Used 2013 GMC Yukon XL Consumer Reviews

Tired of crossovers

After trying crossovers, we are back to our much loved Suburban/Yukon XL vehicles. Nothing matches these vehicles for comfort, value and modest cost of operation. They are bullet proof and supremely comfortable. I cannot agree with Edmunds suggestion that the midsized Acadia, Enclave or Traverse is a viable replacement. ONLY, if you sit in the front seats. The second row seats in these vehicles are some of the most uncomfortable seats in any vehicle made. And for all this loss of comfort, size and seat comfort, you gain a miseable 1-2 mpg. Not worth it. Before you buy your GM crossover, test drive a new Yukon or Yukon XL back to back with a new Acadia, Enclave or Traverse.

King of full size SUV's!

There is no real comparable full size SUV to challenge General Motors, but that hasn't kept GM from continuously improving the Yukon XL. We traded an 2004 Suburban for this brand new and now with 155,000 miles on it, this baby still runs and drives like a new one. Being totally honest, there are two weaknesses for these trucks. 1st is the displacement on demand or active fuel management. This is supposed to increase your gas mileage, but it causes your motor to consume oil after about 60,000 miles or so. And if you're not the type that keeps an eye on your oil level, you can run too low and burn your motor up. I have always kept a close eye on this and finally had the dod deleted and I've had zero problems. My mileage is the same, maybe even a little better, and no more oil consumption. 2nd weakness is the transmission torque converter design. Due to a design issue, these 6 speed trannys will give you problems between 100k and 125k miles. Mine made it to 153k and then it cost approximately $1300 to have the fix done. The good thing is my guy went through the entire tranny and all was good except the torque converter and another part, the name of which slips my mind. A complete rebuild would have cost $2500-$3500, but because my tranny guy is honest, he fixed only what needed fixing. Bad part is that the design flaw is still there and in another 120k miles, I'll be looking at doing it again. Overall, this vehicle is awesome. Still looks good and haven't had any other issues with it except for what I've mentioned. Granted, some people will drive them even when they know there's a problem and this will wind up costing them a lot more in the long run. But for those that get luckier and catch these two issues quickly, this vehicle will give you many, many trouble free miles and will do so efficiently and in style.

3 Years in a Yukon and I loved it!

My mom leased a 2013 Yukon XL Denali with 4wd in either August or July of 2013 as a replacement for our 2004 Chevrolet Suburban that me and my two brothers grew up in. The Yukon was comfy and had plenty of space for the six people in my family and a dog. The heated seats were great for bitterly cold New England winters, and the 4wd was great in the rain and snow. The car was very reliable, and aside from scheduled matinence, the car only had two instances of emergency repairs when just the brakes needed to be re-calibrated, and the dealership was very helpful and fixed the problem easily. Materials wise, the dashboard, I thought, felt a bit cheap as it was made entirely of hard plastics, but the plastics all looked nice and held together nicely and never chipped or cracked. All of the places where you would rest your arms and hands were nicely padded (aside from the third row) and all of the seats were very comfortable, although I thought the driver and passenger seats could have used a bit more side bolstering but were comfortable none the less. The car was very safe as well, with a backup camera with good quality, very responsive parking sensors, good blind spot monitoring, and just giving the size of that car would make it safe if you were to get in a crash in one. The car ride and handled well, the steering could be defined as a bit numb, but it must be for a car of its size. The car accelerated stupendously for its size and braking was fine. Two complaints I have for the car's performance are that I thought that the headlights were not too bright, though I am comparing them to halogen projector beam lights, but they do suffice nicely, and that the accelerator could be a bit touchy and could take some time to get used to, but once you did it was nothing. All of the electronics worked splendidly, the touch screen was very responsive and Bluetooth worked fine, that navigation system could be annoying to work with when in crowded city streets, but it usually worked fine. This was the first car that I drove when I got my permit and the more time I spent driving it, the more I came to like it! It was a solidly built American body on frame SUV and it made me feel very safe when in it, and I loved going fast down the highway in it. However the Yukon's lease ran up this August and instead of buying it, my mom leased a 2016 Toyota Sequoia and it is a good car, but there are still things I liked better about the Yukon that the Sequoia. The Yukon proved that it was a good, reliable, and useful car that will suit any large family and all of their needs.

