Is the 2005 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2005 GMC Yukon XL and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2005 Yukon XL featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
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How do people like the 2005 GMC Yukon XL?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2005 GMC Yukon XL and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2005 Yukon XL 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2005 Yukon XL.
Review
The Denali XL is everything you need to get your family up to the Cabin, tow your toys, and more. This vehicle is hands down the best vehicle I have ever owned. It is smooth, powerful, comfortable, and has AWD for towing my Ice-House, Boat, Snowmobiles, and ATV's. The Denali has the Vortec 6.0 but this is essentially the same engine as the 5.3. My Vortec 6.0 has 232,948 miles and does not burn oil between changes. I have had to perform repairs on this vehicle which I will list but most of them were only after 200,000 and well worth the investment. These vehicles will easily go 400,000 with routine maintenance. Maintenance & Tips: **TIP 1** Buy a blue tooth OBD2 adapter online for $20 and then get the Torque App for your iPhone/Android to monitor/trouble-shoot data and reset error codes. **TIP 2** Change the fluids on this truck regularly. It will pay off in the long run. These trucks will last FOREVER. You can do both the front differential, rear differential, and transfer case very easily/cheap. The same goes for the transmission but that takes about 17 quarts and isn't exactly cheap to do a total flush but it is much cheaper than a whole new transmission. **TIP 3** Search Online for videos for trouble-shooting and repair. I guarantee you will find out how to do many of these repairs yourself/cheap. 1. Transmission may go around 200,000 miles = $3,700 to repair. 2. Rear Air Suspension will go around the same time = $800 to $2,700/Dealer to repair. You do not have to put the Air Suspension rear back in/Kit Replacement. I however Love the air suspension for towing, etc. 3. Passenger Side leak into Heater Blower Motor. This shorts out the Fan. Easy fix, take off the wipers and the plastic grate between the windshield and the hood. There is an oval metal plate with cracked brittle caulk. Reseal this or put another bigger metal plate over this with caulk. TIP: Pull out the wet metal heat sink heater fan control module and dry it out. It will come back to life. No need to spend money on this. 4. DON"T spray off this engine at the Self-Serve Car Wash. Water on the top side will drain down and short out the anti-knock sensors on the top of the intake and you will start throwing codes. I had to replace both (2) anti-knock sensors and the wire harness. 5. The intake gasket will need to be replaced at some point if it has not been already. It will throw lean bank 1 or 2 codes when it is time to replace. I think the original was green and the replacement is orange and a better design. Easy fix, just take your time to do it right. 6. If you start to get a random misfire code when it is hot/towing that only happens when you stop it is the front O2 Sensor. Easy fix. Get on the ground and do it yourself. They sell a cheap tool to remove/replace these. 7. Low Oil Pressure when first started cold. Some of these engines will lose oil pressure when first started COLD. Then as the engine warms the oil pressure will come up to normal. That is your clue. A rubber ring in the oil pickup tube has become brittle and cracked. When it warms up it expands and your oil pressure comes back to normal. FIX: Bring this to a shop with some good old boys who are not afraid of a little work. The front differential can be dropped with two people and a hoist in about 20 minutes/intact. This will grant access to drop the oil pan which has to be removed to get to the oil pump pickup tube so that the rubber o-ring can be replaced. $350 - $550 to repair. Don't take it to the dealership for this one. They will want 1K to fix this and it isn't that hard to do. FINAL TIP: Don't be afraid to work on this vehicle. I have performed every repair on this besides the o-ring replacement and the transmission. Working on this has saved me thousands of dollars and prevented me from having to fork out another 50k for a new vehicle. Don't believe for one second that a new GMC truck with the 6.2 is the answer. People are buying these and having oil burning issues from the factory. Not to mention transmission issues, etc. Newer isn't always better. I for one will be driving my 2005 GMC Denali XL for many years to come. Sincerely, Barry G
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What options are available on the 2005 GMC Yukon XL?
Available GMC Yukon XL 2005 Submodel Types: SUV
Available Trims: Denali, SLT, SLE 1500, SLT 1500, 1500 SLE, SLE, SLT2 1500, 2500 SLE, SLT1 1500, 1500 SLT
Exterior Colors: Onyx Black, White Frost Tricoat, Summit White , Iridium Metallic, White Diamond Tricoat, Silver Birch Metallic, Quicksilver Metallic, Summit White, Champagne Silver Metallic, Stealth Gray Metallic, Steel Gray Metallic, Carbon Metallic, Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic, Crystal Red Tintcoat, Deep Blue Metallic, Mocha Steel Metallic, Pure Silver Metallic, Carbon Black Metallic, Crimson Red Tintcoat, Sport Red Metallic, Blue-Green Crystal, Mineral Metallic, Pewter Metallic, Red Jewel Tintcoat, Satin Steel Metallic, Antique Bronze Metallic, Bronze Alloy Metallic, Dark Slate Metallic, Garnet Red Metallic, Gold Mist Metallic, Midnight Amethyst Metallic, Sonoma Red Metallic, Storm Gray Metallic, Laser Blue Metallic, Light Steel Gray Metallic, Polo Green Metallic, Sparkling Silver Metallic
Interior Colors: Jet Black leather, Ebony premium leather, Jet Black premium leather, Cocoa/Shale leather, Cocoa/Dark Atmosphere leather, Cocoa/Light Cashmere premium leather, Cocoa/Shale premium leather, Ebony premium cloth, Cocoa/Dune premium leather, Cocoa/Dune leather, Pewter/Dark Pewter, Stone Gray, Light Titanium premium cloth, Sandstone, Ebony leather, Light Titanium leather, Light Titanium premium leather, Cocoa/Dark Atmosphere premium leather, Jet Black premium cloth, Light Tan leather, Light Tan premium cloth, Stone Gray premium leather, Sandstone premium leather, Light Tan premium leather, Medium Dark Pewter/Shale, Neutral/Shale, Ebony vinyl, Graphite/Med Gray, Neutral/Shale leather
Popular Features: Alarm, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Power Driver Seat, Rear Bench Seats, Third-row seating, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Towing Hitch, Trip Computer, AWD/4WD, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Tire Pressure Warning, Stability Control, Post-collision safety system, Auto Climate Control, Leather Seats, Aux Audio Inputs, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Heated seats, Remote Start, Parking sensors, Power Liftgate/Trunk, Back-up camera, Sunroof/Moonroof, Bluetooth, Navigation, 2nd Row Bucket Seats, USB Inputs, Rear Entertainment System, 6000lb Towing Capacity, Blind Spot Monitoring, Cooled Seats, Lane Departure Warning, Mobile Internet, Keyless Entry/Start, Upgraded Headlights, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Pre-collision safety system, Heads up display, 8000lb Towing Capacity, Adaptive Cruise Control, Upgraded Stereo, Upgraded Engine, 10,000lb+ Towing Capacity
Engine/Mechanics: 8 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: premium unleaded (recommended), flex-fuel (unleaded/E85), regular unleaded, flex-fuel (premium unleaded recommended/E85)
Drivetrains: four wheel drive, all wheel drive, rear wheel drive
