2022 GMC Yukon XL

The Yukon is already a large SUV with seating for eight, so why does GMC also offer a super-sized version, and is the GMC Yukon XL worth paying extra for? In most large SUVs, the third row is only used occasionally, like when your child's friend wants to come along on a weekend away. But there are large families out there who need eight seats (seven if you opt for captain's chairs in the second row) and masses of trunk space daily. A standard Yukon just doesn't cut it; so, GMC adds 13.2 inches to the wheelbase and 15.2 inches to the overall body length to increase the interior space. This has a massive impact on legroom and cargo capacity. And, with a total redesign last year, the Yukon XL seems better than ever. At a starting price of $54,800, it's also far cheaper than the Cadillac Escalade ESV. Under the hood, there are a few options: the standard 5.3-liter V8 has 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the top-end Denali gets a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. A more efficient turbodiesel engine is also available on all but the AT4 models.

The old Yukon was as generic as they come. It was a slab-sided SUV with some lights and a grille. The new model is equally boxy, but at least GMC made an effort to style the front and rear. At the front, the Yukon makes a bold statement. It has a supersized grille with the GMC lettering proudly displayed in the center. It's flanked by new headlights inspired by the Sierra pickup truck. The rear is more mundane, but there's only so much you can do with a flat surface. All models get full-LED exterior lights, including LED daytime running lights. The SLE comes with 18-inch wheels as standard, while all other models have 20-inch items in varying designs. A panoramic sunroof is available to all trims, except the base model.

The 2022 GMC Yukon XL is an SUV with a massive footprint. Its overall length is 225.2 inches, and the overall width excluding the side mirrors is 81 inches. Other key dimensions include height at 76.5 inches, but with the optional air suspension, it goes up by an additional two inches in 4-Lo, and down by three to four inches to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. The AT4 offers the best off-roading capabilities with a ground clearance of ten inches over the standard eight inches.

The base trim in rear-wheel drive with the 5.3-liter engine equipped is the lightest, weighing 5,633 pounds. The heftiest models are those with the diesel engine and the full 4WD setup, tipping the scales at 6,088 lbs.

The 5.3-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engines are joined by an available 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine - only the AT4 model is exempt from using it. SLE, SLT, and AT4 models come with the 5.3 V8 as standard, while the top-spec Denali is equipped with the 6.2 V8. The 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2 V8 takes power up to 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0 diesel may only have 277 hp, but it matches the high-output V8's torque specs. Towing capacity goes up to 8,300 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8 when properly equipped. None of these powertrains are designed for blistering 0-60 mph times, although independent tests suggest around 6.8 seconds are needed to hit the mark with a gas V8-equipped Yukon XL.

All models are mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission. In addition, it has a Sport mode for aggressive responses and Intelligent Downhill Detection. The latter detects when the Yukon is going downhill and will automatically engage a lower gear.

Given the large footprint and 5,600+ lbs curb weight, the Yukon XL SUV was never going to feel sporty. Instead, GMC focused on making the new Yukon as comfortable as possible. To achieve this, GMC includes active noise canceling for the interior, laminated glass, and more sound insulation than ever before. But the most noticeable change between the new GMC Yukon XL and the old one is the new four-link rear suspension. It has three lateral links, a trailing arm, soft bushings, and a variable rate coil spring. This makes a massive difference to the ride quality, especially for passengers perched in the third row - no more bouncing around over rough terrain.

The ride quality can be further enhanced thanks to magnetic ride control (standard on Denali and AT4 models) and an adaptive air suspension coupled with the magnetic ride. The latter is an optional extra on the Denali and AT4. Handling-wise, the steering is devoid of any feel, but that's to be expected. It is accurate, however. The optional air suspension does an admirable job of keeping the Yukon flat through corners.

The recent removal of the automatic stop-start function by GMC means that fuel economy has taken a small knock. Unsurprisingly, the 2WD diesel remains the most efficient of the lot. According to the EPA estimates, it should be capable of 21/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined. With the optional 4WD system included, gas mileage figures drop to 20/26/22 mpg. The 5.3 V8 in 2WD format can do 15/20/17 mpg, dropping to 15/19/16 mpg in 4WD. GMC's 6.2 V8 is the thirstiest of the lot, consuming 14/19/16 mpg in 2WD guise and the same with 4WD.

With a 28-gallon gas tank, the Yukon XL has a range of up to 644 miles with the diesel engine.

The increase in the wheelbase and overall body length is immediately apparent once you climb aboard. As standard, the Yukon XL is an 8-seater, but if you opt for the second-row captain's chairs, the seat tally drops to seven. The base model also exclusively has access to a front-row bench, which allows for a total of nine passengers to be accommodated.

Front headroom is 42.3 inches, dropping to 38.9 inches in the second row and 38.2 inches in the third row. When a sunroof is equipped the front and rear headroom drop to 40.4 and 37.5 inches respectively. It's the available legroom that impresses, however. Front passengers get 44.5 inches, middle passengers get 42 inches, and the third-row gets an exceptional 36.7 inches. That's more headroom and legroom than you'll find in the second row of most midsize luxury sedans like the BMW 5 Series.

With all seats in place, the 2022 Yukon XL still has 41.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity. This means you can transport the entire family and their luggage. With the third row folded flat, you get a cavernous 93.8 cubes. If that's still not enough, you can fold the second-row flat for a 144.7 cubic foot trunk. And when we talk about folding flat, we mean as in entirely flat. We like these figures a lot. Not having to worry about space and whether you have enough room to transport things has to be one of life's greatest pleasures. If you're a parent, that is.

Interior storage is equally impressive. There's a large center armrest with ample storage space underneath, seatback pockets, and enough cupholders to accommodate all passengers.

