2020 GMC Yukon XL Review: Big And Brawny

If you're looking for a massive box on wheels, the GMC Yukon XL is the type of extra-large SUV that can seat up to nine people and still carry luggage along, too. Four variants are available, with the majority of the range powered by a 5.3-liter V8 developing 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The range-topper is a 6.2-liter V8 with more oomph, producing 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. Each comes with an automatic transmission, with the smaller V8 getting a six-speed and the bigger one earning a ten-speed. Underpinned by the same architecture that holds the Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Tahoe together, the GMC Yukon XL is a decent towing machine with plenty of variations to suit almost everyone.

Yukon XL Exterior

The boxy Yukon XL is typical of your average GMC, with a large chrome-framed grille up front and blocky headlights that feature trailing daytime running lights. Fog lights are also included at the front, while a sunroof is available as an option. Standard wheel sizing is 18 inches, with 20s fitted to higher trim levels, and even 22-inch wheels available.

Dimensions

The Yukon XL adds 20.5 inches to the length of the regular Yukon, maxing out at 224.4 inches in length. The wheelbase measures 130 inches, while width is 80.5 inches. With figures like these, parking the Yukon XL is anything but simple. Height is 74.4 inches with max ground clearance at 7.9. Curb weight varies depending on the drivetrain, with the rear-wheel-drive 5.3-liter variants starting at 5,610 lbs. Adding all-wheel-drive puts on 236 lbs, while the 6.2 V8 Denali has a starting curb weight of 5,655 lbs and is just under 6,000 lbs with all-wheel-drive, weighing 5,965 lbs.

Yukon XL Performance

Engine and Transmission

The GMC Yukon XL comes standard with a 5.3-liter EcoTec V8 developing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. This output is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, although all-wheel-drive is an option. While the transmission is smooth enough, the shifts are laid back. The engine is similarly average, propelling the behemoth along well but not with much alacrity. The available 6.2-liter V8 performs better here, as it makes the Yukon a truly brisk SUV, and its ten-speed automatic is better at managing shifts too. Both engines are refined enough for comfortable freeway cruising, but it's the larger V8 that helps hide the bulk of the Yukon XL better and is therefore preferable. Maximum trailering capacity for rear-wheel-drive Yukon XL models is 8,500 lbs, while the heavier AWD versions lose about 300 pounds of ability.

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Yukon XL is not going to win any awards on the skidpan, but it's still relatively decent, with body roll in the corners fairly well handled. The steering is light too - it needs to be, to aid parking the massive machine, but on the open road, you may notice a dead spot near the center. Braking is typical for vehicles of this size, with reasonable stopping distances offset by a little too much pedal travel. The ride quality is similarly average, with the standard setup handling imperfections and bumps well. The magnetic dampers available higher up in the range have been both lauded and criticized, so a test drive of the setup would be in your interests here. Noise isolation is an area where the Yukon XL performs especially well, with the sound of the engine and the tires fading away well. The Denali trim also gets active noise cancellation technology as standard, further improving the interior ambiance.

Yukon XL Gas Mileage

Gas mileage varies depending on the engine and whether the vehicle is a rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive model. A 5.3-liter with rear-wheel-drive manages 15/22/18 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. AWD worsens that to 15/21/17 mpg on the same cycles. The 6.2 with RWD is similarly poor, scoring 14/23/17 mpg while the AWD model manages just 14/22/17mpg. With a 31-gallon gas tank, the best performing model scores a mixed range of around 558 miles.

Yukon XL Interior

Seating and Interior Space

Depending on what you want and need out of the Yukon XL, you can have seven, eight or even nine seats, with upholstery in fabric or leather. The standard configuration is an eight-seat setup, but you can opt for a bench in the first row to increase total capacity to nine on the base model. Alternatively, second-row captain's chairs can be specced to decrease capacity to seven but increase passenger comfort.

Overall comfort, headroom, and legroom are all respectable and vastly improved over the regular Yukon, particularly in the last area. The third row offers 9.7 inches more legroom over the regular model, which is arguably that vehicle's biggest flaw as a three-row SUV. In the driver's seat, various body types will find it easy to adjust the seat for their ideal position, but because of thick pillars, all-round visibility isn't quite perfect. All in all, it's a good package that is considerably better than what the slightly cramped normal version of the Yukon offers.

Yukon XL Trunk and Cargo Space

Thanks to its increased length, the Yukon XL offers improved cargo capacity in addition to its roomier interior. Behind the third row, you get 39.3 cubic feet of volume, a vast increase over the short-wheelbase Yukon's 15.3 cubes. With the third row folded, that figure increases to 76.7 cubes, and, with the second row out of the way too, a whopping 121.7 cubic feet of volume is at your disposal - more than enough to carry a bicycle team's chariots with you. However, the load floor is a little high, necessitating some extra effort to get things in the back, but at least a hands-free liftgate and power-folding third- and second-rows make the process more bearable.

In the cabin, small-item storage is impressive, with a front center console area that is especially large and cupholders in every row. Door pockets, bins, and the usual glovebox round out the capacious cabin.

Features

Standard features on the Yukon XL mirror those of the regular Yukon, with parking sensors front and rear, rain-sensing wipers, hill-start assist, cruise control, remote start, and tri-zone climate control. Heated mirrors and a 4.2-inch driver info display between the regular cluster dials are also included, while higher trims gain access to features like lane-keep assist, auto high beams, a power liftgate, and power-adjustable pedals. The SLT model gets blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a hands-free power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row outboard seats and a heated steering wheel. Power-folding second- and third-row seats are also added, while the top trim gets features like a head-up display, a trailer brake controller, magnetic dampers, an eight-inch driver info display and active noise cancellation as standard. Options include full-speed automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a sunroof.

