2021 GMC Yukon

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absolutely AUTO REVIEW  |  By Steve Kursar –

The 2021 GMC Yukon 4×4 is the latest generation of the classic large true body-on-frame SUV.  If you need or just want the largest SUV on the market today, the Yukon is it. It comes with three rows along with plenty of cargo room.  This is the SUV you’re looking for if you have a large family, if you need an SUV that can tow large loads or you just want to know that you’re driving the biggest vehicle you can buy.

Aptly named after the territory of northern Canada where you have to be tough to survive, the GMC Yukon has been driving American highways since 1991.  It has always shared a platform with its pickup cousin, the GMC Sierra, which is why the Yukon SUV is one tough customer. What’s more, GMC has quietly marketed itself as the only premium truck and SUV brand, and as a result, has built a steady and loyal customer base that likes luxury without all the fanfare. And now, with more customers asking for their SUVs to do more, GMC has unveiled the AT4 sub-brand that is engineered to survive in the wild.  And, yes, there is now a Yukon AT4 trim.

A base 2021 Yukon comes with a $51,000 MSRP price tag along with a 355 hp, 5.3 liter V8 engine mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission. That base Yukon gets fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.  For more power, there’s another gasoline engine choice, a 420 hp, 6.2 liter V8 that gets about the same fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

If you plan on using your Yukon to tow, there is a diesel option, a 277 hp, 3.0 liter Duramax turbo diesel that generates 460 ft.lbs of torque.  It also gets much better fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The diesel engine option is only about $1,000 more than the 5.3 liter base gas engine making it very attractive to buyers.

New for the 2021 model year is GMC’s AT4 trim, which turns the Yukon into a true off-road warrior.  Just some of the features that the AT4 brings to the Yukon include a two-speed transfer case, 20-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires, a traction select system for off-roading, hill descent control and added skid plates. You can venture off-road with confidence in a Yukon AT4.