Family Car Review: 2025 GMC Yukon Denali

How good is the storage in the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali for families?

The interior of the Yukon Denali is super-sized and really practical for families! I actually love the minimal design with beautiful wood trim that has this burnt effect along the dash and doors.

In the front, there are two cup holders in the central console under a little lid that will hold reusable or disposable coffee cups and in front of those is a deep phone charging well.

The central console box is enormous! It has a big shelf on top and then underneath is a really cavernous, practical space. There are also iPad or map holders in the side of the central console box.

The glove box is a lovely big size that will hold an iPad and wallet with the manual.

Up on top of the dash, above the media screen, there's a sunglasses case that's really nicely lined. I've been keeping my sunglasses there because there isn't a sunglasses holder where you usually find them in the ceiling.

The door bins are really big and practical. They'll hold a refillable water bottle with room for wallets and iPads, plus there's another shelf above for phones and the storage handle wells too.

In the second row, there's a fold-down armrest in the central seat back with two cup holders that will hold reusable or disposable coffee cups, and kids' drink cups fit nicely too.

There are also two cup holders in the back of the central console box.

There are map pockets on the back of both front seats that will hold and conceal an iPad.

The rear door bins are big with heaps of storage. They'll fit a refillable water bottle and an iPad or wallet.

In the third row, there are two cup holders on each side that will hold reusable or disposable coffee cups, and kids' drink cups fit back there too.

For charging devices, there are USB-C ports in the front above the wireless phone charging pad, in the back of the central console box for second-row passengers, and an HDMI socket for attaching a DVD player or other device to the rear screens.

…in the third row there are USB-C sockets on both sides so passengers can charge their devices.

How many child seats will fit in the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali?

Installing child seats in the GMC Yukon Denali is nice and easy. In the second row, the seats are split 60:40. All three second-row seats have ISOFIX anchorages in the seat bases. They're not within plastic guides but are lovely and easy to access and connect to.

There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three second-row seats – the two outer seats have them in the middle of the seat back, and the central seat's is right down at the bottom.

I could fit three child seats across the second row really nice and easily! The rear seats are very generous, so three adult passengers could sit really comfortably there too. I can also sit in the central seat between two child seats comfortably, which is fantastic news for families.

In the third row, there are three seats. The two outer seats have top tether anchorages but no ISOFIX, so you need to use the seat belts to attach child seats. This means you can install child seats in both outer third-row seats – so five child seats total in the Yukon Denali!

I can also sit in the third row between two child seats comfortably, which is really impressive.

Since becoming a mum I spend A LOT of time parked up somewhere with a nice view while my daughter is asleep in the back! If it's hot I need to leave the engine running and the aircon on but I do like to get out and drink my cuppa tea in the fresh air while enjoying the fact my limbs are free from said dangling child!

When it comes to legroom, it's very good throughout the GMC Yukon Denali. With forward-facing child seats in the third row and a rear-facing child seat behind the driver, we could fit a 180cm+ driver. With forward-facing child seats in the second row, we could easily fit 186cm and taller passengers in the driver's seat.

For third-row access, the second-row seats tumble forward rather than sliding and tipping, so you'd need to remove any child seat from the single seat behind the driver for regular third-row access.

The footwells are lovely and flat in both the second and third rows, giving great kick room and legroom for passengers. The doors open really nice and wide too, making it easy for parents to lean in to fasten harnesses and seat belts.

How comfortable is the 2025 GMC Yukon Denali for families?

Comfort is a real strength of the Yukon Denali! The perforated leather seats are heated and ventilated for front passengers, with heating for the rear seats too.

Across the front dash there are air vents at either end and either side of the massive central media screen.

There are air vents in the ceiling for both rear rows of seats so all passengers stay comfortable. You can control the rear air conditioning from the front dash, which is even better as it means little fingers can't fiddle with the controls.

There are lights in the ceiling for both second and third-row passengers, so you can see at night when leaning in to do up seatbelts.

I have found our daughter does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it's really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.

The panoramic dual-pane sunroof with power sunshade is amazing! My kids loved looking at the stars at night, and the built-in cover is fantastic when the sun's too bright.

The 12.6-inch HD media screens in the back of the front headrests are a game-changer for family trips!

My family loved watching them this week, and we even had friends' kids on board so they could all watch together. There are two pairs of wireless headphones, but you can also press the “listen in” button to play sound out loud.

The front seats are comfortable with 12-way power adjustment, though the headrests don't adjust for ponytails.

I had spent hours styling my hair this morning to get it just right too… said no new mum ever!!!

The steering wheel is power adjustable for tilt and telescoping, and it's heated too! The cruise control buttons on the steering wheel are simple to use.

The media system is really lovely and simple to navigate.

Within the home screen, you have controls for the rear air conditioning which you can lock and unlock. There are physical buttons at the bottom of the screen that stay there all the time, which is really handy while driving.

You can turn the rear child locks on and off electronically, control lots of settings, and turn rear seat reminders on and off.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and wireless.

The camera system is incredible with up to 11 different views!

There's even a hitch-up camera that makes it easy to line up with your caravan or trailer, plus views to check on your trailer while driving.

The windows and doors open and close quietly and wouldn't disturb sleeping passengers. You can lock the windows from the driver's door control panel.

With baby asleep you can get in and out without worrying the doors will be too noisy. The same for the windows their mechanism is not too noisy and I didn't notice them having a loud opening or closing sound.

The automatically retracting side steps are fantastic! My kids absolutely love them, and they make getting in and out so much easier for everyone.