Infotainment

The infotainment system shared across the range uses an eight-inch touchscreen display, with large icons and good response times, although menu navigation can be a little tricky. Fortunately, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio and Bluetooth are all standard, with output coming via a nine-speaker Bose setup. Wi-Fi connectivity is also included, and a rear-seat nine-inch Blu-Ray/DVD player can be had on all but the base model. The top Denali trim adds navigation and a Bose ten-speaker upgrade with surround sound technology, although nav is available as an option from the SLT Standard Edition.

Yukon XL Problems and Reliability

The 2020 GMC Yukon XL, in both RWD and AWD guise, has been subject to one recall thus far, issued in late November 2019. This recall pertained to a fuel pump with a missing pressure regulator.

In terms of warranty, the GMC Yukon XL is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, as well as a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Complimentary maintenance covers one oil change in the first year.

Warranty

Yukon XL Safety

The Yukon XL, along with its short-wheelbase sibling, scored four stars out of five in the NHTSA's crash tests, while over at the IIHS, a full test has not been conducted, but the forward-collision warning system that is available has been deemed fit to meet the agency's requirements.

Standard safety features include parking sensors at the front and at the rear, along with the obligatory parking camera, while hill-start assist, a teen driver function, and a tire pressure monitoring system are also standard. Optional features include auto high beams, lane-keep assist, low- and high-speed automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and a trailer brake controller.

Verdict: Is The 2020 GMC Yukon XL A Good SUV?

Compared to the regular Yukon, which gets drawn over the coals mainly for poor third-row space and impractical cargo capacity, the Yukon XL is a far better option that directly addresses those two shortcomings. One can fit up to nine people in the cabin and still have space for a generous amount of cargo. An impressive feature list as standard is also sure to attract customers who may be considering a less upscale brand. The options list is even more impressive, with some advanced driver aids and numerous available convenience features like a hands-free liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats and active noise cancellation. However, the GMC Yukon XL is still an overpriced and oversized SUV that isn't quite luxurious enough to justify its price. If it were our money, we'd rather opt for something more reasonable and more useful like a Ford Expedition Max or Chevrolet Tahoe.

What's the Price of the 2020 GMC Yukon XL?

The base SLE starts at $53,400, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. The SLT Standard Edition is a little pricier, starting at $57,600, with the SLT starting at $60,500. The top-of-the-range Denali model starts at $70,500, and each model can be had with all-wheel-drive for $3,000. Fully loaded, a Yukon XL can set you back more than $85,000.

What GMC Yukon XL Model Should I Buy?

The GMC Yukon XL model lineup is comprised of four trims, with the SLE, SLT Standard Edition, SLT and Denali.

The base SLT features fabric upholstery and 18-inch wheels, along with a Bose nine-speaker sound system and an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen that supports SiriusXM satellite radio, Wi-Fi hot-spotting, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Cruise control, tri-zone climate control, and remote start are also standard along with a 5.3-liter V8 and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The SLT Standard Edition adds some conveniences like lane-keep assist, auto high beams, a power liftgate, power-adjustable pedals, and forward-collision warning.

The SLT adds real luxury with leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated second row and a heated steering wheel. You also get a hands-free power liftgate, power-folding rear seats and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The top-tier Denali trim adds upgraded leather, a head-up display, wireless charging, navigation, active noise cancellation, and a ten-speaker upgrade. It also gains a more powerful 6.2-liter V8.

Our pick would be the SLT, as it blends impressive comfort and luxury with a respectable price tag. Other options in the range are either too poorly equipped or, in the case of the Denali, far too expensive.

2020 GMC Yukon XL Comparisons

2020 GMC Yukon XL vs Chevrolet Suburban

The Chevrolet Suburban doesn't have the luxury aspirations of the GMC Yukon XL but is still an impressive people carrier that can also seat up to nine individuals. Powered by the same 5.3-liter V8 in base form, fuel economy is similar too, and cargo volume is identical. The Chevy also gets the same eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and can also be had with the larger 6.2-liter V8 and/or all-wheel-drive. The same sort of safety features, like forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, are also available, and tri-zone climate control and a heated steering wheel can also be specced. Also available are features like heated and ventilated front seats and heated second-row outboard seats. Overall, the GMC Yukon looks like a rip-off in comparison, with the Chevrolet Suburban offering almost every available feature the GMC does, but at a much lower cost, and without the pretentious badge. With a starting price almost $2,000 cheaper than that of the Yukon XL, we'd rather have the Chevy.

2020 GMC Yukon XL vs Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade ESV is another vehicle that the GMC Yukon XL shares a platform with, but it offers more standard equipment. The Cadillac gets magnetic ride control adaptive suspension, full LED lighting, leather upholstery, and wireless charging - even on the base variant. Other available features that you won't find on the GMC Yukon XL include LED cornering headlamps and a refrigerated storage bin in the front console. However, for all this extra standard equipment, the Cadillac ESV comes at a hefty premium. The base model starts at a whopping $78,195, nearly 25 grand more than a base Yukon XL. The top trim is knocking on the door of $100k, but for those who value the Cadillac brand, that won't matter. The Cadillac is truly a more desirable badge, but for value, we'd rather have the GMC.