All models boast power-adjustable front seats, keyless entry, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, remote start, a digital driver information display, USB ports for media, and charging ports for rear passengers. Seat heating and ventilation up front are standard from the SLT model, while heated second-row seats are fitted to the Denali. Front and rear park assist is standard across the range, as is an HD rearview camera, which is upgraded to a surround-view monitor from the Denali trim. The top-spec model comes with magnetic ride control, a head-up display, and power-folding rear seats. The Denali trim also boasts a unique interior layout, further elevating it above SLE and SLT trims. Automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and pedestrian detection come standard, while rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert with blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning are added as of the SLT.

For 2022, a new infotainment system with Google built-in is standard across the lineup. All models come as standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, SD card reader, HD Radio, and a trial SiriusXM subscription. This year, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster is also standard. Multiple USB ports are standard including two in the third row. A six-speaker sound system is standard on the SLE trim, while the SLT trim gets a nine-speaker Bose sound system. The Denali trim adds a 14-speaker Bose sound system and navigation. From the SLT trim upwards, you can also opt on a rear seat media system featuring dual 12.6-inch color touchscreens mounted to the seatbacks with wireless projection capability, and two wireless headphones.

Most Yukon XL owners seem to be satisfied with the vehicle in terms of reliability. While J.D. Power hasn't provided a separate review of the GMC Yukon XL SUV, it has rated the standard body length Yukon with an overall score of 81 out of 100. No recalls have affected the 2022 model at the time of writing but the 2021 Yukon XL was recalled a worrying eight times. These recalls were for incorrectly installed front seat bolts, unsecured front center seat belts, incorrect seat belt bolts, seat belts that could become damaged in a crash, a faulty airbag indicator light, loss of power steering assist, a possible fuel pump failure, and rear-wheel driveshaft assemblies that could fail.

The all-new Yukon XL comes with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a one-year/one visit maintenance plan.

The NHTSA gave the new Yukon XL a four-out-of-five star overall rating. It scored four stars in the frontal crash, the full five stars in the side crash, and three stars in the rollover test. The IIHS does not have a review of the new-generation Yukon at all.

Standard safety items across the range include six airbags (seven with the optional bucket seats), automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, front and rear park assist, Intellibeam headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, an HD rearview camera, and a teen driver system. Lane change alert with blind-spot monitoring and lane keep assist with lane departure warning are only included from the SLT upwards, although it can be added on to the base model. Adaptive cruise control is an optional extra on the Denali only, which also gets a standard surround-view camera and rear pedestrian alert.

The GMC Yukon XL is an exceptional family car. In this particular people-hauling SUV segment, it's tough to find a competitor that comes close. That's usually the case when a manufacturer introduces an all-new model with all the latest technological upgrades. The engine options are solid, and the ten-speed automatic transmission helps get the most out of all of them. Fuel consumption isn't great but that's what's expected for such a large, powerful vehicle. GMC's Yukon pulls ahead of the competition when it comes to interior space and comfort. From the base level, it offers everything you need to keep up to nine passengers happy and comfortable. And on those odd occasions that you need to transport something large, the second and third-row fold flat to provide massive cargo space. Thanks to the new rear suspension setup, and the available suspension options, this Yukon is more refined than ever.

The price of the GMC Yukon XL starts at an MSRP of $54,800 for the base SLE with the standard 5.3L V8. An SLT with the 5.3-liter V8 requires a $61,600 outlay, and choosing the 3.0 Duramax diesel engine adds $995 to the price tag of both these models. The off-road focus of the AT4 means it is only available in 4WD from $69,300, or for $2,615 more with the 6.2-liter V8 engine. If you want the top-of-the-range Denali, you will need to set out at least $72,700 for the diesel. Adding a four-wheel-drive system to any of these models costs an additional $3,000. These prices exclude a destination fee of $1,695.

The base SLE misses out on some nice features, while the Denali is on the pricey side. As usual, the mid-spec SLT seems to be the answer. We'd have it with the old-school V8, as the new ten-speed transmission manages to still get the best out of it. If efficiency is a top priority, it's worth going the diesel route. It comes with the premium nine-speaker Bose sound system, leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front pedestrian braking, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision alert, and lane keep assist with lane departure warning.

Off-road enthusiasts should go for the AT4 and add the Premium Capability package. This package retails for $1,795 and adds the adaptive air suspension, low range, and an electronically locking rear differential.

Would you like a GMC Yukon XL, but with different styling? Fear not, for Chevrolet has you covered. These two cars are an almost exact match, all the way down to the cargo capacity.

The engine and gearbox options are almost the same, too, as are the fuel consumption figures. And even the safety tests done by the NHTSA returned the same results - four out of five stars overall. The pricing structure is also similar, though the Chevy is more expensive at the top end, with base models costing $52,900, and fully-loaded High Country iterations with the V8 starting at $73,200. Entry-spec Yukon XLs come in at $54,800, while the Denali with the equivalent V8 will set you back from $72,700. Seriously, the only reason to buy one over the other is design or brand preference.

The Yukon also shares its platform and engines with the Escalade. But the Escalade pricing starts at around $79,295. It used to be easier for Cadillac to justify the price difference, as it came standard with magnetic ride control and a more upmarket interior. GMC's new Yukon makes it harder to justify the purchase of an Escalade. The top-spec Yukon XL Denali costs less than an entry-level Escalade, and it comes with a model-specific interior, magnetic ride control, and a lot more space. You could even add the adaptive air suspension and still come in under a mid-spec Escalade. The Cadillac makes more of a statement, but in these post-COVID-19 times, we reckon people will be smarter with their money. That's why the Yukon XL gets our vote.