2026 GMC Yukon

After receiving several updates last year, the 2026 Yukon and Yukon XL carry over largely unchanged. These are quintessential large American SUVs. It is one of three full-size SUVs made by parent company General Motors, serving as a premium choice that's more expensive than the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, but more affordable than the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. In Denali trim, the Yukon is what you might call luxury adjacent.

Pros

An abundance of standard safety and driver-assistance features
Three powertrain options
The available turbo-diesel engine is rare in the segment

Cons

Pricier than mechanically similar SUVs from Chevrolet
Super Cruise semi-autonomous safety tech is not available on lower trims

2026 GMC Yukon AT4 interior dashboard and front seats Jim Resnick

2026 GMC Yukon Trim Levels

The Yukon and Yukon XL are both offered in five trim levels: Elevation, AT4, Denali, AT4 Ultimate, and Denali Ultimate. They each seat up to eight people, and while the standard Yukon is a massive SUV in its own right, the XL version adds 13.2 inches to its wheelbase, increasing passenger and cargo space while slightly reducing the SUV's maximum towing capacity.

Both are available with your choice between two gas and one diesel powertrain. The base engine is a gasoline-powered 5.3-liter V8 rated at 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The other gas engine is a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

There's also a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder, which makes 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. It delivers respectable fuel economy for the segment while still providing an 8,100-pound maximum towing capacity, making it both efficient and capable.

All three engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, and four-wheel drive (4WD) is available on the Elevation and Denali trims. The two AT4 trims and the Denali Ultimate come with standard 4WD.

Elevation

The Yukon Elevation comes with 20-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, a power liftgate, a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, and basic trailering equipment. Inside are heated front and rear seats, a 16.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system.

The off-road-oriented AT4 adds 4WD with a two-speed transfer case, all-terrain tires, adaptive suspension dampers, a front skid plate, hill-descent control, and red recovery hooks. Around the back, there's an automatic open/close power liftgate, while inside the cabin, you'll find a power tilting and telescoping steering column and leather seats that are ventilated up front.

Denali

The Denali comes standard with the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine. Inside, there's a head-up display, power-release second-row bucket seats, and a power-sliding center console.

AT4 Ultimate

The AT4 Ultimate has the standard AT4's off-road features and, like the Denali, comes with the 6.2-liter V8. It also adds a height-adjustable air suspension and a 4WD system that can automatically engage the front axle. The Advanced Technology package (including Super Cruise hands-free driving and a digital rearview mirror) and the Max Trailering package (including a hitch view camera, active blind-spot monitoring with steering assist, and an integrated trailer-brake controller) are also standard. Inside are a panoramic sunroof, massaging front seats, a rear-seat entertainment system, and an 18-speaker Bose audio system.

Denali Ultimate

The Denali Ultimate comes with the standard Denali's features plus the automatic 4WD system and height-adjustable air suspension from the AT4 Ultimate. It shares that model's Advanced Technology package, Max Trailering package, massaging front seats, rear-seat entertainment system, and Bose 18-speaker audio system. It also includes power-retractable assist steps and LED perimeter lighting.

2026 GMC Yukon AT4 interior cargo space Jim Resnick

2026 GMC Yukon Cargo Capacity and Towing

The Yukon and Yukon XL offer some impressive cargo space. The standard Yukon supplies 25.5 cubic-feet behind its third row, 72.5 cu-ft behind its second row, and 122.8 cu-ft behind its first row. The XL model offers 41.5 cu-ft behind its third row, 93.6 cu-ft behind its second row, and 144.5 cu-ft behind its first row.

With the Max Trailering package, a GMC Yukon with the 5.3-liter V8 can tow up to 8,400 pounds, while the turbo-diesel-equipped Yukons top out at 8,100 pounds. A Yukon XL with the 5.3-liter V8 can tow up to 8,200 pounds.

2026 GMC Yukon Fuel Economy

The most fuel-efficient version of the Yukon has the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine and RWD. So configured, the EPA estimates it will return 23 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The least efficient model is the Yukon XL equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 and 4WD, which is estimated to return 16 mpg combined.

2026 GMC Yukon AT4 Super Cruise system Jim Resnick

2026 GMC Yukon Safety Ratings and Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives every variant of the Yukon and Yukon XL a five-star overall safety rating, its best score. However, the SUV's rollover-resistance rating merits only three stars. As of publication, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not published crash safety ratings for the Yukon or Yukon XL.

The Yukon includes the following standard safety and driver-assistance features: adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert with automatic braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a 360-degree HD Surround Vision camera.

GM's Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates to indicate a potential collision, and its Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist system, which can automatically steer, brake, and shift the Yukon to ease parking, are also included. Upper trims include Super Cruise, GM's semi-autonomous hands-off driver-assistance system. Night vision, a screen-based system that uses thermal imaging to help see pedestrians or animals at night, is available.

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Josh Jacquot

Josh Jacquot has covered cars from every angle. Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, he has conducted instrumented testing on thousands of vehicles and provided clear, data-driven insight for enthusiast and mainstream audiences alike. His work has appeared in leading outlets including Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and Edmunds. Known for blending driving rigor with clever analysis of real-world usability, he loves nothing more than a long powerslide in a car with usable cupholders. Equally comfortable discussing chassis dynamics and ownership costs, Josh brings credibility earned through decades of hands-on experience. But he‘s most excited by the emotional connection that only the right car can deliver.