Great for a Big SUV, Still Prefer a Minivan

I buy new cars fairly often (every 1-2 yrs) and I've been flipping back and forth between SUV's and Minivans for about 7 yrs now. It's because I can't get all the features I love in one or the other. As far as this SUV goes it's my usual love/hate relationship. I've had this vehicle for about 4 months now and highly doubt I'll keep it past 6 - 9 months bc I just hate big SUV's. If you're a big SUV or truck person I think it's probably fantastic. I prefer more of a mid-size SUV or Minivan height myself. Yes, minivans are super goober and I swore I wouldn't be caught dead driving one ever. Four kids later and the practicality of minivans just turns me on!

Great Auto

Be prepared for MPG. Other than that Super Vehicle.

Still the "Gold Standard"

We ventured into the "midsize", or as the Edmunds reviewers say "Perfect size for most"....SUV's. We tested an Acadia, Enclave and ended up buying a new 2011 Lincoln MKT. That didn't last quite a year until we now have found ourselves back into a full sized GMC Yukon XL and we absolutely love all aspects of the vehicle. So comfortable, delightful seats and SPACE. Still hard to beat a full sized vehicle if, like us, you do lots of traveling on the open road. Never attempt to sit in the second row seats of GM's midsize offerings (Traverse, Acadia and Enclave) if you are (1) over 5' tall or (2) over the age of 12! Those have to be the most uncomfortable seats made in a modern vehicle!

Great 4WD

I just drove my 2012 Yukon XL from Washington D.C. to Knoxville through our first challenging Winter weather. When we got within 60 miles of the state line (north of Tennessee while still in Virginia) we ran into some real snow and ice on the roads. We had to drive from about that point south to Knoxville, TN. I had to use the Four Wheel Drive for that length of the trip - over 2 hours at varying speeds. The vehicle never missed a beat. There were cars, trucks, and semis in the ditch or over turned along the way. The Yukon had zero problems. I watched the transmission temp the entire time. It never got over 135 degrees. Very impressed. Very pleased. Having a 21 month old in the vehicle with me certainly made for a nervous trip. The Yukon didn't let me down. Very happy I had it with 4WD High - worked like a champ.

Awesome car

This is by far one of the best vehicles I have owned. Traded in a 2010 Mercedes E350, loved that car but it does not even compare to the Denali. We looked at Suburban and they are beautiful as well but wanted a little more. Drove a Escalade ESV and loved it but just cannot see where there is a need for a extra $10-12k. So we went with the Denali and haven't looked back.

Not luxury, but serves a purpose

Traded in Toyota Sienna Limited to better accomodate our family - my wife and I plus four young kids. We have 7,500 miles on our 2012 Yukon XL Denali. Price was $60K even before trade, with the additional screen for the third row. Since we bought the car a few months ago, the DVD player has broken (only used it once) and now the back up camera is broken. Suprisingly little knee room for the second row, and less, as expected, for the third row. You can't move the 2nd or 3rd row seat back and forth, like you could in the mini-van. You can turn the Heat/AC for the rear on and off from the front of the car, but you cant control the temperature. Bad idea Regretting this purchase

Roomy, pretty good on fuel, decent ride.

Not a bad vehicle. Lots of power, I did put a huge transmission cooler in it when I bought it...huge for a Class A motor home. Never have had transmission issues and temp stays in cool. I've owned 9 4x4 vehicles, 3 of which were 1500 series GM products. They do the job but I will say this...if the roads are full of ice and snow I take the Subaru outback the we own. It out performs the Yukon XL in handling, stopping, cornering in bad weather etc. Yukon XL is comfortable for family and lots of cargo area. I find the metal in it very light and paint and rust are an ongoing issue. The chassis rusted easily as well and I had to clean that up..I'm not impressed with the size of the chassis nor the steel quality. GM went cheap on it and the chassis is the truck. If you are in winter conditions it will need undercoating every year...oil based. Transmission is auto 6 speed and not bad. Rear locking diff offers good traction even without the 4x4 engaged. A bit of piston knock in the engine at 200000 kms...but nothing to worry about. Look at it this way. I had a 96 Dodge Cummins 4x4 pickup for 22 years before I sold it. That dodge will still be around when the chassis rots out of the GMC....and that is something GM needs to sort out.

