2021 GMC Yukon

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Rating7.8

Ranked #3 in 

Fullsize SUV
Write Review
$50,700 - $71,600
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 1, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

good towing capacity

Reliability rating is poor

A new platform

Spacious and stylish interior

Too many options

new Independent rear suspension setup

Easy to use Infotainment system

Loading floor is high

new trim

Multiple engine options

Performance is sluggish

Increased Front Approach Angle

All-New Active 4WD

Specs & Features

$51,000

price

TBD

horsepower

TBD

torque

10-Speed Automatic

transmission

3.0L 6cyl 10A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

A large,three row,big flexing muscles to haul the family and towing, all of these is a base trait for the GMC Yukon. The Yukon might be a distant relative of the Tahoe and the Suburban from Chevrolet.This is not something to be disappointed about since both those cars from chevy are good. The Yukon is powered by three different engines,two V8 engines and one turbo Inline-6.All these three engines are mated to a 10 speed automatic transmission which can be operated through GMC’s unique and signature Push-Button style gear selector.

Buying Advice

The SLE trim even though costly seems really good and feature loaded,with 20” aluminum wheels on offer the car looks good,with the leather seats being ventilated and heated so the people travel in comfort and for those music lovers the 9 speaker Bose audio system is a big treat.Thus, the trim we would opt would be the fully loaded SLE.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The Yukon’s cabin is really spacious and airy,the new model is made better by upgrading the features and more cargo space than before.The car is now being made friendly for the whole family and for all activities we perform together.It now can do the Family vacations,the shopping trips and the parties too.This car as mentioned is a cousin Tahoe and the Suburban and yet can stand out and be distinguished from them thanks to the difference in styling and look of the car. 

Features

The 2021 GMC Yukon is offered in two trims.Starting at $51,995 comes the SLE trim.this is the base model and has a 5.3L V8 engine and with a single 10-Speed transmission.A 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine available is available as optional for another $1000.

The Price of the Yukon goes all the way up to $69,695 and at that point we have the SLT trim coming in

Coming into 2021, the 2021 GMC Yukon is offered in over 2 trim levels- SLE and SLT. There is also the AT4, and the Denali variants, with prices ranging from an MSRP of $51,995 to $69,695. The 2021 GMC Yukon offers three engine choices, namely the 5.3L V8 in the SLE, SLT, and the new AT4 trims, whereas the 6.2L V8 engine option in the Denali trim, along for all the variants with the SLE and SLT trims will cost you an extra $1000. The prices of the 2021 GMC Yukon start at an MSRP of $51,995 for the base SLE trim and goes all the way up to $69,695 for the top-of-the-line Denali trim. However, that's not all, all the trims of the 2021 Yukon come standard with an RWD drivetrain. In order to get an AWD configuration, you need to spend a few extra bucks ($3000 to be precise) on your Yukon. 

Trims

SLE

SLT

MSRP(2WD)

$51,995

$59,095

MSRP(4WD)

$54,995

$62,095

Key Features

10.2-inch diagonal GMC Infotainment System

Adds/Upgrades to` SLE

 

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

Wireless charging

 

High Definition Surround Vision System

20-inch 6-spoke polished aluminum wheels

 

Independent Rear Suspension

Heated and Ventilated Perforated Leather Seating Surfaces

 

Trailer Brake Controller

Bose 9-Speaker Audio System

Which Trim should you buy?

The SLE trim even though costly seems really good and feature loaded,with 20” aluminum wheels on offer the car looks good,with the leather seats being ventilated and heated so the people travel in comfort and for those music lovers the 9 speaker Bose audio system is a big treat.Thus, the trim we would opt would be the fully loaded SLE.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

The Yukon with the 5.3L V8 engine returns 16mpg in the city and 20mpg out on the highway.when the truck is using a RWD drivetrain.The mileage figures drop by one i.e.15 mpg in the city and 19mpg on the highway,if the 4WD drivetrain option is chosen.The bigger engine might be assumed to be more thirsty but it returns almost the same figures.which can be interpreted in just one of the two ways that either the bigger engine is more fuel efficient or the smaller engine is not as efficient as the bigger one.

