2025 GMC Yukon Denali Review: V8 Power, Air-Sprung Comfort, and American Swagger in RHD

The 2025 GMC Yukon Denali has rumbled its way onto Australian roads with all the grace of a rhinestone cowboy at Mardi Gras. And thanks to the right-hand drive conversion by Walkinshaw in Melbourne, this full-size, three-row American brute is now ready to take on Aussie highways – and Westfield carparks – with confidence.

At $174,990 drive-away (up from the original $169,990), it’s not for the faint-hearted or light-walleted. But for that sum, you’re getting a luxury tank that combines show-stopping size, plush refinement, and a thunderous 6.2L V8 under the bonnet.

Big, Bold, and Beautiful – But Never Bashful

Denali is the native name for Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America – and it fits. The Yukon Denali is a towering figure, measuring over 5.7 metres in length and tipping the scales at 2813kg. Its 3074mm wheelbase is generous enough to span a medium-sized postcode, and yet, thanks to clever engineering and surprisingly accurate steering, it’s not the nightmare you’d expect in town.

Slip it into “Auto Park” and the beast attempts to tuck itself into even modest-sized spaces, though it doesn’t love hills. If you’re trying to reverse park in Surry Hills on a gradient, best bring a support group.

Specifications HERE:

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review – 2The 2025 GMC Yukon Denali Full Review – Alan Zurvas

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Interior: American Opulence with Global Appeal

Step inside, and you’re greeted with a lavish interior that screams “presidential motorcade” without the assassination paranoia. Plush leather seats, real wood accents, soft carpet, and tasteful chrome detailing create a cabin that rivals European luxury marques – without the stiff upper lip.

The 16.8” centre display floats elegantly above a tactile rotary dial, backed up by proper buttons for basic functions (thank you, GM). Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are seamless, and second-row passengers get twin 12” screens to keep the kids – or a gaggle of drag queens – entertained on long road trips.

Seats are heated and cooled front and rear (for the outer pews at least), and the front pair even offer massage. Though, as Alan wryly observed, “It’s more butterfly kiss than deep tissue.” A panoramic glass roof adds to the sense of space, while retractable side steps and a power tailgate complete the luxury SUV checklist.

The Drive: Float Like a Cadillac, Growl Like a Grizzly

The Yukon Denali may look like a mining truck in evening wear, but on the move, it’s surprisingly elegant – even graceful. That’s thanks to its air suspension and magnetic ride control, which work in tandem to smooth out everything from potholes to the corrugated carpark at Bunnings. You waft rather than bounce, cruise rather than corner.

But the star of the show is that glorious, naturally aspirated 6.2L V8. Making 313kW and paired with a silky 10-speed automatic, it sends its baritone bellow through a properly tuned exhaust system that’ll scare off electric scooters for blocks. Whether towing, overtaking, or just showing off, it’s a visceral reminder of why we love proper engines.

Of course, with a claimed 12.8L/100km fuel use (real-world higher), and a 91L tank, it’s not exactly eco-conscious. But then again, nobody buys a Yukon to win a green award.

Road Manners and Safety Tech

On highways, the Denali is in its element. That long wheelbase soaks up undulations like a limo, while the ADAS features do their job without nagging. Lane keep assist, AEB, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise – all are standard, and most importantly, none are overly intrusive.

Unlike some newer rivals (we’re looking at you, Korean and Chinese crossovers), the Yukon doesn’t scold you for every lane change, speed discrepancy, or sneeze. It simply gets on with it – quietly, competently, and with all the dignity of a statesman on tour.

Off-road? Well, it has the hardware, but the standard 24” wheels and street-focused rubber mean it’s best kept on sealed surfaces. The temptation to fit proper off-piste wheels and tyres is real, though. After all, those proportions beg for red dirt and drone footage.

The Boys Weigh In

Raffy: “It’s like driving your living room – only faster, louder, and with better seats. Also, that exhaust note? Peak testosterone.”
Nico: “I thought it’d be ridiculous, and it is, but in the best possible way. I feel like I should be wearing cowboy boots and diamonds.”
Charlie: “Forget electric, this is the kind of car that makes you want to burn rubber and toast marshmallows on the exhaust pipe.”
Alan: “It’s huge, it’s comfy, and it’s all class. Just don’t try a multi-storey carpark unless you’re emotionally prepared.”

Final Verdict: Is It the Only Yank You Need?

The 2025 GMC Yukon Denali is as extra as a sequinned jumpsuit at a truck stop. But it’s also brilliant – a perfect marriage of American muscle and modern luxury, finally available in RHD.

It’s more about road presence than lap times, more waft than warp speed, and more leather lounge than hiking boots. Yet, for all its drama, it’s a genuinely capable, deeply satisfying, and surprisingly liveable luxury SUV.

If you’ve outgrown Euro minimalism and want something that roars, rides like a cloud, and can carry the cast of Priscilla and their costumes – this is it.

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