2004 GMC Yukon XL Consumer Reviews

Great Ride

Written by: Dan on 01/31/2007

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD 4dr SUV (6.0L 8cyl 4A)

Review

Great vehicle for golf trips. I load up 5 guys with golf clubs and luggage for a 4 day trip to Myrtle Beach. The ride is great and I use the GPS system all the time. It's great to find golf courses. It's my 5th Suburban, but, my 1st Denali and I love it. There was not enough difference between the Denali and the Escalade to justify the price difference.

Favorite Features

6.0 liter engine, AWD, GPS, XM radio, OnStar, heated buckets.

Suggested Improvements

Touch screen GPS, lockable console, bring back the 42gal tank, less interior plastic, improve accessibility to 3rd seat with 2nd seat buckets.

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Ultimate SUV

Written by: tonyd on 01/02/2007

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLT Rwd 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

With a drop-down DVD player and a hand full of movies you can take the family on that 1500 mile trip without a fuss. It's big enough for all your luggage, tows trailers without worry, fits 6-8 adults without worry, offers sleeping room and seating postions, excellerates great, and handles like a Mercedes. After driving an S500 recently, I returned to the Yukon XL with a renewed point of view of how much vehicle this really is. The stable-track nearly eliminates body sway. The long wheelbase soaks up the bumps much better than a pounding/bucking ride Short-Wheel-Base SUV. Towed trailers 10,000 miles and I put a post-it note on the dash to remind me it was back there. Mercedes in GM clothing.

Favorite Features

327 V8 vortec engine. Flex fuel with 300 real horsepower. Smooth ride, quiet interior. Bose radio is same as a Mercedes. Satelite radio is better than CD. 16-20 mpg highway 13-15 mpg with trailer in mountains. Heated seats. Trailer lights work perfectly

Suggested Improvements

Put in the $40 K&N filter.10 minute install, 6 hp gain. Install the $50 low impedance spark plug wires. 25 minutes, 5 hp gain. Run synthetic fluids, in every system possible. Lube all 8 zerks on the steering linkage/front suspension yourself

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Diluted Denali

Written by: Bob F on 03/11/2006

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD 4dr SUV (6.0L 8cyl 4A)

Review

Nice roomy SUV . Bought it to carry the new twin grandchildren. Removed passenger side bucket seat to facilitate loading & third seat useage. Need to have sliding windows in cargo area for pet comfort.Interior cheap materials, no locking gas gap door or spring loaded wipers. Now there is a Envoy Denali. What next a Malibu Denali? Nav system somewhat difficult to program. Not a full size spare & manual reccomends you dont use chains. Kind of negates use in snow country.

Favorite Features

Engine & suspension

Suggested Improvements

Swivel Bucket seats- Cargo window openings- More storage access in rear plastic covered areas. Simpify NAV system. Why does a Yukon have chrome side & bumper strips & a DENALI painted?

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great tow vehicle

Written by: smacko on 08/03/2005

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL 2500 SLT 4WD 4dr SUV (6.0L 8cyl 4A)

Review

I pull a 9,000 pound travel trailer with the 6.0 engine and 4.10 rear end. It handles it very well. This is a great truck.

Favorite Features

Towing capacity

Suggested Improvements

Add extendable tow mirrors

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great vehicle

Written by: ANGEL on 07/16/2005

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLE 4WD 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

This is my first Yukon. I've wanted one for a very long time, and finally got it. I love my Yukon. I have four wheel drive for the snow, and it handles it perfect. I feel very safe with my family in this car, and I have never had any problems with this truck. The gas mileage is horrible, but what can you expect from an SUV? I have installed XM satellite radio and I don't listen to the regular radio anymore. The sound is great too. The only thing I dislike is the 3rd row seating. There is no leg room. Your legs are up to your chest and the seats don't fold down into the floor. I have to pull them out (very heavy) whenever I want to use the extra cargo space and its a pain. A-

Favorite Features

Drives like a sedan, very smooth. 4 wheel drive, 8 passenger seating. Sound is great. Safe vehicle.

Suggested Improvements

Better 3rd row seating. Need leg room and fold down to the floor seats. Better gas mileage. Would like full shoulder seat belt in the middle seats. (2nd and 3rd rows).

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Nice truck, GPS is abysmal

Written by: STuck on 04/25/2005

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD 4dr SUV (6.0L 8cyl 4A)

Review

This is my first GMC vehicle. I am impressed with the performance and reliability. Very roomy. However, you should be warned that it is always thirsty for gas. I was sold on the GPS and was looking forward to using it. Unfortunately, it is cumbersome to use. I called the dealer for assistance and the technician admitted that it was a waste of money to purchase the GPS and that it was very poor. Hopefully, they improve this substantially.

Favorite Features

Comfortable. A lot of power.

Suggested Improvements

GPS is awful. Gas guzzling hog but it is a truck.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Best Vehicle I have ever owned

Written by: Looram on 03/12/2005

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLT 4WD 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

My 2004 Yukon XL is just about perfect. The only trouble was with the exhaust popping noise (which is a common problem with the 2004 models). The dealer fixed it by replacing the entire exhuast system. I am getting 13.5 mpg city and 19 highway which isnt too bad for its size and hauling capacity. Although it recently is costing me over $60.00 to fill up this bad boy, the ride is great and will plow through even the toughest of snow drifts up here in the midwest. The only regret is not getting the autoride suspension.

Favorite Features

Bose stereo system. Front adjustable heated seats.

Suggested Improvements

Less plastic on the interior.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Love my Denali but it's not perfect

Written by: Muro214 on 02/03/2005

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD 4dr SUV (6.0L 8cyl 4A)

Review

I've had my Denali for a couple of months and have upgraded it with 22" rims. It looks great, but it's not perfect for a $53,000 vehicle. It needs heated mirrors, better second row seats (it would be nice if you can move them back and forth), and the third seat needs to hide in the floor.

Favorite Features

XM radio, OnStar, AWD, styling. Cargo room, and interior design.

Suggested Improvements

Better quality materials. The layout of the console is nice but has too much plastic. Better second row captains chairs, a third seat that can tuck away in the floor (I hate having to take it out to use the full cargo room), and heated side mirrors.

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Finally See the Light

Written by: Yuckon Owner on 12/30/2004

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLT Rwd 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

Longtime Honda/Toyota/Nissan car guy with 3 kids. Needed a large SUV with large cargo area and this was/is the only choice so took a chance.

Favorite Features

Engine is great as well as interior space. Acceleration and braking is pretty good for a large vehicle. Drive like a senior and you'll get ok mileage given vehicle heft.

Suggested Improvements

Problems galore, suspension probs (5 in all, still not 100%), fuel gauge, clunky transmission, alignment probs (had to get new set of tires). Got tired of problems and tried trading in, but resale value stinks to high heaven. So I'm stuck. Learn from my mistake, stick with the imports.

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Go to ergonomics school GMC

Written by: GMC latest convert on 12/26/2004

Vehicle

2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD 4dr SUV (6.0L 8cyl 4A)

Review

Great car if a 5'8" person with no previous back problems can stand the pain of sitting in the drivers seat form more than 20 minutes. Way to go GM, you got my 50K this time, but never again. We have a brand new Denali in the garage, and took the Eddie Bauer Expedition with 100k miles on it to the family christmas gathering cause I can't stand the pain of being in that seat. And I've never been a Ford or a GMC guy in the past either, I am now.

Favorite Features

Power, traction in slimy, slushy, snowy, and icy conditions.

Suggested Improvements

Send your engineers to ergonomics 101

0 out 4 people found this review helpful

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