2021 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL Video: Dare to Be Different - Cars.com

It’s no secret that the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs are closely related to the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban given that GMC and Chevrolet are both GM brands. Well, over the years, the Yukon and Yukon XL have often been a little too closely related — without enough differentiation to justify what’s often a slight price premium for the Yukon and Yukon XL, especially when you get up to GMC’s premium Denali trim level. Fortunately, the whole group has been redesigned, and the differentiation takes some important steps in the right direction.

At the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, we got up close to the Yukon and Yukon XL. There, we were able to more closely inspect their styling, which features oversized grilles with prominent C-shaped lighting elements around the headlights; it’s similar to what you see on GMC’s related Sierra 1500 pickup truck. GM’s off-road-themed AT4 trim level now graces the Yukon with a unique grille, more rugged bumper inserts with red recovery hooks and an air suspension that can raise the SUV another 2 inches to maximize ground clearance. Underbody skid plates, an additional driver-selectable off-road driving mode and a two-speed transfer case round out the AT4.

Inside, the Yukon and Yukon XL have largely the same interior as the Tahoe and Suburban. But the Denali edition is more than just swapped-out trim pieces and nicer upholstery. It gets its own unique dashboard with a more shelflike design that embeds the multimedia system between the center controls and upper air vents. Contrast that with the design of the non-Denali Yukon and Yukon XL, where the dashboard’s multimedia system touchscreen just kind of sits above everything in the middle.

The 2021 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL will go on sale in the summer. Check out the video below for more.

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