tri-zone climate-control system is easy to operate and has straightforward controls. The back-and-butt or back-only heated seats warm up quickly, and seat ventilation is effective.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Passengers in the front and second rows enjoy plenty of space. There's knee, elbow and shoulder room to spare. Drivers should easily be able to find a comfortable seating position, too. The third row is perched up high, so adults will sit hugging their knees. There's also no toe room for third-row passengers. On anything longer than a short trip, the third row is ultimately for kids only.

　　Most controls are clearly labeled and easy to locate, but the infotainment system is not as user-friendly as GM's newer setup found on other models. As for visibility, the views straight ahead and to the sides are commanding, but your view out of the back is poor.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Compared to the newer GM infotainment systems, this interface feels noticeably dated. It's more complicated to navigate, and the mix of touch and button controls is more awkward. The rearview camera is low-resolution and barely helpful at night. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard but integration isn't smooth. For example, you have to stop playing phone audio to adjust the stereo's tone settings.

　　Voice controls work well enough for simple functions, but we had some issues inputting destinations to the nav system, with some extra steps required to complete a command. Sound quality for the optional stereo is average, but the system can handle plenty of volume without distortion.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? With the second and third rows folded down, you get an impressive 94.7 cubic feet of storage space. Unfortunately, the cargo area is narrow and the load floor is high, limiting the usefulness of this space. Up front, there's sufficient space for small items, but it's not organized as well as in some rival SUVs.

　　When it comes to family duty, the Yukon's raised seating positions make it a little difficult to get kids and safety seats in and out. But the car seat anchors are clearly marked, and there's plenty of second-row room for even the bulkiest car seats.

　　The Yukon's max towing capacity of 8,500 pounds is nearly class-leading, and you can get an integrated brake controller and Trailer Sway Control.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The 6.2-liter V8 with four-wheel drive returns nearly the same EPA-estimated mileage as the less powerful 5.3-liter engine: 17 mpg in combined city/highway driving. On our real-world evaluation loop we fell short of estimates, coming in around 16 mpg even with extensive freeway miles.

　　

Value

6.0/10

　　Is the Yukon a good value? You get a lot of power for your money with the 6.2-liter V8, but overall the Yukon lacks the features and refinement we expect. Interior surface coverings make the cabin look nice at a glance, but they're still more plasticky than the materials in some rivals. We also noted a few creaks from our test vehicle's cabin during our testing. GMC's warranties are on par for the segment.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　Certain aspects of the Yukon are cool. We admire the vibe of a big SUV with a big engine, and there's something laudable about this GMC's staunch faith in truck-based toughness. But the lack of refinement and smart design ultimately makes the Yukon a bit of a head-scratcher.

　　

Which Yukon does zzdcar recommend?

At the top of the heap, the GMC Yukon we recommend is the Denali trim level. It comes standard with the 6.2-liter V8 and adaptive suspension, and it allows you access to some of the safety features you can't get on lower trim levels. If the Denali is a bit pricey for your taste, you might want to take a look at the nearly identical Chevy Tahoe.

　　

2020 GMC Yukon models

The 2020 GMC Yukon is a full-size SUV offered in SLE, SLT and Denali trim levels. Most Yukons seat eight passengers, but an optional front bench seat on the SLE trim increases the capacity to nine. Second-row bucket seats are available on the SLT trim and standard on the Denali. They reduce passenger capacity to seven.

　　The standard engine is the 5.3-liter V8 that produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Available on the SLT and standard on the Denali is a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard, while four-wheel drive is optional.

　　Standard feature highlights for the SLE trim include tri-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-only leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar communications (including a 4G LTE connection and a Wi-Fi hotspot), an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose nine-speaker audio system. The optional Enhanced Driver Alert package adds a few advanced driver safety aids, while the Convenience package provides enhancements such a power liftgate and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

　　There are two versions of the SLT trim: the SLT Standard Edition and the plain-old SLT. The Standard Edition includes all of the above, along with extras such as leather upholstery and heated front seats. The SLT further loads up the Yukon with keyless entry and ignition, a heated and power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and power-folding second- and third-row seats, among other features.

　　Compared to the SLT, the top-of-the-line Denali trim adds the larger engine and 10-speed transmission (with low-range gearing on 4WD models), adaptive suspension dampers, a trailer brake controller and more technology features.

　　Most top-of-the-line features are available as optional extras on lower trims in some shape or form. Optional for SLE and SLT trims is an HD Trailering package.

　　

2020 Yukon Highlights

Trim: SLESLT Standard EditionSLTDenaliSLE

　　

Base MSRP	$49,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$209/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles