With the influx of US trucks on Aussie roads, it was only a matter of time before their SUV counterparts arrived locally. But will their specs be enough to outperform the established heavyweight Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and the upcoming Nissan Patrol Y63?
“We’ve been hearing rumours about the arrival of a US-made large SUV for months. It makes sense — most US trucks like the RAM, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford F-150 have SUV counterparts, so converting them to right-hand drive should be straightforward given the existing experience. So, what’s coming?
The first to arrive is the GMC Yukon Denali, with local deliveries expected early next year.
This large SUV shares the General Motors (GM) T1XX platform with the Silverado 1500 and 2500HD, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban and others.
We’ll be getting the four-wheel drive Denali with an optional 6.2L V8. In the US, buyers can choose between the smaller 5.3L V8 or 3.0L turbo diesel engines. There’s also an XL version in the US that extends the length of the Yukon Denali.
Will the new 2025 Yukon Denali be a good tow rig?
The short answer is yes but with a caveat. In the US, the 4WD Yukon 6.2L V8 has a towing capacity of 8000lbs (3628kg), which isn’t a huge leap over other options. Its GVWR (GVM/gross vehicle mass in our language) is up to 7500lbs (3401kg). There’s a chance we might get a tow-centric package that could increase these figures by around 200kg — hopefully, we will.
Its US-spec payload is 1616lbs (733kg), which is quite low considering the Yukon can carry eight adults, plenty of luggage in the cargo space, and a tow hitch. If you’re carrying eight people at an average weight of 80kg each, that’s already 640kg before adding luggage, trailer ball weight and fuel. It’s unclear if the fuel weight is included in this limit.
If our specs match the US Yukon Denali, it will be best suited for towing large trailers with only four or five passengers. This is an issue for many modern vehicles. The ideal solution would be if the Yukon Denali here had a GVM of 4000kg and a GCM of around 7500kg, but that seems unlikely.
In the US, the fuel tank is 24 gallons (90L) in the spec we’re getting. Ideally, we’d see a larger tank, as the LC300 and Y63 will outclass it. A 130L tank would be perfect, but we may only get the long-wheelbase Yukon XL’s 105L tank.
Power and torque from the V8 are impressive, producing 313kW (just under 420hp) and 624Nm. We’ve tested this engine in the Silverado 1500, where it proved surprisingly fuel-efficient and engaging. The Yukon shares the same 10-speed automatic transmission gearbox and two-speed transfer case but differs with its rear suspension — coil or air springs instead of the Silverado’s leaf springs.
At first glance, the Yukon Denali might seem like the biggest, most rugged vehicle out there, and while it looks tough, it’s not drastically larger than the Land Rover Defender 130, which also has eight seats (two rows of three in the back and bucket seats up front).
Measuring 5338mm (5.4m/17ft 5in) in length, it’s actually slightly shorter than the Defender 130’s 5385mm (5.4m/17ft 7in). It’s 2058mm (2.1m/6ft 8in) wide (excluding mirrors) and 1941mm (1.9m/6ft 4in) tall, so it will fit in most garages and parking buildings without issue. With a curb weight of around 2540kg (according to US specs), it’s comparable to some LC300 variants.
For those who think US trucks and SUVs are oversized, a closer look at the dimensions shows they’re not drastically different from what we already have here.
What might the Yukon Denali cost locally?
In the US, the 4WD Yukon Denali with the 6.2L V8 is priced at just under $75,000 USD. After adding shipping, remanufacturing, local taxes and other costs, buyers in Australia can expect to pay around $160,000 plus on-road costs (ORC).
For comparison, Toyota’s most luxurious large SUV class, the LC300 Sahara VX, costs about $25,000 less than what I expect the Yukon Denali will. We don’t yet know the pricing of Nissan’s top-spec Patrol Y63, but it’s expected to undercut the Toyota by a few thousand dollars, making the Yukon notably more expensive than Australia’s most popular large SUVs.
Looking at European SUVs, the Yukon Denali is most comparable to the Land Rover Defender 130 P400, which also offers three rows of seating and an output of 298kW from its turbo-hybrid engine. With the Defender 130 P400 priced around $135,000 plus ORC, the Yukon Denali should be significantly more expensive. But why?
Is it a luxury limousine or a family tow vehicle?
Initially, at least, it’s likely to be marketed as a luxury SUV, featuring massive 24-inch wheels, a 16.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system up front, two 12-inch screens for the second-row seats (sorry third row passengers) and chrome accents wherever possible.
Once the initial hype settles, and demand becomes clearer, I expect GMSV — the local importer for GM products — to introduce the Chevrolet Tahoe, a more affordable and basic version built on the same platform. The Tahoe will likely share the same powertrain and towing capabilities at a lower price, making it the more appealing option for towing enthusiasts.
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