GMC Yukon

GMC completely redesigned its Yukon full-size SUV for 2000, but the luxurious Denali version had to wait until 2001.Now it's here.Yukon Denali sits at the top of GMC's SUV lineup, just one rung below GM's 2001 Cadillac Escalade luxury sport-utility.

The most visible difference between the Yukon Denali and the regular Yukon is the Denali's aftermarket-inspired chrome grille, in place of the Yukon's blacked out grille.

Behind that facade, however, is some hardware that sets the Denali apart from the rest of the Yukon line: a more powerful 6.0-liter V8 and a full-time all-wheel-drive system.Neither the engine nor the AWD system is available on the other Yukon models.Nor does Chevrolet offer anything comparable in its Tahoe line.

GMC's 2001 Yukon Denali rides on the same hydroformed frame and five-link coil spring rear suspension that gives the standard Yukon a smooth ride and surprisingly responsive handling.Denali's luxury touches don't overlook the fact that GMC customers will want to tow their boat to the lake or pull their daughter's horse trailer to the show, so it is loaded with features for towing and moving cargo.The bigger engine will help pull any load, while the all-wheel-drive system is just the ticket for pulling a boat up a water-slicked landing.(Denali shares its basic architecture with the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and Yukon Denali XL, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and Cadillac Escalade.It is arguably the best full-size SUV and pickup platform on the market.).Folks who truly need a size extra-large sport-utility will find the Yukon XL hard to beat.All-new and tremendously improved for the 2000 model year, the Yukon XL has been refined even further for 2001.

Because it's available in two different load ratings, the Yukon XL 1500 and 2500 models can offer a more people-friendly alternative to Ford's brutishly heavy-duty Excursion.And now you can even buy the Yukon XL with the same luxurious Denali equipment reserved previously for the shorter-wheelbase Yukon.

Experienced SUV shoppers will recognize the Yukon XL as the direct descendant of the old GMC Suburban.For several decades, Chevrolet and GMC shared the Suburban label for their essentially similar, full-size, pickup truck-based station wagons.But after last year's complete overhaul, Chevrolet retained custody of the Suburban badge, and the corresponding GMC became the Yukon XL.

The name change made a lot of sense, because GMC has sold a shorter version of the Suburban called the Yukon since 1997.(Chevy has one of these, too, and calls it the Tahoe.) Now all of GMC's full-size SUVs are Yukons.In keeping with GMC's rank as the premium truck division for General Motors, Yukons are priced higher than Tahoes and Suburbans, but come with more standard equipment.