GM has redesigned the 9-passenger Yukon XL & Yukon XL Denali to make them more competitive in the full-size SUV market. The exterior styling has been tightened up for a more contemporary look, while the interior has been updated with improved materials and build quality. Stabilitrak(R) stability control is standard. The standard 5.3L, and optional 6.0L V-8 engines have Active Fuel Management(TM) (formerly known as Displacement on Demand.) Active Fuel Management(TM) allows the engine to run on 4-cylinders under light load conditions, for improved fuel economy. The Yukon XL Denali gets the 6.2L V-8, a 6-speed automatic, slightly different styling, and interior trim upgrades. Maximum towing capacity is up to 8,100 lbs.

A six speed automatic becomes standard equipment on the 5.3L and 6.0L models. Denali models add heated and cooled seats and new trim pieces for visual differentiation. OnStar 8.0 and Bluetooth are also new.