Models

2021 GMC Yukon

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

2021 Ford Expedition

2021 Nissan Armada

MPG (city)

16

16

17

13

MPG (highway)

20

20

24

18

MPG (combined)

19

18

19

15

Fuel Capacity

26.0

24.0

25

26

Range (city/highway/combined)

390/572/NA

390/572/494

510/690/570

364/494/416

The Ford is the most fuel efficient car among the list offering a mileage of 17mpg in the city and 24mpg on the highway which is a good thing considering that the Chevy and the Yukon both offer 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway,while the Nissan offers the least mileage with 13mpg in the city and 18mpg on the highway.however the Yukon and the Nissan have the biggest fuel tank capacity on offer at 26 gallons while the Tahoe offers the smallest 24 gallon tank.

Interior
7.0/10

The 2021 GMC Yukon's interiors are still made to have the head-turning style, modern amenities, and high levels of ride comfort. The 2021 Yukon's seating capacity is still 9, the amount of space on offer has been increased considerably.The dashboard layout h;as been made similar to its cousin the Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban.

With aluminum trim, acoustic glass, and exclusive upholstery patterns, the Yukon feels a lot more rich and worthy of the extra price. 

The Yukon’s cabin space is complemented by a good arrangement of seats.Just like any SUV close to the same size, the 2021 GMC Yukon comes with three rows of seating. Each row speaks a lot about the technology and ergonomics used in designing the vehicle.The second row has an option for captain seats, which reduces the seating capacity to 7, while leaving a central passage for access to the third row. The new Yukon is six inches long, so the second and the third rows get even more comfortable. 

Models

2021 GMC Yukon

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

2021 Ford Expedition

2021 Nissan Armada

Seating Capacity

8

8

8

8

Front Row (head/shoulder/Legroom) (in.)

42.8/64.8/45.3

42.8/64.8/45.3

42/64.9/43.9

40.9/63.8/41.9

Rear Row (head/shoulder/Legroom) (in.)

38.7/65.1/39.0

38.7/65.1/39.0

40/64.8/41.5

40.0/63.4/41.0

Third Row (head/shoulder/Legroom) (in.)

38.1/62.6/24.8

38.1/62.6/24.8

37.3/64.2/40.9

36.4/60.5/28.3

Cargo Capacity behind 3rd row (cu. ft)

25.5

25.4

20.9

16.5

Cargo Capacity behind 2nd row (cu. ft)

72.6

72.6

63.6

49.9

Cargo Capacity behind the front row (cu. ft)

122.9

122.9

104.6

95.4

Thanks to these figures we can clearly see that the Yukon is really spacious. The second row offers a good amount of space,with the captain seats. The third row is more of a place not too favoured for seating during very long drives . The Chevrolet Tahoe was one of the spacious models in the segment, but it looks like GMC is taking the fight straight for the crown. 

The GMC Yukon’s interior features include the following:

  • Premium Perforated Leather seat trim
  • 12 way Powered Driver Seat
  • 12 Way Power passenger seat
  • Heated Front Seats with 3 Level Adjustments
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Captain’s seat option for the 2nd row
  • Heated 2nd Row Outboard Seats
  • 60/540 Split 3rd Row Seats
  • 60/40 Split-Folding 2nd-Row Bench Seats
  • 2nd and 3rd Row Adjustable Headrests

What’s there to keep you entertained?

When it comes to GMC’s entertainment feature list, there is always an expectation of the best. The maker has remained as the country’s top vehicle maker for a long time, and this has given access to a lot of new technology.The company on its part has always taken the heads on approach towards trying something new.Thus, the new Yukon gets a lot of infotainment and convenience options. Starting with the front dash which is equipped with a 10.25” diagonal reconfigurable infotainment system inbuilt with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay coupled with Bluetooth and connectivity options for 4G LTE.

The driver is given a novel 15” multicolor display as an instrument cluster to show all necessary information relating to the state of the vehicle.

The highlight of the interior is the dash-mounted setup of the electronic transmission interface. This set-up comes with buttons for transmission states and are built into the left side of the central 10.25” infotainment display.The infotainment system is mated to a 6-speaker surround sound system and ambient lighting modes.The steering wheel is heated for convenience and the front seats are heated as well as ventilated.

