The 2007 GMC Yukon Denali is a 4-door, up to 8-passenger luxury sport-utility, available in one trim only, the All-Wheel Drive. Upon introduction, the Yukon Denali is equipped with a standard 6.2-liter, V8, 380-horsepower engine that achieves 13-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.
The Denali XL excels in its powerplant, drivetrain and suspension. New for 2007 is an optional 6.2 liter Vortec V8 engine that puts out 380 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. This makes the Denali XL with its rack and pinion steering as quick as a grizzly bear on steroids. This same powerplant can blast the 5838 lb vehicle up a mountain road, even when loaded with its maximum 1562 lb payload. The Denali XL can also pull up to a 7000 lb trailer. Because of its long wheelbase and lack of undercarriage protection, driving Denali XL off-road on any sort of hilly terrain is not the best idea. But with 9.2" of ground clearance, Autoride suspension with real-time damping shocks and locking rear differential, the Denali XL can handle level off-road terrain with astonishing ease. History
Though the seats in the 2007 Denali have improved, they still lack the plushness, support and comfort of the Escalade. The real improvement in the 2007 Denali is in the dash and instrument panel, whose trim and ease-of-use are top of the class for the price range.The base Yukon can seat nine, according to the manufacturer, when outfitted with three rows of bench seats. My test vehicle came with front row bucket seats, two second-row power fold-and-tumble captain's chairs, and a cramped, removable third row split bench that was a hassle to remove and reinstall. The three-zone climate control system, complete with optional front and second row seat warmers, can almost cool or heat a small house. The optional ($2145) touch-screen navigation system is easy to operate, and is well-integrated with a satellite radio/cd player that thundered through a Bose surround-sound system. An optional DVD rear seat entertainment system was another $1295. The optional rearview camera system ($195) makes backing the Denali out of the driveway much less of nail-biter.
When it comes to trucks, numbers matter, arguably more than they do with cars. The most popular engine for the GMC Yukon is the 5.3-liter V8, which produces 320 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque. Our test Yukon was listed at 5537 pounds. Note, however, that the Yukon's 5.3-liter engine comes with a four-speed automatic transmission, while many full-size SUVs now come with five-, six-, and seven-speed automatics. More gears generally means smoother operation, better fuel economy, quicker acceleration performance or all three. The Yukon's four-speed automatic negates any power advantage the Yukon might otherwise have enjoyed at least as far as outright acceleration is concerned. Put another way, while it'll easily hold its own on the interstates, the Yukon isn't going to win many stoplight grands prix. Examining these numbers should give a good idea of how a 5.3-liter Yukon will perform against the competition. By comparison, the 2006 Ford Expedition puts up a 5.4-liter V8 making 300 hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque with a six-speed automatic and tips the scales at 5805 pounds. The 2006 Nissan Armada's 5.6-liter V8 makes 305 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque, mates to a five-speed automatic and carries a curb weight of 5623 pounds. Toyota's 2006 Sequoia comes with a 4.7-liter V8 making 273 hp and 314 lb.-ft. of torque with a five-speed automatic and weighs 5025 pounds.