Author: Steve Allen |
2,017

The GMC Yukon family of full-size SUVs provides the capability, refinement, safety, performance and connectivity discerning customers expect. For 2016, Yukon, Yukon XL, Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali expand the Enhanced Driver Alert Package; and add two 22-inch wheel options, hands-free liftgate for SLT models, two new exterior colors and a capless fuel fill feature.

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

The Yukon was all new for the 2015 model year, distinguishing itself with bold exterior styling, a precision-crafted interior and a more standard features designed to broaden the appeal of already one of the industry’s most popular family of full-size SUVs.

The Yukon’s distinctive Denali models provide an exclusive collection of design, performance and upscale interior amenities. More than half of all Yukons sold are Denali models.

Yukon at a glance

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

Yukon SLE and SLT models are powered by advanced EcoTec3 engines that deliver more horsepower and torque with the segment’s best V-8 fuel economy. EPA-estimated highway fuel economy is 23 mpg with the standard 5.3L engine (2WD models).

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

Yukon Denali’s exclusive 6.2L engine makes the most power in the segment – 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It’s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission that further enhances efficiency and refinement.

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

Yukon and Yukon XL share design and powertrain elements. The Yukon XL wheelbase is 14 inches longer (20 inches longer overall) for greater third-row legroom and more than double the cargo room behind the third-row seat.

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

For 2016 models, new phone integration technology enhances connectivity and promotes safer driving through Yukon’s next generation IntelliLink system. The new technology allows smartphone users to connect with applications such as navigation, hands-free text messaging, entertainment and news through the IntelliLink display screen.

The 2016 Yukon lineup includes:

  • Fold-flat second- and third-row seats that enhance cargo capability and convenience – including an available power-folding feature
  • Easier entry/exit
  • Cargo management system that includes a cargo net
  • Available power rear liftgate with multiple programmable height settings
  • Available hands-free liftgate operation (standard on SLT and Denali)
  • Wireless phone charging (standard on SLT and Denali)
  • Standard eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen radio with enhanced IntelliLink and available navigation
  • Eight-inch-diagonal customizable driver display with three available user themes and available head-up display (Denali models)
  • Multiple USB ports and accessory power outlets – including a 110-volt three-prong outlet – to support electronic devices of all kinds
  • Available Blu-ray/DVD rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens on Yukon XL
  • Conversation mirror in the overhead console that provides a panoramic view of the rear seats
  • Available keyless entry and push-button start.
2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

The Yukon lineup also incorporates technologies to help protect the driver and passengers before, during and after a collision. They include a forward radar system and the segment’s only Front Center Air Bag (models with front bucket seats), which deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants in side impacts.

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon SLT © General Motors

For 2016, the Enhanced Driver Alert Package adds Lane Keep Assist. When activated, it gently steers the vehicle back into its lane when it detects the driver is inadvertently leaving the intended lane of travel. The package also adds IntelliBeam headlamp technology, which automatically turns on and off the vehicle’s high-beam headlamps according to surrounding traffic conditions. The automatic high beams stay on until the system detects an approaching vehicle’s headlamps or follows a vehicle’s taillamps.

Bold styling, enhanced refinement

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Inside and out, bold styling advances GMC’s professional grade credentials with elements precision-executed for beauty and function. Yukon’s more aerodynamic exterior also improves highway efficiency and contributes to its quiet ride.

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Projector-beam headlamps are standard on Yukon and Yukon XL. The distinctive Denali models are instantly identifiable by their signature chrome grille and unique exterior appointments, including exclusive high-intensity discharge headlamps.

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Additional exterior features include:

  • Inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, to reduce wind noise and improve aerodynamics
  • Laminated windshield and front door glass to enhance quietness
  • Lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels improve efficiency
  • Standard rear spoiler on the liftgate hides the rear window wiper
  • Hands-free liftgate operation
  • Illuminated, power-retractable assist steps available on Denali
  • Eighteen-inch wheels are standard on SLE and SLT, with 20- and 22-inch wheels available
  • Twenty-inch wheels are standard on Denali, with 22-inch wheels available
  • New, standard capless fuel fill feature, which eliminates the risk of under- or overtightening the cap.

The hands-free liftgate allows a customer with a keyless entry fob – and full hands – to open and close the liftgate by waving his or her foot under a sensor beneath the rear fascia. It is standard on SLT and Denali.

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Two new exterior colors – Crimson Red Tintcoat (SLE, SLT and Denali) and White Frost Tricoat (SLT and Denali) – are available for an additional charge.

Interior details

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Inside, the Yukon’s precisely crafted interior features a quiet cabin, authentic materials and premium infotainment choices.

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Examples of attention to detail include a soft-touch instrument panel, console and door panel materials with French seam stitching and purposeful use of ambient lighting in functional areas, including first- and second-row foot wells and the center console. A Bose sound system is standard on all models.

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

Denali models feature active noise cancelation technology to make the interior quieter.

