2025 GMC Yukon SUV Expands Ultimate Trims, Keeps Diesel

• GM product planners tell us the Yukon holds 27% of the US market for full-size SUVs (selling 23,645 units in the first half).

• A significant change is in the packaging. The AT4 Ultimate trim is new, and the entry-level SLE and SLT variants are now replaced by the Elevation trim.

• Every trim will come standard with a vertically oriented 16.8-inch center infotainment screen for accessing maps and vehicle diagnostics and for syncing smartphones.

It might be difficult to identify the refreshed 2025 GMC Yukon while standing outside, but open the door and the new styling, features, and technology will become readily apparent.

This is General Motors’ money-making full-size SUV that shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Tahoe, but priced slightly higher, and both produced in Arlington, Texas.

GM product planners tell us the Yukon holds 27% of the US market for full-size SUVs (selling 23,645 units in the first half). The No.1 Tahoe has a whopping 37%, topping (in order by sales ranking) the Ford Expedition, Jeep Wagoneer, Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota Sequoia, and Nissan Armada.

And let’s not forget the Yukon XL, which is 15.2 inches longer and gives big families even more space.

The formula for upscale SUVs seems to be working pretty well for GMC, so that explains why the 2025 exterior shows few distinct changes on the outside. The Yukon is still reasonably fresh, having launched the all-new fifth generation in the challenging summer of 2020 as the pandemic impacted everything.

A significant change is in the packaging. The entry-level SLE and SLT variants are now replaced by the Elevation trim, in line with recent changes for the all-new GMC Terrain.

The first-ever AT4 Ultimate trim joins the lineup to fuse “ruggedness and capability with craftsmanship and refinement,” GMC says. The AT4 Ultimate gets a front skid plate and 20-inch rims with all-terrain tires, as well as a four-corner Air Ride adaptive suspension to raise the vehicle up to 2 inches for better ground clearance.

Also, at the upper end of the range, the Denali Ultimate trim, which debuted on the 2023 Yukon, returns for 2025 with exclusive new 24-inch eight-spoke machined wheels with laser etching.

Inside the Denali Ultimate are 16-way powered heated and ventilated front seats, while Executive Seating luxury captain’s chairs in the second row are available for the first time in the GMC lineup—a feature shared with the upcoming all-electric Cadillac Escalade iQ.

But you don’t have to spend top dollar for a nice interior in the 2025 GMC Yukon. Every trim will come standard with a vertically oriented 16.8-inch center infotainment screen for accessing maps and vehicle diagnostics and for syncing smartphones.

The new screen is much larger than the horizontal screen it replaces and features a big, chunky volume knob integrated in the lower edge of the screen, centrally located for either driver or passenger.

The instrument panel is completely new, looks less cluttered with fewer buttons, and features a digital instrument cluster that is neatly integrated within the sleek dashboard.

Night Vision is available, using thermal object detection to more quickly identify pedestrians and animals via the head-up display. Expanded safety features include front pedestrian and bicyclist braking; rear-cross traffic braking; and intersection automatic emergency braking.

The 2025 Yukon also offers Super Cruise for hands-free highway driving on 750,000 miles of mapped roads in the US and Canada. These next-gen trailering technologies are also available: Blind Zone Steering Assist, Transparent Trailer View, Jackknife Alert, and Trailer Reverse Trajectory. The Yukon can tow up to 8,400 pounds.

The standard engine for base Elevation and AT4 trims is the trusty 355-hp 5.3-liter small-block V8, while the uplevel powertrain is the 6.2-liter V8 offering 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Every powertrain configuration comes with the 10-speed automatic transmission.

GMC says the 3.0-liter diesel remains available and has been enhanced for 2025 with new pistons, turbocharger, and fuel injectors to improve emissions, while achieving 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. Brand managers say about 15% of Yukon buyers pick the diesel for fuel-efficient road trips, especially while towing.

The 2025 GMC Yukon will be in showrooms before year’s end, and that’s about the time we’ll have specific pricing information. The base price for a 2024 GMC Yukon is $60,195, which is $2,000 more than a Chevy Tahoe.

Are you in the market for a full-size three-row SUV? If so, how does the GMC Yukon look? Please comment below.