Used 2021 GMC Yukon for Sale near Illinois

How much does the 2021 GMC Yukon cost?

Prices have softened 14.42% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,313 listings available, which suggests a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 GMC Yukon a good car?

Yes — the 2021 GMC Yukon earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.67/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel, Technology, and Safety.

Owners consistently praise the luxurious feel, spacious interior, and impressive tech features. The review summary also points to an extremely comfortable ride and a sense that it stands out in its class.

The trade-offs are clear: the expert review calls out poor fuel economy and notes that tow ratings can’t match the outgoing Yukon. It also mentions uncomfortable seats and interior materials that can feel cheap.

Given the overview, you’re looking at a large SUV that leans into family space, cargo room, and a more refined feel rather than maximum efficiency or towing bragging rights. 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there are still some attractive opportunities in the market.

Is the 2021 GMC Yukon reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a vehicle people feel good about living with over time, with praise centered on its luxurious feel, spacious interior, and impressive tech features. That kind of feedback usually lines up with a vehicle that feels dependable in daily use.

The expert review also describes the Yukon as a refined, capable full-size SUV with strong power and a substantial cabin, which supports the idea that it’s built for long-haul family duty. For used buyers, the main ownership risk is less about outright durability and more about whether you can live with its fuel use and comfort compromises.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 GMC Yukon?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any listing you’re considering, even if the vehicle appears clean on paper. A pre-purchase inspection is especially important on a large SUV like this, where you want to confirm the condition of the suspension, brakes, electronics, and interior wear. Focus on how the vehicle was used, because a Yukon that spent its life hauling family and cargo can show different wear patterns than one used more lightly.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali each bring a different mix of appearance and equipment. The Denali stands apart with its exclusive dashboard design, real wood trim, leather-wrapped panels, unique stitching and piping, and available panoramic sunroof, while the AT4 is aimed at off-road adventures with an improved approach angle, skid plates, and all-terrain tires. The SLT is the first trim to add blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance.
• Powertrain: You get a standard 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8 on all but the Denali, while the Denali gets a standard 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. A 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder is also mentioned as an option for every Yukon except the AT4. The 6.2-liter V8 delivers robust acceleration, but fuel economy is not its strong suit.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes forward collision warning, daytime pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking below 50 mph, automatic high-beam headlights, Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder, and automatic crash response and crisis assistance through OnStar. Starting with SLT, you also get blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Rear pedestrian alert is available on SLT and AT4 and standard on Denali, while adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking are reserved for Denali.
• Infotainment: Every 2021 Yukon gets a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, GMC Connected Services, and over-the-air updates. Available upgrades include wireless device charging, navigation, a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system, and rear-seat media with dual 12.6-inch displays.
• Fuel efficiency: The 6.2-liter V8 with 4WD is EPA-rated at 14 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. In testing, it returned 14.4 mpg on one loop and 16.2 mpg on another, reinforcing that efficiency is not a strength.

Which 2021 GMC Yukon trim should I buy?

The 2021 GMC Yukon is offered in 4 trim levels: SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali.

Here's the short version:

• SLE: This is the entry point, so it makes sense if you want the Yukon’s space, tech, and core capability without paying for the higher-end luxury and driver-assistance upgrades. It gives you the basic Yukon formula, but you’ll miss out on the extra safety and comfort features that arrive higher up the range.
• SLT: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds the first major safety upgrades, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. If you want a more complete daily-driver setup without jumping all the way to Denali pricing, this is the trim to focus on.
• AT4: Choose this if you want the Yukon with a more adventurous personality. It’s the trim designed for off-road use, with an improved approach angle, skid plates, and all-terrain tires, though it’s still important to remember that this is a large SUV first and foremost.
• Denali: This is the luxury-focused choice, with the exclusive dashboard design, real wood trim, leather-wrapped panels, unique stitching and piping, and available panoramic sunroof. It also gets the strongest standard engine and the most advanced safety equipment, including rear pedestrian alert, adaptive cruise control, and enhanced automatic emergency braking.

The safety-package progression starts with SLT, while Denali is the trim that unlocks the most advanced driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 GMC Yukon?

The market looks moderate and selective, so you have room to shop carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,313 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 14.42% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 77.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $42,314, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 GMC Yukon's resale value?

The current average of $42,314 sits slightly below last year's $49,444.

That drop suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer but may limit upside if you’re thinking about future resale. If you buy at the right price now, you reduce the chance of taking a bigger hit later.

For a future seller, the key is to buy a well-kept example and avoid overpaying for a trim or option package that the market doesn’t reward enough. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 GMC Yukon safe?

The 2021 GMC Yukon earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, and it earns five-star ratings from NHTSA.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning, daytime pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking below 50 mph, automatic high-beam headlights, Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder, and automatic crash response and crisis assistance through OnStar. Starting with SLT, you also get blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Rear pedestrian alert is available on SLT and AT4 and standard on Denali, while adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking are reserved for Denali.

One caveat is that crash-test ratings were unavailable in the review text itself, so the safety picture here leans heavily on the available driver-assistance content and expert scoring.

Should I buy a 2021 GMC Yukon or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 33.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 14.42% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The redesign brings more space, better ride quality, and a major technology upgrade.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $47,322, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $42,314 average.
• It adds a standard 12-inch driver information center and enhanced connectivity.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2021 is the smarter starting point because it already delivers the redesign benefits and now sits at a lower average price. If you’re willing to pay more for a newer model with added connectivity and a larger driver display, the 2022 is the cleaner upgrade path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.