2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate First Look: Fully Loaded

Where, you might ask, does the Yukon Denali Ultimate bring GMC in terms of its General Motors sibling, Cadillac? That’s not a question the 2022 Sierra Denali Ultimate had to answer, given Caddy currently lacks a pickup, but this SUV version undoubtedly closes what gap there was between the Yukon Denali and the Escalade.

GMC’s argument is that, while Cadillac is all about the luxury, the buyers that walk into its dealerships haven’t forgotten usability too. If there’s a “typical” Denali shopper, it’s usually someone who wants high-end materials along with high tech, but who also expects to be able to take their truck to a work site still. The Denali Ultimate can’t stint on high-end finishes, but they need to hold up to daily use.

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The engine options — indeed, the whole drivetrain — reflect that. Effectively unchanged from the Yukon Denali, there’s the choice of a standard 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, or the Duramax 3.0-liter Turbo-Diesel with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque; either way, there’s a 10-speed automatic transmission. Magnetic Ride Control, Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, and the Active Response 4WD system with an electronic limited-slip diff and two-speed transfer case are all standard, too. In short, it should go just about anywhere the rest of the Yukon family can, even if the Yukon AT4 might still have a slight edge.