After more than 20 years, US car giant General Motors is bringing the GMC Yukon seven-seat SUV to Australia. The vehicle, which is expected to be converted from left- to right-hand-drive by former Holden Special Vehicles firm, the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, and sold via the General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) dealer network, will compete against the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol.
Although GMC is a little-known brand in Australia, General Motors regards the nameplate as the more luxurious offshoot of Chevrolet – but a step below Cadillac – even though the vehicles share the same architecture, technology, and mechanicals. The GMC Yukon is based on the same 'T1' vehicle architecture as the Chevrolet Silverado, so it is expected to share a number of key components with the locally converted pick-up.
In its native North America, the GMC Yukon is offered with a choice of a 5.3-litre petrol V8, a 6.2-litre petrol V8, or 3.0-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder engines. The flagship 6.2-litre V8 has already been homologated for this market in the Silverado 1500 pick-up, in which it produces 313kW and 624Nm. Additionally, General Motors could offer the 3.0-litre 'Duramax' turbo-diesel, which produces 207kW and 624Nm – matching the V8 for torque. All engines in the GMC Yukon are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive as standard and four-wheel drive as an option.
The GMC Yukon is 5179mm long, 2045mm wide, and up to 1958mm high (depending on the variant), with a wheelbase of 2946mm. That makes the GMC approximately 164mm longer, 65mm wider, and up to 8mm higher than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, with a 96mm longer wheelbase. Hill descent control, hill start assist, and magnetic ride control are available in the GMC Yukon range, along with an air suspension system that can increase the ride height of the vehicle by approximately 50mm for better off-road clearance.
Inside, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster is available across most model grades, while flagship variants gain a 15-inch head-up display. In the US, a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-In, Google capability, high-definition 360-degree cameras, and an 18-speaker Bose premium sound system – with speakers built into the front-seat head rests. Other safety aids on the GMC Yukon include lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, radar cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, forward collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, and automatic headlights.
Given GMSV Australia is yet to confirm any local plans and dealers canvassed by Drive said they were yet to be advised of the rollout of the GMC Yukon, the new model is not expected in showrooms until some time in 2024, pending any delays. In the US, the GMC Yukon is priced from approximately $US59,295 to $US96,450 – or between $AU88,150 and $AU143,400.
We’re so excited to share the news – after more than 20 years, US car giant General Motors is bringing the GMC Yukon seven-seat SUV to Australia! The vehicle, which will be converted from left- to right-hand-drive by former Holden Special Vehicles firm, the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, and sold via the General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) dealer network, is expected to compete against the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol.
GMC is a little-known brand in Australia, but General Motors regards it as the more luxurious offshoot of Chevrolet – but a step below Cadillac – even though the vehicles share the same architecture, technology, and mechanicals. The GMC Yukon is based on the same 'T1' vehicle architecture as the Chevrolet Silverado, so it is expected to share a number of key components with the locally converted pick-up.
In its native North America, the GMC Yukon is offered with a choice of a 5.3-litre petrol V8, a 6.2-litre petrol V8, or 3.0-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder engines. The flagship 6.2-litre V8 has already been homologated for this market in the Silverado 1500 pick-up, in which it produces 313kW and 624Nm. Additionally, General Motors could offer the 3.0-litre 'Duramax' turbo-diesel, which produces 207kW and 624Nm – matching the V8 for torque. All engines in the GMC Yukon are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive as standard and four-wheel drive as an option.
In terms of size and specifications, the GMC Yukon is 5179mm long, 2045mm wide, and up to 1958mm high (depending on the variant), with a wheelbase of 2946mm. It has a number of safety features, such as hill descent control, hill start assist, magnetic ride control, and an air suspension system for better off-road clearance. Inside, there is a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15-inch head-up display, and a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
The GMC Yukon is expected in showrooms sometime in 2024, pending any delays. In the US, it is priced from approximately $US59,295 to $US96,450 – or between $AU88,150 and $AU143,400. We can’t wait to see this awesome new vehicle hit the roads in Australia!