My Fifth Yukon and Maybe my last

This is a great vehicle for larger people - I'm 6'6" and the ease of getting and out is a great benefit. plenty of cargo space, comfy seats fore and aft, and it handles very well. I may never buy another because it isn't driven as much (business supplies a vehicle, a 2013 Tahoe), but if I ever do, it will be another Yukon XL

2011 Yukon XL Denali the BEST!!

This car is a dream to drive and own. Beautifully appointed, great visibility and reliability. Love this car! !!

Oustanding purchase 2010 Yukon XL

Bought my 2010 Yukon XL after much research and investigation. Had a bad experience years ago with a GM product and was nervous to purchase another even with access to GM employee discount. After several test drives and reading good press regarding much improved quality and design I decided to take a chance on my silver 2010 SLE with the exact features I was looking for: SLE-2, cloth buckets, ext appearance pkg, conv pkg, tow pkg, and integrated trailer brake. So far the truck is perfect and drives like a dream. Plenty of power and tons of utility. I have owned full size pickups for years so the mileage with this XL is phenomenal compared to them. The family and I could not be happier.

Comforts of home

Great vehicle

What a beast!

I own one and loving it,its big ,bulky,powerful and some what decently luxurious, a true American giant. 5 stars!

Unexplained Sudden Acceleration

Purchased our vehicle new in 2009. Generally satisfied with the SUV. In December 2012 the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated without explanation. The car was towed to dealer - who could not re-create the defect. The vehicle has a bulletin out on a throttle defect but claim that it is due to a loss of power rather than a sudden acceleration. The manufacturer declined to pay for the cost of analysis of the defect, in spite of the throttle bulletin indicating they will pay the cost of the repair. Have 75K mi. on car but now wrestling with keeping it due to the concern. Expected another 2 years out of the vehicle, especially at this price for car - but now may have to find another option.

For the most part it's a great vehicle!

We love our Yukon XL, we've owned it for 4 years and it has done great through our midwest winters. My only warnings to people are minor. In the extreme cold the rear cargo door won't work, you have to shut off the motor too it and manually open it. Not the end of the world but it's helpful to know. Also our engine light is on. It's apparently something to do with the emissions system, a $500 fix. Unfortunately this issue disables the remote start on the vehicle, a little more annoying. I have a few friends with similar Yukons/Suburbans and these issues are common in them. Otherwise we don't have any major complaints. It tows our 32' camper wonderfully and hauls the kids around too. Gas mileage isn't the best but what do you expect??

Initial Review

We ordered the Yukon XL the way we wanted it and are quite pleased with the ride handling low noise level. We got the SLT, SLT 2, Z71 plus the Red Tintcoat with Ebony interior. We have two large German Shepherds we travel with so buying a Yukon was no brainer. Used the USAA Buying Service and got a excellent deal. Compared Suburban LT to Yukon XL SLT and prefer the Yukon to Suburban based on the options available. Did not buy DVD or GPS system as they are way overpriced. We also opted to purchase the GMPP but shopped around to find the best price. No regrets about buying the Yukon XL it definitely satisfies our needs quite well.

An okay SUV

Bought the 09 to replace my 05. My biggest complaints relate to interior space use usability. There are no storage spaces for things like sunglasses. The 05 wasn't great, but it has thee good storage spaces in the dash. For some reason GMC decided to go with tiny buttons to control climate and radio. It has taken me a while to get used to the new layout, but the buttons are just bad, especially if you have gloves on. I am looking forward to towing my 30' camper. The 05 did well, I hope the 09 does better.

Large comfortable SUV

Just replaced 2007 Suburban LTZ and can't hardly believe the difference. Denali is far more fun and quick. Plan to haul trailer of about 7000lb. So that 6.2L motor will be a blessing. Really impressed by a guy who has had over 80 vehicles from Ferrari to Volkswagon.

