GMC has refreshed the Yukon with a new AT4 Ultimate trim, right, designed for going off-road. The SUV can be raised up to two inches to improve ground clearance.Courtesy of manufacturer
In an effort to stay relevant in the growing three-row SUV segment with rivals like the new Toyota Sequoia, available only with a hybrid powertrain, and the revived and iconic Jeep Wagoneer nameplate, GMC has given its popular full-size Yukon a mid-lifecycle refresh for 2025.
The Yukon gets tweaks to its interior and exterior styling, more safety and convenience technology and a new AT4 Ultimate trim designed for going off-road. Three powertrains, including a turbo-diesel, are available, but there’s no hybrid or electric version on the horizon, yet.
GMC officials hope this new refresh will boost sales and help capture more market share in the full-size SUV segment, which is already around 40 per cent in Canada, according to Sean Poppitt, the executive director for Buick and GMC communications.
While GMC may confuse consumers with new trim names and multiple trim additions on the Yukon, the AT4 Ultimate model looks cool compared to the rest of the family, owing to its added off-road design. It has 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, a front skid plate and special touches like a distinct grille and a panoramic sunroof. For off-roading adventures, it has four-corner air ride adaptive suspension, which can raise the SUV up to two inches to improve ground clearance and an improved approach angle of nearly 32 degrees. Under the hood, it comes standard with a 6.2-litre V8 engine, which delivers 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 8,400 pounds. But you can upgrade to the enhanced three-litre Duramax turbo-diesel, which seems like a natural for this trim. It delivers 305 horsepower (10 per cent more than the previous diesel engine in the 2024 Yukon) and 495 lb-ft of torque (13.5 per cent more than previous generation). And even though it has more horsepower and torque, it produces 44 per cent fewer emissions than the current diesel engine, which GMC officials claim make it the cleanest burning diesel engine in North America.
There’s also a new base model called Elevation; it replaces the SLE and SLT trims and offers more standard and optional equipment than the previous generation. Powering the base model is a 5.3-litre V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.
One of the coolest features available on the upper Denali Ultimate trim is in the cabin where the second-row executive seats mirror the first row driver’s and passenger’s seat. Second-row passengers will have all the comforts of home including two big captain’s chairs, three rows of full-grain leather seats, white ash burl wood accents, 16-way power seats with massage, heated and ventilated functions and a more powerful audio system with Bose speakers in brushed stainless steel nestled in the headrest. There’s also an eight-inch rear touch climate control display and a hands-free liftgate that operates easily by simply walking up to the rear liftgate and as long as the key fob is nearby, the liftgate will raise. There’s no hand to wave over an emblem or fickle kicking motion under the bumper to activate. The Denali Ultimate trim also gets a distinct grille pattern, animated headlamps and taillamps and huge 24-inch, eight-spoke ultra bright machined wheels with paint and laser etching.
The Yukon’s body lines and front fascia have been stretched as wide as possible to give it more presence and more space inside – in all three rows of seats. There’s an available 16.8-inch vertical infotainment screen, an 11-inch technology cluster and laser etched details like a topographical map of Mount Denali on the Denali and Denali Ultimate trims.
On the technology front, the Yukon gets GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance technology with automatic lane change, new trailering technologies such as a transparent trailer view that makes the trailer appear behind you on the screen and a trailer reverse trajectory system to help you reverse and steer the trailer easily to prevent it from jackknifing.
Also new is GMC night vision, which helps you see down the road when the light is low. The thermal imaging can pick up a deer crossing your path on a country road or a pedestrian walking down a dark city street and warn the driver. There are also 15 standard safety features including ones such as front pedestrian braking system and reverse automatic emergency braking.
The 2025 GMC Yukon arrives in Canadian dealerships later this year. Prices are not available yet. The current model starts at just under $78,000 before fees and taxes.
Tech specs
2025 GMC Yukon
- Price: To be announced
- Engines: 5.3-litre V8, 6.2-litre V8, 3-litre Duramax turbo-diesel
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): 5.3-litre - 355 / 383; 6.2-litre - 420 / 460; 3-litre turbo diesel - 305 / 495
- Transmission / drive: 10-speed automatic / four-wheel-drive
- Fuel consumption: To be announced
- Alternatives: Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia, Jeep Wagoneer, Nissan Armada, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride
Shopping for a new car? Check out the Globe Drive Build and Price Tool to see the latest discounts, rebates and rates on new cars, trucks and SUVs. Click here to get your price.