2021 GMC Yukon Denali Vs. AT4: What ARE The Differences? Here’s Everything You Need To Know!
Am i right, my man, heck yeah, we're, very fortunate to be one of the first to have two very special suvs: the 2021 gmc yukon 84, the off road model and, of course, the ultra luxurious 2021 gmc yukon denali ultimate ultimate. This has everything now at the end of this video. We have something special for you, because one of these vehicles has a 5.3 and the other one has a 6.2, and we want to play a game with you. We want you to identify which one has which but that's at the end of the video for now we're, going to do a walk around and show you the exterior and the interior of these vehicles yeah nathan. Do you want to start with this? Because these vehicles are bigger than life, in my opinion, because you got giant bodies giant grills, so you want to do the denali first yeah, absolutely okay, so first of all one of the things you're going to notice is that it has this really neat pewter finish Going throughout a lot of chrome, a lot of pewter a lot of bling and that's, the whole point of this vehicle is to have a lot of bling because you spent a lot of money on it. Trust me now in terms of the overall design. It really does kind of sparkle. When you come over here, have a look at those 22 inch wheels. Those are 22 inch. Oh yeah massive, and in case you don't know where that money went denali.
That is impressive. You know what else is impressive now bear in mind. Both of these are not the long versions right, andre what's, the long one called again it's called the xl big huge, but these are already big and dude for 20 21. These are all new and we have all the numbers, all the specs fuel efficiency – we're, not driving them today, but we will be very very soon in the near future, but one of the things you get with this vehicle because of awesomeness is quad exhaust yeah manly. I love it now. Why don't you take a tour of the exterior of the one that andre is driving the at4, which is right over there. Yeah come along guys because i like what gm is doing and this has to do with chevrolet in near tahoe and suburbans and over here with uconn and yukon excels the at4 model it's their off road edition. You guys know denali, because denali has been. You know that nameplate has been around for almost two decades. The 84 is something they're doing: that's new it's, an off road version, very unique, look, a very unique bumper. You can see kind of i mean the headlights are very, very similar they're, both led, but then once you go down, the bumper covers change, and this one has a lot more ground clear. I mean a lot better approach. Angle. Ground clearance is the same because both of these have their air suspensions uh.
These are fully loaded models. The gmc, yukon denalis are entering dealerships right now, but these ultimates are not yet we're very fortunate to have this ultimate and, of course, just quickly around the side. Before we go inside on the denali, these are 20 inch wheels check them out versus the denali ultimates 22s, but this very unique design, it's very gmc um and, of course you have the 84 insignia and different tires. These tires are meant for more all terrain driving. This is a wrangler trail, runner, a goodyear wrangler trail runner tire, so it's, not a full duratrac, but still very, very capable, but there's something different about these two in a huge way and nathan first is going to show you the denali interior, so go in the Passenger side and then i'm going to show you the interior on the at4, and you will see an enormous difference. Yes, when i think of class and style, i think nathan, because that's what this has it's more than just that, though you actually get an entirely different interior with the denali over the regular gmc and, of course, the at4. So what do you get? Well, you get all this swathes of leather tons of it wood, chrome and a unique dash. This is actually a different angle than the dash that's in andre's truck and you'll see there's a difference in terms of just the angle of the transmission buttons, pretty cool right. Let'S fire it up now from where you're sitting i don't know if you're going to be able to hear this, but this is something extremely important aside from the music that you shouldn't be hearing yeah all right, do it one more time hold on come on, come On all right, so it's kind of limiting the revs while it's sitting here but 3000 rpm is the limit when you're sitting still, but still it sounds nice.
It does now. Both vehicles have an interesting setup when it comes to camera systems. So, yes, you have a lot of stuff to select from onstar and all that other stuff. But you know what else you have. You have a trailering package and you have a very cool camera set up, and this is something that gmc actually had on their older at4 sierra 1500, and i love that there goes andre skipping along once again. Both vehicles have this, and this is great for towing and for going off road. Now i discovered something if you trigger this button. Okay, so now it's off you get these full views, right, full views and then, if you trigger this boom, you have this 360. Above view going throughout the various settings, did you see me a little bit? Of course i could see you dancing around. You are a sexy man, okay, so you have that now. This section is one of the few parts that actually is similar to both vehicles, but all of this is unique and that's, including this nice wood here, you'll notice that in his it doesn't have it. You also, of course, have this section here: wireless charging, which is great because it's much larger than the older ones, which means that a large phone or a phone with a large case on it may be able to fit in there, which helps quite a bit. Now i want you to check out andres, because it's totally different yeah come come along.