Traded 2006 760LI

Rock solid SUV - Paid $59k for loaded vehicle with AWD. While its not a 760LI, it is very comfortable, loaded with many features that you would find in the BMW, plus a few more that I like much more - the USB, the room, the ride - everything but the mileage is perfect. Its $10-30k less than comparable vehicles without aas much room. Denali badge comes with nice features, interior quality could be nicer, still less fancy materials than Cadillac or foreign car, but it's an elegant beast none the less and great for my bull mastiff.

2011 Denali XL

Growing up it was a dream to drive such a big truck. Now that I’m grown and can afford it, it’s truly amazing. If your worried about gas mileage, this is def not the vehicle for you. 3 TVs, horsepower and torque to add to its beauty is awesome. Considering it all came from the factory built this way is even more the reason I bought it. Never driving anything else again.

my wagon

the best I have ever owned

Love it

Wife drives an '07 Suburban, and I traded my '08 MDX in on this Denali XL when we had baby #4 (too hard to use the 3rd row). Love the Denali, but have to say the '07 Suburban is faster off the line by a considerable amount, even after giving up about 90 HP. Must be the AWD and 20" wheels on the Denali. And as much as I love the exhaust note on the Denali, some folks may not appreciate that and go for the relatively quiet 5.3L engine in the Suburban or Yukon XL.

Adjustable back seats

I have only had for a day. But I compared with Toyota sequoia and the deal breaker was onstar. Unlocking is just a phone call away. Other than luxury and comfort sequoia has youkon xl denali beat. To get what you get in the sequoia you would have to buy a Cadillac for about 20,000.00 more and they're still lacking. So GM if Toyota comes out with satellite unlock doors, see ya unless you do big improvement to inside comfort.

Great Size and Power

We bought this vehicle purely for the size and passenger capacity. From that aspect, the vehicle is great - love all the room, the overall design, and general looks of the vehicle. Also love the power and "go anywhere" feel of the vehicle. We have, however, had this car in the shop more than any vehicle we've owned. Constant accessory / electrical issues (power seats, vented seats, heated seats, power door locks, driver air, power mirror). It still looks great and we still enjoy taking it on long trips when it's working, but if there was another good option with this much space and power, we'd take it.

Best SUV you'll ever own !!!

We recently bought the 2009 GMC Yukon XL, and we love it, we are very glad we got the XL version also. I would strongly recommend this SUV to anyone who is looking for spacious, comfortable, somewhat luxurious, and fun to drive. We also got the top of the line version and we love the power liftgate, its costs extra but worth it.Does not get as good gas mileage as the Tahoe or the standeder Yukon gets, but its worth it, also It is harder to get into tight parking spaces, and sharp turns, but you get used to it.Overall ,Great SUV.

Great driving vehicle

The handling is great. Great improvement with the Nav-- gives great definition to detail. The heated seats work great. Backup camera gives excellent details to items behind your vehicle and is a great help to hooking up to the boat trailer. Vehicle is a whole lot more than I expected.

Fun to Drive

Bought our Yukon in Sept. to have another towing vehicle and for family trips. Its been great. We are enjoying the cylinder shut down feature (v8 to v4) as it gets mileage around 17 when warmed up. Comfort and ride are great (go for the autoride). Enjoying the dual row heated seats and the autostart. Would like to see more details for the money (blind spot monitoring or mirrors, pin lights for night time cabin lighting, more cubbies for storage). I too would suggest moving the compass/temp back to the center. The overall fit and finish has been very good with only one problem with a plate cover in the inside the door handle. Vehicle has met our needs for volume, handling and comfort.

Must love it...it's my third!!!

Love It!

I recently traded in my 2001 Yukon XL Denali (which I really enjoyed) for a 2009, because I wanted the latest safety features (side air bags, stability control, and digital OnStar). This Denali is well-made (thanks, American auto-workers!) and has many new features (such as rain- sensing blades). Yes, I know it doesn't get the politically-correct mileage (14 in town/17 highway) but at least now I've consolidated down to only one vehicle. I bought now because I assume the now-Government owned GM would force fuel-savings changes into the design that consumers don't want (e.g., no more spare tires).

Amazing

I like everything about it. I've nothing at all wrong with it.