GMC has given its popular Yukon SUV a slight refresh for 2025, but the bigger news is that diesel power – and more of it – will now be available on all trims.
Updates to the big SUV include a new grill design (below), a redesigned dashboard, and a big center screen measuring nearly 17 inches diagonally. For urban explorers, there’s even an option for 24-inch wheels from the factory.
There will be three engine options for the three-row behemoth, including two gas V8 plants. The 5.3-liter engine will make 355 horses, while the larger 6.2 liter mill will make 420 horsepower. The diesel option is a straight-six Duramax making 305 horsepower and 495 pound feet of torque. Those numbers are up from 277hp/460lb-ft on the old diesel.
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There will be five Yukon trims, with the base Elevation model expected to come in around $65,000, the AT4 at $74,000, the Denali at $79,000 and two luxury trims, the AT4 Ultimate at a cool $100,000 and the top-spec Denali Ultimate at $102,000. Those prices are estimates; GMC has not released official numbers but is expected to soon. The Elevation base trim replaces the old SLE and SLT variants.
All models, gas or diesel, get a 10-speed auto and either rear or all-wheel-drive, depending on the trim. Going with rear-wheel drive nets an 8,400-pound tow rating, adding all-wheel drive trims 200 pounds off the rating, so it’s not a bad trade. The diesel option moves peak torque down low to under 2,000 rpms, the gassers need to spin higher for maximum twist. Protective underplating is also an option or standard on some trims. Check out the gallery below:
Interior comfort is commensurate with the trim and price, of course, with the six-digit models getting heated and cooled front seats with massage built in. Buyers can also opt for captain chairs instead of a bench for the second row, and those thrones will also include massage, heat, and cooling, along with dedicated widescreen format touchscreens for entertainment. All trims get a new 16.8-inch center screen up front. Top trims can also include a 22-speaker Bose audio system, which includes speakers in the headrests. Seat materials run from cloth to double-crossed-stitched leather.
GMC has nixed the poorly-received push-button shifter in favor of a more traditional column-mounted selector for 2025. Nanny tech includes the usual suite of cameras, sensors, radars, and assistants, including automatically opening the tailgate when you walk up with your arms full, as long as the key fob is in your pocket. There’s tech that can even detect if your trailer tires are low on air pressure. Thermal night vision that shows on the center screen is an option, and the LED light package can do a happy dance when you ask it to.
Again, exact pricing information from GMC is expected soon.