If you guys jump in the passenger side, i'll i'll walk over here. First, before we get in check out, the seats are totally unique. This is kind of the 84 style and you've seen this on the gmc sierra trucks as well. This is basically the stitching and the theme that goes throughout the gmc lineup, but take a look here. Yes, the screen size is similar, it's about 10 inches, and i am in as a diagonal, but this design looks like a tahoe. The denali gmc is trying to differentiate because the denali is there. You know it's a well known brand it's, the most luxurious and most valuable brand. They have for gmc trucks, and this at4 um is a it's an off road edition. But it has a very similar interior to the one and not only the other yukons, but also like a chevy tahoe and a chevy suburban there's, a little cubby to hide your sunglasses nathan discovered it. You can put your phone in here. This is a phone um, iphone xr, but an xr doesn't quite fit sunglasses would fit very nicely in there and, like nathan was saying, look the um the center console is way different. I still have wireless charging and i do we both have a movable center console check this out. This is very neat. This is a new feature for 2021.. What this does? Not only does it kind of get you extra storage and extra place to put things, but in this way, especially with the captain chairs in the back, the rear passengers also have cup holders easy access.
So this is very very neat, like nathan said both of these trucks – gas – v8 powered. For now. I know you're wondering about the three liter straight six: diesel that's coming by the end of the year 2020. So right now right here we don't have a three liter duramax quiet yet, but the interior on the overalls is bigger than ever before, because they changed the entire structure frame, etc. It'S now independent rear suspension, as you probably already figured out and i'll show you rear room in a second after nathan. Shows you the engine, but can you hear, can you listen to this on the driver's side? Really quick, all right, let's look under hoods. We asked you to identify these engines, which one is which all right. Let me pop the hood. The hazel was open that goes up really easily by the way very easy. Okay, here we go. This is up to the cameraman. I want you to go from this engine to that, one back and forth a couple of times guys. I want you to tell me the difference between them. Keep looking all right. You got to get more up close make a point. Can you point engine? Okay, now andre you point to yours, so so engine there you go so guys. One thing we noticed obviously is there's. No like designation, there's, no sign that says 5 3 or 6, 2 or 3 0. We know it's, not a diesel.
There is there's one little clue right. If you want to read the label, you can read a label and find out, but they look identical dude what okay? So you guys had enough time to put that through your minds? Okay, so, which one do you think it is all right? If you look you can tell this is where the valve cover is. This is all the way out here. The distance between this one from the firewall here versus that truck over there are very different. One. Is longer than the other and in this game it is about length. I wanted to show you something else too by the way. What are you saying nothing, okay, so check it out by the way it says, do not spray in this area. Do you know why? Because this whole thing was built to take water, that's been shot in to the front end of the vehicle and actually move it up, and over and deposit it over here, so it doesn't get splashed into the engine or overwhelm the radiator. That is why this was built it's either for that or it's a storage shelf all right. So i i'll give you this. Your engine bay is longer or your engine is longer. Yes, it is indeed um. 420 horsepower 460 pound feet of torque. This is a 6.2. This is the big engine it's the same engine that they offer in the sierra trucks as well. Yes, you can kind of see it right here: 6, 2 and the power ratings don't change for the yukon or yukon xl's.
By the way, guys you can get both you can excel the long wheelbase and the short yukons in both denali denali ultimates 84. You can pick and choose. The denali could be two wheel, drive or four wheel drive. At4 is four wheel: drive only right, there's, also sle and slt models, the more bass yukons and the power on this 355 383. So the same power rating as the other 5.3 liter v8s 10 speed automatics on everything. From now on on all of their big suvs right and and a majority of their big trucks too, now on top of that um there's, something very special, yes about a rear diff that you can buy for these vehicles, it's, not the g80 it it is not! But before we move off the suspension, which is really important too right right uh, we have to talk about fuel efficiency rating. Okay, uh, four wheel drive. Yes, this is yes, uh 16, combined about the same as previous generations: okay, um 18 combined! So yes, you're getting way more power, but you're also sucking down more fuel right right and the big trade off really. Is that there's, more volume interior wise? These are actually larger vehicles than the previous ones. But despite that, there's some weight savings and with all that they're, basically the same mpg as before yeah, because they also gain a little bit of weight because they are larger vehicles and now i'm also gaining weight anyway.
So come over, go over so so check this out uh both of these because they're top of the line they have air suspension, so you can go up and down. You can have entry mode. Maybe nathan will demonstrate. Can you demonstrate the suspension? You also have magnetic ride shocks adjustable. They have sensors, that read road conditions and all that stuff, so you can have an entry and exit height, which is the lowest uh. If you can go low first, how low can you go? Oh yeah, so i don't know if you noticed uh, but but the space is going to start to shrink, is it working and then there's a normal right height and then there is also uh one off road height, which is an inch higher and then there's. Another right height, which is two inches higher than normal, is it doing anything or do i need to close the hood uh lower the hood and i'm gon na lift it all the way up so i'm gon na put it now. The only way you can get it into its highest mode is to go into four low. Yes, and the only way you can go into four low is by going into neutral and talk about the transmission controls really quick, okay, so the transmission controls are right here, as you saw, andres was at a slightly different angle, but about the same height but they're. All push button now in order to trigger them, you have to pull, not push.
