Monster Mash
With cavernous cargo space and serious teeth in the treads, GMC's 2004 Yukon Denali XL AWD is a fearless monster.
April 1, 2004
OK, so maybe there are occasional
instances when you wish the 2004 GMC Yukon Denali XL wasn't quite the humongous beast it is. For
example, when you're trying to parallel park, and the space is only about 6 inches longer than the
Yukon's 18-1/4-foot stretch. Fortunately, the good news is that the times you wish the Yukon was
smaller are far outnumbered by the times you greatly appreciate this big shooter of an SUV and its
131.6 cubic feet of usable cargo space (with the second-row seats folded and the third-row seat
removed). Even with the second-row seats in the upright and locked position, the Denali XL gives
you 90 cubic feet of cargo space, more than enough for your dogs, luggage, watersports gear, and
even that Barcalounger you've been wanting ever since the day you got married.
There's so much room
inside the Denali XL that it just about seems you could put your entire boat inside with the rest
of your gear, but you don't have to - with the standard 5.3L Vortec engine cranking out 295 hp and
330 pounds/feet of torque, the truck has a listed towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, so go ahead and
use a trailer. Trailering has been greatly improved on the whole line of 2004 Yukons by the
addition of Hydroboost brakes on every model (previously available only on 2500 series Yukon XL and
Denali models). The Hydroboost system gives you better feel through the brake pedal while giving
more stopping power in hard-braking situations, as well as an antilock braking system (ABS) with
improved performance, so you are able to maintain better control of the vehicle during hard-braking
situations. This also translates to much better braking performance when trailering.
The all-wheel drive option also improves trailering, eliminating the need to switch from 2WD to 4WD when dealing with loose or slick road surfaces like you often find at the launch ramps. Admittedly, the truck's size and the AWD combine to do a number on the fuel economy, driving the EPA's estimates down to 13 miles per gallon in the city and 17 on the highway. In BW's ongoing long-term test, the Yukon Denali XL averages 14.2 miles per gallon in combined city and highway use, meaning the 31-gallon fuel tank requires filling much more often than the budget would like.
The economic pain of filling the gas tank is offset by the physical comfort delivered by the Denali, especially on road trips. If you're a person who prefers a truck with a stiff ride, look elsewhere. The Denali delivers a ride on par with the opulent luxury land yachts. The ride isn't overly floaty, though. There's enough road feel to keep the driver well informed about what's happening under the tires, and the handling is nimble enough (remember this is a 20-foot-long truck here, so "nimble" is a relative term) to raise the Denali's driving experience to "very good."
The only major beef with the Denali is the way GMC handles the third-row seat. Instead of folding flat, the Denali's third-row bench has to be completely removed if you want to maximize the cargo area. The problem is compounded by the seat's size and weight. It's bulky and awkward to try and lug, with several metal protrusions always seeming to be poking you in the hip or thigh. And it's difficult to remove the third-row seat. You have to climb all the way into the cargo area and go through a three-step process just to release the seat from its latches, and then you have to actually pull the thing out of the truck and find somewhere to stash it. You'll probably wind up simply removing the third-row seat once, then leaving it in the garage until it's time to trade the truck in for something new.
Overall, though, the 2004 GMC Yukon Denali gets nothing but raves from the BW test team and every passenger on board. It's not cheap - at $51,775 as tested - but you get a lot for the money. A solid thumbs-up for this one.
There's so much room
inside the Denali XL that it just about seems you could put your entire boat inside with the rest
of your gear, but you don't have to - with the standard 5.3L Vortec engine cranking out 295 hp and
330 pounds/feet of torque, the truck has a listed towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, so go ahead and
use a trailer. Trailering has been greatly improved on the whole line of 2004 Yukons by the
addition of Hydroboost brakes on every model (previously available only on 2500 series Yukon XL and
Denali models). The Hydroboost system gives you better feel through the brake pedal while giving
more stopping power in hard-braking situations, as well as an antilock braking system (ABS) with
improved performance, so you are able to maintain better control of the vehicle during hard-braking
situations. This also translates to much better braking performance when trailering.
The all-wheel drive option also improves trailering, eliminating the need to switch from 2WD to 4WD when dealing with loose or slick road surfaces like you often find at the launch ramps. Admittedly, the truck's size and the AWD combine to do a number on the fuel economy, driving the EPA's estimates down to 13 miles per gallon in the city and 17 on the highway. In BW's ongoing long-term test, the Yukon Denali XL averages 14.2 miles per gallon in combined city and highway use, meaning the 31-gallon fuel tank requires filling much more often than the budget would like.
The economic pain of filling the gas tank is offset by the physical comfort delivered by the Denali, especially on road trips. If you're a person who prefers a truck with a stiff ride, look elsewhere. The Denali delivers a ride on par with the opulent luxury land yachts. The ride isn't overly floaty, though. There's enough road feel to keep the driver well informed about what's happening under the tires, and the handling is nimble enough (remember this is a 20-foot-long truck here, so "nimble" is a relative term) to raise the Denali's driving experience to "very good."
The only major beef with the Denali is the way GMC handles the third-row seat. Instead of folding flat, the Denali's third-row bench has to be completely removed if you want to maximize the cargo area. The problem is compounded by the seat's size and weight. It's bulky and awkward to try and lug, with several metal protrusions always seeming to be poking you in the hip or thigh. And it's difficult to remove the third-row seat. You have to climb all the way into the cargo area and go through a three-step process just to release the seat from its latches, and then you have to actually pull the thing out of the truck and find somewhere to stash it. You'll probably wind up simply removing the third-row seat once, then leaving it in the garage until it's time to trade the truck in for something new.
Overall, though, the 2004 GMC Yukon Denali gets nothing but raves from the BW test team and every passenger on board. It's not cheap - at $51,775 as tested - but you get a lot for the money. A solid thumbs-up for this one.
related articles:
Tow-Alongs: By hitching on to these trailering accessories, you'll have a much safer, smoother ride to the water.A Simple Plan: What to do in advance of a cruise to maximize your fun factor.
Stick To It: Whether your fasteners need to be bonded in place or your boat's surface is blistering, a proper mixture of epoxy may be the solution.
Monster Mash: With cavernous cargo space and serious teeth in the treads, GMC's 2004 Yukon Denali XL AWD is a fearless monster.