2016 GMC Yukon © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon © General Motors

Additional interior highlights include:

  • An 8-inch-diagonal Color Touch radio with GMC IntelliLink is standard on SLE and SLT; and an 8-inch-diagonal Color Touch radio with navigation is standard on Denali and available on SLT
  • Bose nine-speaker audio system is standard on SLE and SLT
  • Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium 10-speaker audio system is standard on Denali
  • Tri-zone automatic climate control system is standard on all models
  • Multicolor driver information center is standard on all models – with a larger, 8-inch-diagonal customizable display standard on Denali
  • A rear-seat entertainment system with Blu-Ray/DVD player, wireless headphones, USB port and SD card slot is available on SLT and Denali
  • Push-button starting is standard on SLT and Denali and remote vehicle start is standard on all models
  • Power-adjustable pedals are standard on SLT and Denali, and available on SLE
  • Five auxiliary power outlets are standard on SLT and Denali, and available on SLE
  • A rear-vision camera system is standard on all models
  • Cloth-trimmed front bucket seats are standard on SLE, and a 40/20/40-split front bench seat is available
  • Perforated, leather-trimmed seats – including heated/cooled front bucket seats – are standard on SLE and Denali
  • Heated second-row outboard seats are standard on SLE and Denali
  • Power-folding 60/40-split bench third-row seat is standard on SLE and Denali
  • Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel is standard on SLE and Denali
  • Wireless phone charging is standard on SLT and Denali
  • A power-operated sunroof is available on SLT and Denali.

Phone integration technology

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon Denali © General Motors

New for Yukon in 2016, GMC’s IntelliLink system with an 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen is compatible with Apple CarPlay, a phone integration technology which puts iPhone features (iPhone 5 and later) on the display in a smart, simple manner. CarPlay makes it easy to connect to the features smartphone users rely on most.

The features allow customers to display select apps onto and control them through the touchscreen interface of GMC’s IntelliLink system. Many features can be controlled via voice commands through a button on the steering wheel, helping drivers spend more time with eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Apple CarPlay supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and compatible third-party apps. A full list of those apps can be found at Apple.com/ios/carplay.

Android Auto compatibility will be available later in the 2016 model year.

IntelliLink and OnStar 4G LTE

GMC Yukon’s IntelliLink infotainment system offers passengers more choices for their increasingly plugged-in lifestyles. It is easy and intuitive, is highly customizable and is capable of linking multiple devices such as smartphones, SD cards and MP3 players.

A Text Messaging Alerts feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.) reads incoming texts through the vehicle’s speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users enhances connectivity and convenience. It’s voice-controlled to help keep phones safely stowed and drivers’ hands on the wheel.

OnStar with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.

4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network – 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the previous generation of OnStar hardware. It also offers stronger, broader coverage than smartphones on the same network.

At the time of purchase, six months of OnStar Guidance includes all of OnStar’s advisor-based safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as turn-by-turn navigation.

Five years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Advanced Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of a vehicle’s engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes and more, and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to simplify service scheduling.

More capable, more comfortable

2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT © General Motors

The Yukon lineup delivers greater capability and greater refinement through new and enhanced chassis and suspension systems. A fully boxed frame – composed of more than 75 percent high-strength steel – supports a quiet and controlled ride. Shear-style body mounts attached to the frame significantly improve stiffness and contribute to the Yukon’s smooth ride.

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

Yukon’s driving experience is further enhanced with:

  • Wide rear track that contributes to a more planted stance
  • Electric variable-assist power steering system enhances fuel economy and tailors steering assist to vehicle speed
  • 9.5-inch rear axle and standard automatic locking rear differential
  • Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, auto grade braking and hill start assist
  • Four-wheel-disc brakes with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life
  • Denali models include third-generation Magnetic Ride Control, a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control by “reading” the road every millisecond and changing damping in just five milliseconds.

Advanced powertrain technology

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

The Yukon family is powered by the EcoTec3 engine family. A 5.3L V-8 is standard in Yukon and Yukon XL models and an exclusive 6.2L engine is standard in Denali models, delivering the segment’s best horsepower and torque – SAE-certified 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm).

EcoTec3 engines feature state-of-the-art technologies including direct injection, cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions. The precisely controlled combustion enables a higher compression ratio for greater power and efficiency.

The 5.3L V-8 is matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission, while the 6.2L in the Denali features the Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission.

Designed and built by GM, the 8L90 features smaller steps between gears, compared to the previous six-speed automatic, keeping the engine within the sweet spot of the rpm band to make the most of its horsepower and torque to optimize performance and efficiency.

A wider 7.0 overall gear ratio spread provides a numerically higher 4.56 first gear ratio, helping drivers start off more confidently with a heavy load or when trailering.

Safety technologies

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali © General Motors

Yukon models are equipped with standard and available driver-alert technologies that add layers of crash-avoidance protection, as well as enhanced occupant protection in the event a crash occurs.

For 2016, the Yukon’s Enhanced Driver Alert Package adds Lane Keep Assist. When activated, it gently steers the vehicle back into its lane when it detects the driver is inadvertently leaving the lane of travel. The package also adds Intellibeam headlamp technology, which automatically turns on and off the vehicle’s high beam headlamps according to surrounding traffic conditions. The automatic high beams will stay on until it detects an approaching vehicle’s headlamps or preceding vehicle’s taillamps.

Other safety features include the segment’s first Front Center Air Bag (front bucket seat models). This feature deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants in side-impact crashes.

Active safety features use camera, radar and ultrasonic sensors to help avoid crashes. Yukon includes the GM-patented Safety Alert Seat that vibrates if the system determines the driver is at risk of colliding with another vehicle. A standard rear vision camera shows the area immediately behind the vehicle in the audio system screen. It’s especially helpful when hooking up a trailer.

Additional standard and available driver alert technologies include:

  • Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Automatic Braking.

Along with driver alert features, standard chassis control crash-avoidance technologies include GM’s StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology, trailer sway control, hill-start assist and four-wheel, four-channel anti-lock brakes. An available trailer brake controller conveniently monitors trailer brakes.

Price

Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $48,315

4.2 Out of 5
EXTERIOR STYLE / DESIGN
INTERIOR & SPACE
EQUIPMENT & FEATURES
LUXURY FEATURES
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
COMFORT & QUALITY
HANDLING & BRAKING
PRICE & FUEL EFFICIENCY