USED: 2015 Yukon Denali XL Review: Luxury Family Car Redefined
Love at First Sight.
Last week the family and I decided to put everything on hold and take a trip up to New York City. We chose New York City for a few reasons: we had been wanting to take the kids to go see grandma since she moved late last year, it was close enough to home to keep the kids happy without stopping, and what better way to really test out some wheels other than to go on a good, old-fashioned road trip?
Four words to describe the 2015 Yukon Denali XL: Love at first sight. First of all it’s sexy as is, but the color, midnight amethyst, took it to another level (at least, for me it did). It was feminine enough for me but still masculine enough that my husband didn’t feel awkward in it. The Denali XL is the luxury family car redefined.
There were so many things to love about this vehicle. One thing that was really great is that even though the size might intimidate some, when driving the car, it definitely felt like it was smaller than it was. It was a smooth ride and had great control. When looking for vehicles, family safety is definitely at the forefront.
This full-size luxury SUV sets a new standard for soccer moms everywhere. I knew it would be nice, but it definitely exceeded all of my expectations in four areas specifically: safety, comfort & convenience, storage and technology.
Safety
One of the safety features I really liked was the blind spot monitor and the collision alert. With the blind spot monitor, it will alert you when there’s a car next to you before switching lanes (and will only alert if that car is in the immediate lane next to you).
It took us a little while to figure out that when the seats would vibrate, it was a part of GMC’s innovative “driver alert” safety feature. When a safety alert happens (such as imminent crash or drifting lanes), it triggers the left or right seats to vibrate. The standard rear vision camera may take a little getting used to, but it’s definitely something we’ll be looking for in our next vehicle.
Comfort & Convenience
It was great to be able to fit two car seats and a booster seat on the same row comfortably. That allowed us to leave plenty of room in the back for our luggage. Two words: cup holders. This was such a great convenience to have not just in the front and third row seats, but also in the second row seating as well. Sometimes you don’t realize what you need until you have it. My three year-old loved being able to have a space for her drinks instead of having to hold it between her legs.
Storage
With three kids, I don’t think there’s ever a such thing as too much storage. In the center console alone, I could fit my oversize purse which I use to carry my laptop. And there was still plenty of room for the four headphones, as well as a hidden stash of snacks.
Even with seven people in the car (three adults and four children), we still had plenty of room for our luggage.
Technology
The available OnStar offers a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot so you can stay connected wherever you go. While the kids enjoyed watching Annie, I was able to use some time in the car to finish up a few things online. It was also great to be able to use the Bluetooth connectivity to listen to my iTunes library, and make some hands-free phone calls.
Another great feature is the multicolor “head-up” windshield display, which projects important vehicle data right at driver eye level, so you never have to take your eyes off of the road. Some of the features we loved include: navigation to help you stay on course, speedometer readings, and safety indicators.
The kids loved the car as much as we did. They enjoyed being able to watch their favorite movies. We loved that the car also came with four wireless headsets (don’t worry, the car was parked which is why they’re not in car seats or seat belts).
A few more great things we loved were the fuel efficiency (we got from Maryland to New York City – making a stop in NJ – on just a little over half a tank of gas), keyless entry, and the sound system.
WHAT WE LOVED:
- The comfort and safety features
- The extra storage capacity
- Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities with built-in hotspot
- Very smooth and quiet ride
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Starting price: $47,740 but options and higher trims can take it over $79K
- The front and rear park assist takes some getting used to but is great once you get the hang of it
- MPG – 16/22 city/hwy
- Second and third row seats fold flat
Note: GMC provided the car for my review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Categorized:Car Reviews
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