While the GMC brand has long been associated with “professional grade” craftsmanship, the upscale and handsomely appointed $109,000 Yukon Denali Ultimate takes the brand from the jobsite or backwoods trail straight into the posh country club – and onto our 2025 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX list.
Nicely bolstered seats in all three rows of our 7-seat test model featured full-grain brown leather embossed with Denali-echoing topographical markings. Perforated leather, laid out in a horizontal pattern on the seating surfaces, is surrounded by unique cross stitching and white piping. The white cross-stitch pattern carries into the center console and door panels, offset by elegant laser-etched open-pore Woodland Mahogany trim.
“This is a massive vehicle with an equally massive amount of materials of a high standard,” says judge Gary Vasilash. (View slideshow: 2025 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Winner: GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate)
From the driver’s seat, technology is laid out across an instrument cluster, encased in leather trim, adjacent to a 16.8-in. (43-cm) infotainment screen. The large, vertically oriented screen slots into a leather, chrome and piano-black surround, giving the iPad-like unit an integrated appearance and machined heft appropriate for the brand.
We like GMC’s decision to go with hard buttons and knobs for many of the regularly used HVAC and audio controls, while only illuminating items when accessed to reduce screen clutter. The easy ability to swap back and forth between the native Google-based systems and wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is also appreciated.
The heated and ventilated front seats offer a full suite of massaging functions and are topped by speakers built into the headrests as part of the vehicle’s sensational 18-speaker Bose Performance audio system. Second-row passengers also enjoy heated comfort and a standard rear-seat entertainment system, with two 12.6-in. (32-cm) touchscreen displays that can stream content from Hulu, YouTube and YouTube Kids via an OnStar subscription. The third row is easily accessed and sees no drop-off in upholstered comfort, plus has good legroom for kids and adults alike.
A cool feature becoming a trend, judging by its appearance in other models in this year’s competition, is the power-sliding center console that moves back and opens rearward to reveal a huge, secured bin below, while placing cupholders and controls closer to the reach of second-row passengers. A valet lock function prevents access to the storage bin unless a passcode is entered.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t applaud the Yukon’s top-notch Super Cruise hands-free cruise control that includes automatic lane-change assistance – and buzzes the seat cushion to subtly signal an action. The Yukon Denali Ultimate also gets GMC’s first application of Night Vision camera technology.
“The Yukon Denali Ultimate is the complete package in this segment,” notes judge Dave Zoia. “It’s decked out nicely, has easily accessible controls, plenty of infotainment features and a spacious interior. And its ADAS functionality is class-leading.”
