Skip to main content

You Don’t Have to Live in the Midwest or the Rockies to Love the Yukon Denali

yukon denali
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Recommended Videos

I don’t have a family to tote around or anything massive to haul, and I certainly don’t live in the Midwest or on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, but dammit if I don’t want a GMC Yukon Denali. After denying myself interest in SUVs for years, my chance to drive the Yukon Denali along the stunningly beautiful Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler, Canada made me a convert.

Setting out from Vancouver airport, I climbed into the cab and sat myself in a leather seat that not only supported my lumbar in the best of ways, but was also adjustable up to and exceeding my wildest and most demanding seating preferences. But, before I hit the road, though, I used the Denali’s dash-displayed infotainment/GPS to input the coordinates of my destination and proceeded to put my faith in technology and trusted that the Yukon would guide me in the right direction.

Yukon Denali Heads Up Display Image used with permission by copyright holder

Leaving the airport and navigating through downtown Vancouver was easy, not only because of Canada’s excellent road and street system (thanks, Canada!), but also because of the Denali’s helpful features. The GPS map system features a projected display onto the driver’s side windshield that shows future turns and the distance to them in the form of a countdown meter. This was particularly useful in areas of Vancouver with small blocks where streets come immediately one after the other. Without the countdown system, I’m sure I would have made a couple of wrong turns otherwise.

As for the ride itself, the powerful 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 Engine (which handled the often steep hills/mountains with aplomb) was barely noticeable thanks to the quiet cabin interior feature, along with magnetic ride control (a suspension system that adjusts automatically up to 1000 times a second depending on road and terrain conditions) which made the occasionally rough and curvaceous road a very pleasant drive.

Throughout the drive, the Denali did an admirable job of keeping me safe–mostly from myself. As an aggressive lane changer (and driver in general), I was more than pleased to see a blind spot warning signal on the outside edges of my side mirrors, as well as lane departure warnings that would flash on my driver’s display. Prior to test driving the Yukon, I had always thought people who relied on these types of sensors and indicators were just weak drivers, but now, I have to admit, I’m right there with them. No longer having to crane my neck or strain the very limit of visible sight on my mirror angles, the blind spot and lane departure warnings made my 2.5 hour drive much more comfortable than it could have been.

I drove a top of the line trim version of the Yukon Denali, but for all the options and more detailed information on the rest of the great features and accessories this luxury sub-set of GMC provides, take a look here.

GMC also, inexplicably, allowed me to test-drive their equally as amazing Sierra All-Terrain pickup, and the Yukon’s older brother, the Yukon XL.

We were also lucky enough to take a crazy mountaintop snowcat ride in the rare and altogether badass Sierra All-Mountain. In partnership with Whistler Blackcomb ski resort, GMC outdid itself with this suped-up version of their 2017 GMC Sierra All-Terrain.

Fitted with 175 series Mattracks, the All-Mountain was designed and built specifically to tackle Whistler, BC’s steep, rugged, and snow-covered landscape. When riding in the All-Mountain, at night, with its many LED lights illuminating the kicked up powder around us, we almost mistook ourselves for figurines in a snowglobe. But once that 6.6 liter Duramax Diesel revved its 445 horses, we knew we were in a vehicle that could climb (or crush) any mountain. Unfortunately, though, this bad boy isn’t for sale. Sorry, guys.

Chase McPeak
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…
Want to buy an EV? Don’t – this is why you should lease an electric car instead
Wait to buy an EV because leasing might be the best option
ChargePoint Home Flex EV charging station charging a white Tesla in a garage.

One of the sad ironies of being a car lover is how much of a pain the actual act of buying a car can be. Pushy salespeople, contract terms that require a JD and a magnifying glass to comprehend, and enough miscellaneous fees to make a cell phone company blush. So, more often than not, many of us tend to lean towards buying a car rather than leasing because who would willingly volunteer to go through that kind of patience-pumping torture every three years? But, the EV movement has begun more than an energy revolution in the automotive universe, and leasing might just be the new buying.

While it used to be that purchasing a car was a net positive in the long term - eventually, the payments ended, and when they finished, the buyer actually had something tangible to show for it. But, with the relatively new landscape that the electric vehicle world has brought about, there are plenty of reasons that it makes much more sense to lease than buy a new EV.

Read more
EV charging stations stay broken because we don’t have enough electricians: Report
"EV electrician" may be the next "underwater welding" hustle
7Charge electric vehicle charging station by 7-Eleven with an EV charging at a convenience store

 

A new trend  in the age of AI is asking GPT all kinds of crazy questions, not the least of which is, "How can I make more money?' In every generation, we have seen opportunities. During the Gold Rush, it was the guy selling shovels. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, becoming an architect or engineer was worth the educational investment.

Read more
The Genesis G80 shows us why we should save the sedan
You forget just how good a sedan can be
Front 3/4 View of a Genesis G80

The rise of the SUV has caused a lot of casualties. First, the station wagon went, then the minivan, and even the trusty sedan that dominated the highways for decades has pretty much died off in its wake. Aside from a couple of GM efforts, American manufacturers have essentially ditched the platform. This is partially due to the success of SUVs and trucks and partially due to some poorly written emissions legislation. So if you want a sedan in 2025, you may have to look towards Europe or Asia. I recently had the pleasure of driving the Genesis G80, a luxury sedan from Hyundai's premium brand, and it reminded me just how good those vehicles can be.

Just as people take the first bite of a good meal with their eyes, your first impression of a vehicle is likely looks-based. Compared to modern SUVs, which are generic for the most part, the G80 really stands out. There's a lot going on, but it manages to look both sleek and powerful at the same time. In the fenders, and up front, you see some notes of a muscle car. The grille is large and distinctly Asian, though many manufacturers have recently adopted that large, rounded style. As you follow the lines backwards, though, you see some sportiness push through. Compared to the usual box on wheels you see on the road, this looks like a lot of fun.
You forget how well a performance sedan handles

Read more