When you first walk up the Yukon Denali there is no denying this is one large vehicle, but something about it makes it seem smaller than it is. Perhaps it is the side mirrors, which are a little small for the side of the vehicle that make the Yukon seem sleeker.

Pull on the door handle and the power retractable side steps slide out and down to greet you. They are wide enough to stand on and the perfect height, one can’t help but think that in the colder months the ice and gunk will eventually break the motors but over the course of the week jumping in and out of this Yukon, I really began to love them.

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Once inside you are not left wanting for space, with a huge centre armrest and a ton of leg and shoulder room, in every seat inside the Yukon is one comfortable truck. The second row features two captain’s seats leaving easy access to the third row. Of course the third row seats are not ideal, but sit in the middle and you can stretch out between the two middle seats making it a very comfortable five-seater.

In the driver’s chair you are offered a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, power adjustable steering wheel and seat all to get you the most perfect driving position for a long journey. Although the Yukon Denali features a lot of technology, it is all easy and intuitive to use, including the LCD panel dash display and head-up display that makes driving even less fatiguing by keeping your eyes up and on the road at all times.

The rear cargo door features the rare but useful flip open window and of course a fully powered hatch door. With the third row up, cargo space is at a premium even in this very large vehicle, but at a touch of a button the third row can be folded in two separate pieces (60/40) for ultimate flexibility. You can also drop the second row flat and flip them forward from the rear cargo buttons as well, useful if you happen to be stuffing the Yukon full at your local flat-pack big box store.

When you fire up the 6.2L V8 you instantly feel its power, though it actually seems to take quite a bit more cranking than your average vehicle to start up. But once it roars to life, the power output is smooth and linear, and because of the nature of the beast in normal everyday driving, you never really rev out the motor at all. The eight-speed automatic keeps the engine purring quietly in the background so well that the Yukon Denali almost feels like an electric vehicle as it is provides smooth seamless power with virtually no fuss or noise.

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