The Denali brand is a name synonymous with extravagant levels of craftsmanship, ambient luxury, premium technology, commanding style, and robust capability and performance. When General Motors first introduced the Denali variant as the top-of-the-line GMC Yukon for the 1999 model year, not many people could predict the roaring success that it would get in the succeeding years. 

Fast forward to 2021 and the legendary Yukon Denali takes on a whole new image with its eye-catching looks and a whole new range of premium options. In this article, we cover the all-new generation of the Yukon Denali SUV and how it sets new standards for the large SUV landscape.

An interior that leaves onlookers staring in awe

The GMC Yukon Denali has always offered a first-class experience with its luxurious interiors. Compared to the previous generations, the all-new Yukon Denali offers even more driver-oriented features and premium interior appointments. 

The interior design is a masterpiece in itself, offering a variety of extravagant features that truly stand out when you first catch a glimpse of them. For instance, the buttons and controls are embedded with chrome accents, which look very upmarket and classy. The instrument panel is also adorned with these upmarket chrome accents, giving the driver the coveted Denali-exclusive feeling.

The first and second-row seats are coated in perforated leather upholstery. These seats are in a league of their own with their irresistible comfort levels as well as their eye-catching fractal stitchings. GMC also symbolizes the Denali logo on various strategic spots inside the cabin, to highlight the high stature of the cabin. These spots include the front seats, the bright door sill plates, and chrome in the center of the steering wheel.

This year, the Yukon Denali offers a range of 4 interior themes to choose from. Each of these themes look distinct and extravagant in their own way, thanks to the combination of unique authentic wood accents. The hand-finished black and brownstone stains add an even more intricate layer to the interior design.

The entire Yukon lineup sees a major structural change this year focussed on increasing the interior space. The changes have a dramatic effect on the interior dimensions, with the Yukon now featuring 10 inches of additional legroom in the third-row seats. The cabin is now more spacious and airier than ever before. 

Behind the 3rd-row seats, the 2021 Yukon offers 66% more cargo room to store even more of your family's luggage. The Yukon's new independent rear suspension has lowered the overall frame of the SUV, opening up more space and cargo volume inside the cabin. All these reforms significantly boost the spaciousness and comfortability of the Yukon Denali while chauffeuring passengers.

A confident exterior that commands respect

The Yukon has always been recognized as a boxy and brawny SUV that is a menacing presence wherever it goes. The new generation Yukon keeps its traditional macho looks alive, while simultaneously enhancing the other exterior aspects with several modern cues. For instance, the Yukon has a taller stance than before and also features a higher hood line for a more dominating presence. The hood and the grille have been redesigned from the ground up, sculpted to perfection. For the Denali trim only, the Yukon features special attention to intricate detail, craftsmanship, and opulence.

The Denali-exclusive grille is a piece of art, with over 10,000 intricate surfaces integrated within it. Each piece has a unique identity and design to it, but together all these pieces create a harmonic and multidimensional grille design. The bright roof rails and satin-chrome-accented door handles and body trim are also a testament to the Denali's unbeatable elegance. 

The Yukon Denali rides on premium 22-inch bright-machined aluminum wheels with painted accents, which add a bold style statement. Other intricate details that are only restricted to the Denali models include the dual exhaust system with dual twin polished stainless-steel tips.

Performance that's meant to dominate

Power for the brawny 2021 GMC Yukon Denali comes from a 6.2L EcoTec V8 engine that can blow away the dust with its class-leading 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. GMC pairs this Denali-exclusive engine to a 10-speed automatic transmission that pushes the flagship SUV beyond its limits whenever you need it. This engine also features Dynamic Fuel Management, which enables you to switch off some of your engine's cylinders when you don't require that extra power. This intelligent feature helps you save some fuel expenses while cruising on highways.

Apart from the standard 2-wheel drive, GMC also offers its all-new Active Response 4-wheel drive system. This 4x4 system sends optimum torque in any driving condition, thus maintaining optimum traction. For instance, when you are stuck on icy or slick roads, this system will continuously monitor the terrain and then send just the right amount of power to get you out of this situation.

You also acquire the option of a Duramax diesel powertrain with the Denali variant. This 3.0-liter Turbo-Diesel Inline-6 powertrain offers a fine balance of performance and fuel efficiency. With the Trailering package equipped, the Yukon Denali can shell out an outstanding towing capacity of 8400 pounds. With the ProGrade trailering system also available, the Yukon Denali is the perfect vacation vehicle that can also easily tow a boat or camper when needed.

The Denali also gets a 2-Speed AutoTrac Transfer Case as standard. With this technology, the driver can switch into various drivetrains from 4WD driving mode. The Magnetic Ride Control system is also a blessing in disguise, which continuously reads the road surface in real-time and then adjusts the suspension and damper settings to maximize the comfort of your ride. Pair this system with the optional Air Ride Adaptive Suspension and watch the magic unfold, as both these systems together give you a cloud-like ride comfort quality that you will always cherish in your memories. Other sensational capability features that Denali drivers will get to experience include Hill Descent Control, Traction Select System, and Hill Start Assist.


The all-new GMC Yukon Denali continues to push its limits and ascend new domains that were never seen before in the full-size SUV industry. The Denali will always be the symbol of professionalism and class within the GMC lineup, and the 2021 GMC GMC Yukon Denali certainly lives up to that spirit. With this vehicle in your garage, you will not only be chauffeuring your family around in style but also towing loads equivalent to a freight train.