Okay, the only thing that you can push is park, so if you want to go and neutral by the way, so reverse you have to pull drive, you have to pull neutral. You push park, you push there, you go okay, so now i'm in four low and over here you push this button and over here you'll see there's a display, and i am gon na go for maximum ground clearance and i can already feel the rise check it Out you can kind of see it's a little bit hard to tell on camera, but it actually has makes a big difference and also nathan was alluding to the rear differential. So when you do equip them with the active suspension system, which means once again air springs, not not regular steel, coils magnetic right shocks, you also have an option of elsd electronically controlled limited slip differential. So what does that mean? That means it uses clutches in the precarious situation, when you're going over obstacles, it can actually lock the clutches and send equal power to both sides or vary the torque side to side it's, basically, an electronic way of doing a locker um or imitating a locking differential Versus like a g80 like in the truck, which would be a mechanical system, i feel i'm lowering. Finally, okay or i can feel i can feel some air yes, i'm, going down now. Oh look! This is going to the entry height, which is you're gon na squish.
My arm oh ow, this gmc squished, my no – it did not it's so it's. Okay, all right. I think they got the general gist of these vehicles. Yes, so we got ta talk, so we talked about the engine performance. We talked about fuel economy. Yes, there is a slight difference between these two uh finally price. Yes, please price! Well, it price goes up a little bit year to year, because it's, the only generation of truck uh, this um, the yukon, the regular wheelbase, not a very super long. One starts at around 55 ish. The 84 starts at around 66 right because it's already a four wheel, drive model with all the you know, styling and tires retail hooks for towing well or pulling somebody out pulling somebody out that's what they got and the denali starts at around 68ish. Of course, prices can go up with options, especially for an ultimate, and if this was an xl, the long wheelbase i mean you can get into the 80 000 range. That is a lot of deal, but it's also comparable to a lot of the competitors out there. As well right, like lincoln, absolutely yeah lincoln, which is a premium full size suv, there is also lexus, which can be higher priced for the lx models right, but this has way more space in the lexus, because lexus is an older, older platform. So what do you say uh to end this video um i get to climb around in the back to just show the room.
I would love it because i don't want to do that. Okay go for it. So let me show you the back really quick before we wrap up. We kept talking about space space space right i'm, just over six two in the second row. I am just as happy as a clam. Both of these are the same wheelbase. I have plenty of legroom plenty of headroom. These have panoramic sunroofs. These have the rear, infotainment systems. Where you can see the navigation you can play games. You can play your. You know, video devices. You can link them up. Look how easy it is to hold get a hold of the cup right here in the console control your temperature it's, all really wonderful! Back here more space, i had a question for you now, since they went to an independent rear end, they were able to free up a little bit more space inside right, yep and that has to do with legroom and everything else. So let me there we go open this up. It can be a manual operation with these latches it's also powered. So you can push a button. Let me get in the third row. Look at this dude. This is unbelievable. I can sit relatively comfortable i'm, not too upright. I still have a bit of headroom still have a little bit of headroom and good leg room check it out now. This is the xl you'd have a lot more room.
Oh, my gosh yeah it's, even different, for that even the xl would be way more okay. I hope you can see that i mean i'm i'm in i'm. In luxury i mean these vehicles are getting much larger and partially it's, because all the other vehicles are getting larger right, like the gmc acadia has a little bit more space than ever before, so these yukons had to be had to grow yeah like the mini countryman, It'S huge, yes, totally catch up, it's like three mini compliments or four yeah yeah. These things are massive and here's. Another example: andre wants to get he's. Six two look how tall this is now. This is the high ride. Height that's, not the highest though but it's taller than he is so if you have a low garage, you might want to keep that in mind to keep it on the low side. Yeah guys i mean, when you see these vehicles in person, you finally get the scale yeah it's one thing to see them. You know in pictures and images and videos, but as soon as you're next to one you can see the incredible scale and before we close, of course, power lift gates, uh, it's, okay, the speed is a little bit slower it's on the slow side, but once again, The cargo space the this floor is lower than before because of the independent rear suspension. We can't talk about how it drives quite yet, because these vehicles came from gmc to us and they want to be fair to other outlets and magazines right, so we're not quite talking about how they drive, but we will be shortly.
Yes, that comes in september, but behind third row, dude yeah that's, how you sneak in from tijuana back into the california area. I noticed the whole thing about these vehicles is that they want to be first with everything they are first, when it comes to interior space, but in terms of other performance levels, it's interesting to see how they trade ups and downs with the ford products that are Out there that they compete directly against dude, i cannot wait to actually test them. We'Re going to do some off road testing with the at4 we're going to do some towing with the denali ultimate uh stay tuned for that that's coming to tfo truck in september uh. So it's a little bit of a wait, but finally we can bring these suvs to you, and this is unique because you cannot find many at4s at dealers right now. No and personally speaking, i think it looks pretty cool hey by the way. Are they going to make a diesel version of these heck yeah it's coming by the end of the year? So we have to wait until maybe november december, but guys go back to tfltruck.com where nathan and i and the rest of the team are, and we continue to write stories.
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