The Denali's leather upholstery looks and feels nice, and the shoulder harnesses fit well and are easy to wear because they are mounted on the seats. We sometimes had trouble getting comfortable in the big, cushy bucket seats, but owners seem to like them. Visibility out of the Yukon is very good, thanks to large windows.
Second-row seating is roomy and comfortable. Second-row bucket seats are an option ($490) in SLT and Denali, and we recommend them for buyers willing to give up a seating position. The bucket seats offer excellent support and can be adjusted individually. They almost feel more comfortable than the front seats.
Yukon's optional third-row seat provides space for adults' feet. It isn't a lot of space, but it is there. The third row folds, flips, slides and removes easily. In fact, whichever way you choose to stow the third row, it's easy to do; it even has wheels to help roll it into the garage for storage. Like most third rows, it's best for kids or occasional use. Getting into and out of that third-row seat isn't easy for adults. If you're going to put big people back there on a regular basis, we recommend the longer GMC Yukon XL or a minivan.
Up front, all of the switchgear and ancillary controls are mounted close to the driver. Climate controls and audio controls are easy to use yet are quite sophisticated in their operation. We enjoyed the Denali's Bose nine-speaker stereo with subwoofer. Rather than embedding the antenna in a window for fashion reasons, the Yukon uses an external antenna for improved radio reception.
The Panasonic DVD Passenger Entertainment System ($1,295) includes a seven-inch flip-down screen for second-seat passengers, plus two sets of wireless (infrared) headphones with independent volume control, a wireless remote control and three sets of auxiliary video and audio inputs. The wireless headphones are light and comfortable, and the display offers a crisp picture. Yukon buyers can choose to have both overhead DVD entertainment and a sunroof, which is not always the case in competitive vehicles, the Lexus LX 470 among them; in fact, Denali bundles the sunroof, DVD entertainment, and satellite navigation together as the Sun, Entertainment, and Destination Package ($3,290).
The DVD-based touch-screen navigation system, also available as a stand-alone option ($1,995), generates two and three-dimensional color maps on a 6.5-inch screen; it also provides audio commands.
Buttons for Homelink, which can open garage doors and gates, and turn on house lights; and for the new Gen 6 OnStar telematics system, are nicely integrated. GM's OnStar security and information service works well as a navigation system because there's nothing to program. Press the button and a human operator responds, to provide directions and other assistance. OnStar always knows the location of your vehicle. They will notify authorities of your location if your airbag goes off and you do not respond to their calls. Or you can press the emergency button and they'll send out the troops. They can unlock your doors if you lock the keys inside. They can direct you to the nearest gas station or help find a good restaurant or motel. If your vehicle is stolen, OnStar can pinpoint its location and direct the authorities to apprehend and recover. The latest Gen 6 version provides enhanced hands-free, voice-recognition capabilities, and more intuitive continuous digit dialing.
Safety starts with seat belts and is enhanced by dual-stage frontal airbags. Side-impact airbags are optional ($350) on SLE and SLT, standard on Denali. A tire-pressure monitoring system continuously checks inflation pressures in each of the four tires and flashes a graphic on the instrument cluster should air pressure in one of them drop below a specified level.
