For more than 30 years, the GMC Yukon has been one of the most powerful and sophisticated SUVs on the road, providing drivers with an incredible vehicle designed for those of us who need something bigger than the typical vehicle. We’ve long enjoyed what the Yukon offers, and the modern era has only made it better with each passing generation and model year. This means if you’re interested in a Yukon at your used GMC dealer, then you’re in for a treat since this is an SUV that defies the ordinary. It’s one of the largest, most luxurious, and powerful SUVs on the market, providing amazing features year after year. Whether you already know what you’re looking for or are still considering a variety of options, let’s check out the GMC Yukon to get a sense of what it can do for you.
Bold Power and Performance
An important thing to note about the GMC Yukon (this has been true for many years, and it’s something that will guide much of what we’re looking at) is that it is a large SUV. It’s always been a full-size model and one of the biggest ones out there but redesigns over the years have only built on that. With such a large vehicle, you need an engine with a lot of power packed into it; this is something GMC understands very well, so you’ll find some very impressive engines offered in Yukon models.
Going back to a 2020 GMC Yukon, for example, you can find either a 5.3L V8 engine with 355 hp or a 6.2L V8 that delivers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. These are both terrific engines that make the Yukon incredibly fun to drive, handling and responding with greater precision than you might expect from such a large SUV. The 2020 model year marked the end of the Yukon’s fourth generation, but these engines are so good they continued into the fifth generation.
That being said, we should note that starting with the 2021 GMC Yukon, a third option has become available that is worth considering when exploring used models. The fifth-generation Yukon has an available 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel engine with 460 lb-ft of torque, giving you terrific performance and the reliability of diesel power. Admittedly, not everyone cares about having a diesel engine, which is part of why they’re not something you’ll find in the majority of SUVs out there. The fact that it’s an option for the modern Yukon, however, perfectly demonstrates how much power GMC packs into this beast.

A Massive Interior for Passengers and Cargo
We’ve already mentioned that the GMC Yukon is one of the largest SUVs on the market, but that’s an easy thing to say without necessarily proving it. Fortunately, we have the numbers to back that up. We should note that there are two Yukon models to keep in mind: the standard Yukon and the longer Yukon XL. Both of these are full-size SUVs, but if you’re looking for something with incredible interior space, then you need to look for a Yukon XL when considering different used models.
Both Yukon models are three-row SUVs that give you a lot of seating options to take advantage of. Certain Yukon models these days have seating for up to nine passengers, which is as much seating as you’re going to get without buying a commercial passenger van or bus. Other models have seating for seven or eight passengers, so it’s important to keep these specs in mind when looking at different used options. This way, you can make sure you get what you need. The Yukon also has massive amounts of cargo space inside, though the redesign for its fifth generation and the 2021 model year made it even bigger.
Looking at the 2020 GMC Yukon, it has just over 15 cu.ft. of rear cargo space, more than 51 cu.ft. of space behind the second row, and almost 95 cu.ft. of total cargo volume. The Yukon XL from that year boosts those numbers up to almost 40 cu.ft. of rear cargo space, more than 76 cu.ft. behind the second row of seats, and almost 122 cu.ft. of total cargo volume. What’s crazy is that the fifth-generation Yukon now has almost 123 cu.ft. of total cargo space for you to take advantage of. If you go with a Yukon XL from 2021 or later, then you’ll get more than 41 cu.ft. of rear cargo space, almost 94 cu.ft. of cargo volume behind the second row, and nearly 145 cu.ft. of total cargo space inside.
Advanced Tech Features
At this point, it’s pretty easy to see what we mean when we talk about the GMC Yukon being a powerful and spacious SUV that surpasses what most other vehicles out there have to offer. If that’s all there was to it, then the Yukon would be a fine vehicle but not quite extraordinary. Fortunately, that’s not all there is to it, and the Yukon is also an incredibly innovative SUV with some of GMC’s best features and technology on offer. The model year and generation you look at here will make a big difference in what you find in a used model, along with the trim level, so keep that in mind.
For example, if you go back to the previous generation and a 2020 Yukon, then you’ll find an eight-inch Infotainment display, which is great but feels a bit dated at this point. By comparison, the 2021 Yukon features a number of updates like a standard 10.2-inch Infotainment display that looks stunning, plus available features like enhanced Navigation and a pair of rear seat 12.6-inch displays. These features keep getting updated and improved, which makes the model year and trim you choose very important with a pre-owned Yukon. A 2024 GMC Yukon Denali, for example, features a power-sliding center console with an available Four-Corner Adaptive Air Ride Suspension for enhanced performance and handling; meanwhile, the Denali Ultimate trim takes things to the next level with an 18-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system and the incredible Super Cruise hands-free driving system.
Innovative Safety Technology
The impressive technology offered by GMC is not reserved only for the interior; advanced safety and driver assistance tech is also front-and-center with the Yukon. But just like the technology we looked at previously, these features change frequently, so the model year and trim you find will make a big difference in what you get with a used GMC Yukon. Going back to a 2021 model, for example, you get GMC Pro Safety Plus with a Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Front and Rear Park Assist standard on the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims.
Other than the starting SLE model, the 2021 Yukon also comes with a Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and more. If you check out other fifth-generation Yukon models since then, you’ll find these features are still offered at the same levels, which means you can enjoy any of these vehicles and feel total peace of mind. Prior to this, however, systems like Automatic Emergency Braking were optional rather than standard, so getting something from the last few years can make a big difference.

Get a Used GMC Yukon With Everything You Need
Getting a great vehicle that you love driving each day, with the features you want, doesn’t have to be difficult, but it helps to know what you want from your next ride. The GMC Yukon is a large, powerful piece of machinery that is routinely decked out with some of the most impressive and advanced technology GMC has to offer. If you need a big vehicle for your family, with seating for seven or more people, then the Yukon or Yukon XL are both fantastic choices that you should strongly consider. Just remember that the model year you’re looking at—particularly going from 2020 to 2021—can make a big difference in the features you find. And if you’re not sure which Yukon model is right for you, then we’re here and happy to help you figure out everything you need. Contact us today to get started.


