2007 GMC Yukon Denali The finest, last example?

[91 s-10baja]

2007 GMC Yukon Denali

The finest, last example?
by TCC Team (2006-08-14)


http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehi...81.A10755.html

[Quickening]

NIce review.

But is this truly the last generation of full size SUV's? I don't think so. If GM can make a spearhead back into the midsize and compact car market, dominate the crossover market then I think they can still offer large SUV's..just at much lower numbers for the people that still need them. You don't just give up 70% market share of a segment by not making these types of vehicles..

[DuSpinnst]

There will always be a market for Full-size SUV's.

The question is more, will there be a market for "Premium" or "Luxury" Full-size SUV's? I think the answer is No.

The Tahoe LTZ and the Yukon Denali are probably the last of their kind.

[USA1Fan]

First, I think the article is wrong about the auto-down function being only for the driver's window. The passenger's controls may not make it work (haven't asked my wife to try), but I'm certain that if both front windows on my Av LTZ have auto power down, the Yukon Denali is guaranteed to at least have the same.

I agree with a few of the other points though. The 2004 Malibu we owned had both a tilt and telescopic steering wheel. For some reason GM is having a hard time spreading this across the board, even though many of the vehicles not getting it are much more expensive. And the tilt mechanism on that Malibu didn't have a limited number of predefined hard stops that it could be tilted to- unlock it, put it exactly where you want it (within the overall range of motion, obviously), then lock the lever back and it stayed exactly there.

As far as the overall theme of this article- it is obviously meant to demean the vehicle in pretty much the only way the author could find. Everything he could find of substance to say (barring the tilt and lack of auto-up / down on all four windows) was so positive that he had to resort to scare tactics about the possible future of the vehicle category.

Too bad. If not for that fact the review could've been good.

Postscript: I also think you're both wrong DuSpinnst. The Premium and Luxury Full-sized SUVs will always have a market. Maybe not nearly so large as they've had in the past. But the folks that can actually afford a full sized premium vehicle that has outstanding towing and people carrying capacity isn't going away. Why do you think the BMW M5 is still around (and receiving an update soon)? Surely not because BMW thinks the class is dying.

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by USA1Fan

Postscript: I also think you're both wrong DuSpinnst. The Premium and Luxury Full-sized SUVs will always have a market. Maybe not nearly so large as they've had in the past. But the folks that can actually afford a full sized premium vehicle that has outstanding towing and people carrying capacity isn't going away. Why do you think the BMW M5 is still around (and receiving an update soon)? Surely not because BMW thinks the class is dying.

Plus, what are/will they make all the super heavy bullet proof SUV's out of? A Lexus RX, a Acura MDX, X5? Not so much.

[goblue1999]

Someone had better tell the boat and trailer manufacturers to stop building their products......until boats and trailers no longer exist, full size SUVs will have a future.

[goblue1999]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

There will always be a market for Full-size SUV's.

The question is more, will there be a market for "Premium" or "Luxury" Full-size SUV's? I think the answer is No.

The Tahoe LTZ and the Yukon Denali are probably the last of their kind.

How short sighted is that? The people that I know, myself included, can afford, and WANT full size utility, comfort and safety. Even if the fuel economy was only 15mpg, we'd drive nothing else. Now, with GM's full sizers getting over 20, more $$ left over for other "luxuries".

[mjd1001]

There will always be a market for GM to make full sized SUV's, as long as the following happens:

-6 speed automatics available
-Displacement on Demand availalable
-Hybrids available
-Diesels/alternative fuel models available

-a combination of some or all of the above available.

Finally, if GM can put up with reduced margins on them, but still sell them for a profit, they will be around.

[PRO_USA1776]

Well with the paradigm drive coming out next yr....that changes the paradigm

[prototype66]

We also need to take into cosideration that
A) People who can and do afford these aren't worried about $3+ gas
B) E 85 will bring down the price of fuel once we're rollingw prod.
C) the 4 phase hybrid 6 speed trand will boost MPG
D) not everyone wants an Econobox

[b4z]

It's interesting:
Park my SRX next to this or a last generation Tahoe
and the SRX is 2/3 the size.
But the SRX has the same wheelbase and has more rear seat legroom.
Granted the SRX doesn't have the spread out room of the Tahoe, but
the GMT900s should have more room for their size.
That frame takes up a LOT of passenger space.

[Hurricane]

I still want one! MPG be darned....if I want better MPG, I'd get a Suburban. I want the POWER!

Still, the Acadia will make an interesting alternative to the Yukon...especially if they eventually come out with a Denali version, especially for those who do not need to tow things.

For me, however, I want a huge vehicle with lots of presence. That black Denali in the photo has this covered for me!

[jwrebholz]

There'll always be a market of people with more money than brains that buy these things. That market will shrink substantially most likely, but it won't disappear.

[USA1Fan]

Originally Posted by b4z

It's interesting:
Park my SRX next to this or a last generation Tahoe
and the SRX is 2/3 the size.
But the SRX has the same wheelbase and has more rear seat legroom.
Granted the SRX doesn't have the spread out room of the Tahoe, but
the GMT900s should have more room for their size.
That frame takes up a LOT of passenger space.

Good point. But that frame is exactly why it can tow much more than your SRX too. So not only do you get a bit more spread out space, you can actually use it to tow things that the non-BOF vehicles normally can't touch (with one or two exceptions).

[Ultra Magnus]

I love the Denali. There are a few of them here (the Escalades are way more popular). My question has always been about the styling. there is too much of an overlap between the GMT900 SUVs. Now if they could put the Sierra Denali front clip on a Yukon Denali, your identity crisis would be solved. Otherwise this is a solid truck that is designed to tow and carry the family comfortably at the same time. To paraphrase what HURRICANE said, if you want economy buy something else.