The highlight interior features inside the 2021 GMC Yukon are: 

  • 10.25-inch Touch-Screen Display with GMC Connected Access Capability
  • Smart Cruise Control with Steering Mounted Controls
  • Smart Key with Push Button Start
  • Steering-Wheel-Mounted Audio, Hands-Free Phone Buttons
  • Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
  • 4 USB Ports with two 12V charging points
  • Front Power Seats w/ Driver's Memory

Exterior
7.0/10

The Yukon now shares the same platform as the Tahoe and Suburban,the updates for the new trucks include 20-inch wheels, brand new C-shaped LED headlights with turn indicators integrated into the ‘C’.A humongous front bumper,beautiful muscular creases on the hood and quad-outlet exhaust makes it look even more alpha.

Models

2021 GMC Yukon

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

2021 Ford Expedition

2021 Nissan Armada

Curb Weight (lbs)

5379

5647

5443

5677

Length (inches)

210.0

210.7

210

208.9

Width (inches)

81.0

81.0

79.9

79.9

Height (inches)

76.5

75.9

76.6

75.8

Ground Clearance (inches)

8.0

7.9

9.8

9.1

Wheelbase (inches)

120.9

120.9

122.5

121.1

The Ford comes out on top here among the list.The Yukon is the lightest car in here even though it is almost 5000 lbs and it is also the slowest car off the lot.It also has the same wheelbase and has a good ground clearance of 8.0” ,while also being quite tall a truck.

The important exterior features are:

  • 20-inch wheels
  • brand new C-shaped LED headlights 
  • turn indicators integrated into the ‘C’
  • A humongous front bumper
  • beautiful muscular creases on the hood
  • quad-outlet exhaust 

Safety
9.0/10

The new Yukon will have a good advantage over its predecessors in terms of safety as it gets a lot of contemporary safety features both active and passive features indulging occupant and pedestrian safety but, some of the features are reserved as optional and have to be bought separately.

The Yukon does come packed with a decent amount of features like 7 airbags, front and rear park assists, a glass break alarm, a LATCH system, intelligent high-beams, etc.

It also has some SUV specific features like Hitch guidance, hill descent control, hill start assist, and a StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with traction control.The other important safety features of the car are: 

  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • HD Surround Vision
  • Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
  • Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) 
  • Teen Driver

Competition
8.0/10

2021 GMC Yukon vs. 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

Being part of the same family tree, there's a lot that the Yukon and the Tahoe share in common. The platform,the powertrain options,performance, interior space and almost everything else that is there in the car. However, the GMC Yukon is the pricier take on this aspect of life while the Chevy Tahoe does everything that the Yukon does but on an affordable budget.

2021 GMC Yukon vs. 2021 Ford Expedition

The Expedition is Ford's reply to the full-size SUV lineup from General Motors. The Expedition is a pretty good SUV that can haul you and your buddies or family around in a lot of comfort. The Ford Expedition is being carried forward to the model year 2021 without any changes, while rivals like the Yukon comes adorning an all-new body work.Thus,the Yukon will garner you more attention, but, the Expedition will help you save some bucks in the long term. 

2021 GMC Yukon vs. 2021 Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada is a very practical deal in this SUV segment. With the best power figures of 390 hp to the fastest 0-60 sprinting time of 5.9 seconds in the class , the Armada gets the job done. but, if it's more than that on your mind this might not be the car and you will be better off with the yukon.There is a lot more features,space and comfort on the Yukon than the Armada which is a rather raw vehicle.The Yukon is a much more delightful choice than the Armada if not much more practical. 

Final Verdict

The Yukon is more of a car with capabilities to outdo itself many times over but is not given the opportunity to prove itself.It is often overseen and overshadowed by the likes of the more popular ford Expedition and the less expensive Chevrolet Tahoe and the Chevrolet more so as it is practically a very affordable Yukon.But this is not a bad car either.Especially the Denali trims offered are a delight always.

