2013 GMC Yukon XL Overview

2013 GMC Yukon XL Overview

The 2013 GMC Yukon XL, like the extended-length models of other vehicles, sets out with the goal of providing a little more of what hopefully is a good thing. It seems to be accomplishing its task.

The 2013 GMC Yukon XL offers a few powerplants and just over a dozen trims, and that helps it appeal in particular to those who intend to do a good amount of trailering. Its added length also makes the Yukon XL the best bet for anyone who really does plan to pile in the passengers: It will keep all 9 of its potential passengers happy with more room, including in the third row, than most of the vehicles with which it competes.

The Yukon XL, which has changed little for 2013, matches the attractive interior and comfortable overall ride and performance of the rest of the Yukon family. The XL does come with its caveats, though. For one, it measures 20 inches longer than a regular-size Yukon, which can make it a bear when looking for parking spaces or squeezing into the garage. Also, it takes its some hits from reviewers for its less-than-impressive fuel mileage numbers.

The base trim, the 2013 GMC Yukon SLE Half-Ton, gets a 5.3-liter SFI Flex-Fuel Vortec V8 good for 320 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. That version gets a fuel mileage rating of 15 mpg city/21 highway from the EPA. The SLE Three-Quarter-Ton trims bump up to a 6.0-liter VVT Vortec V8 SFI with 352 hp and 382 lb-ft of torque.

That engine uses regular gas, and both team with a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and a tow-haul mode. The 6.0-liter engine turns in EPA numbers of 10/16 with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 10/15 with 4-wheel drive (4WD).

Top-of the-line Denali trims get a 6.2-liter VVT SFI Flex-Fuel Vortec V8 with 403 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage with the 6.2-liter is 14/18 with RWD and gasoline and 13/18 with 4WD and gasoline.

When properly equipped, a three-quarter ton GMC Yukon XL can tow up to 9,600 pounds. The half-ton versions top out at 8,100 pounds.

The 2013 GMC Yukon XL comes packed with features, including heated front bucket seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 6-way powered driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, a 9-speaker Bose sound system with AM/FM and a CD player, and a heavy-duty trailering setup.

The 2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali trims up the ante even further. They're distinguished by a chrome honeycomb grille and get a heated steering wheel, a power liftgate, 20-inch wheels, a remote start system, rear-view camera and rear parking assist. A power sunroof, power retractile assist steps, a rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system and third-row DVD entertainment systems are among the options for the Denali.

The 2012 GMC Yukon XL features front seatbelts with pretensioners that are designed to deploy in rear-end crashes, a full array of airbags, a StabiliTrak stability and traction control system, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system.