Trims

    SLE
    $50,700 onwards
    • 2 - 1st row LCD monitor
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Rear air conditioning, with separate controls
    • SiriusXM with 360L AM/FM/HD/Satellite, Radio
    SLT
    $57,800 onwards
    • 20-inch polished aluminum Wheels
    • Heated Front Seats
    • Leather Seat trim
    AT4
    $65,100 onwards
    • Engine: 5.3L 8cyl 4WD 10A
    • Horsepower: 355 hp @ 5600 rpm hp
    • Torque: 383 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 8 sec
    • Top Speed: 106 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 18 mpg
    Denali
    $68,400 onwards
    • Engine: 3.0L 6cyl 10A
    • Horsepower: TBD hp
    • Torque: TBD
    • 0-60 mph: 8 sec
    • Top Speed: 110 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 23 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$48,900- $68,300

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.28

Horsepower

400 hp @ 5800 rpm

Torque

413 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

Capacity

8

Read Review

$40,000- $56,000

Gasoline

7.18

310 hp @ 6800 rpm

266 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm

7

Read Review

$76,195- $103,595

Gasoline

7.75

420 hp @ 5600 rpm

460 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm

7

Read Review

$48,000- $72,600

Gasoline

7.01

355 hp @ 5600 rpm

383 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm

9

Read Review

$32,295- $45,445

Gasoline

7.11

260 hp @ 5600 rpm

277 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

8

Read Review

$32,570- $80,995

Gasoline

7.19

293 hp @ 6400 rpm

260 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

7

Read Review

$32,925- $54,730

Gasoline

7.21

300 hp @ 5500 rpm

310 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm

7

Read Review

$29,800- $54,595

Gasoline

6.25

310 hp @ 6800 rpm

266 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm

8

Read Review

$50,700- $71,600

Gasoline

7.79

420 hp @ 5600 rpm

460 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm

9

Read Review

$50,700- $75,300

Gasoline

6.81

355 hp @ 5600 rpm

383 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm

9

Read Review

2021 GMC Yukon vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    6.2 sec14.0 sec124 mph
    5.1 sec13.7 sec-
    5.5 sec13.3 sec152 mph
    5.9 sec14.4 sec-
    5.9 sec--
    5.9 sec14.6 sec115 mph

    2021 GMC Yukon vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      16 mpg20 mpg18 mpg24 gal.384/480 mi.
      21 mpg28 mpg24 mpg17.9 gal.375.9/501.2 mi.
      21 mpg27 mpg23 mpg19.3 gal.405.3/521.1 mi.
      21 mpg24 mpg22 mpg18.6 gal.409.5/468 mi.
      18 mpg27 mpg21 mpg19.4 gal.349.20/523.80 mi.
      18 mpg26 mpg21 mpg19.4 gal.342/494 mi.

      2021 GMC Yukon vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        210 in.81 in.76.5 in.8 in.120.9 in.
        225.7 in.81.1 in.75.7 in.7.9 in.134.1 in.
        211.9 in.81.1 in.76.7 in.8 in.120.9 in.
        210.7 in.81 in.75.8 in.7.9 in.120.9 in.
        210 in.79.9 in.76.6 in.9.8 in.122.5 in.
        210 in.79.9 in.76.4 in.9.7 in.122.5 in.

        2021 GMC Yukon vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          25.5 cu.ft.72.9 cu.ft.122.9 cu.ft.
          16.5 cu.ft.98.6 cu.ft.95.4 cu.ft.
          41.5 cu.ft.36.8 cu.ft.144.7 cu.ft.
          18.9 cu.ft.-120.1 cu.ft.
          20.6 cu.ft.153.7 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.
          17.8 cu.ft.153.5 cu.ft.86.5 cu.ft.

          2021 GMC Yukon vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            122.9 cu.ft.25.5 cu.ft.122.9 cu.ft.-
            96.8 cu.ft.20.6 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.-
            82.8 cu.ft.16.1 cu.ft.82.8 cu.ft.-
            224.5 cu.ft.41.5 cu.ft.144.7 cu.ft.-
            39.6 cu.ft.23.6 cu.ft.97.6 cu.ft.-
            120.1 cu.ft.18.9 cu.ft.120.1 cu.ft.-

            2021 GMC Yukon vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              8400 lbs.1792 lbs.5356 lbs.
              9300 lbs.1757 lbs.5443 lbs.
              8600 lbs.1620 lbs.5673 lbs.
              8500 lbs.1723 lbs.5577 lbs.
              8400 lbs.1834 lbs.5473 lbs.
              8300 lbs.1750 lbs.5616 lbs.

              2021 GMC Yukon SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              13

              Recalls

              4

              Investigations

              256

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              MPG Combined : 18 mpg

              0-60 : 6.2 sec

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