2021 GMC Yukon Denali Wins Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year

The Rocky Mountains are beautiful but driving mountain roads can be rugged and challenging. The redesigned 2021 GMC Yukon Denali 4WD is designed to handle the most difficult driving situations with ease while keeping passengers wrapped in luxury. That explains why the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press have named the 2021 GMC Yukon Denali the Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year.

The nominating committee considers performance, fuel economy, value and vehicle features to narrow down the finalists. A key component of the final judging is how well the vehicle handles and performs on the Rocky Mountains’ often rugged roads and terrain.

2021 GMC Yukon Denali

GMC totally redesigned the GMC Yukon for the 2021 year and seriously upgraded the already luxurious Denali interior and trim. GMC also upgraded the on-board technology.

“GMC Yukon is the full-size premium SUV that’s made to be used,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick and GMC. “The new Yukon delivers what customers value most – premium features, purposeful technology and all-terrain capability.”

Premium Interior

The all-new GMC Yukon Denali offs a new power sliding center console. The main storage console between the driver and passenger seats can slide back up to 10 inches. If you slide the console back, you can use the extra space to store a purse, backpack or anything you need quick access to.

The 2021 Yukon Denali offers an interesting Air Ride Adaptive Suspension that smooths out the otherwise bumpy ride. It even allows the driver to raise the body up to 2 inches for improved ground clearance when you are off-road. That is a nice perk to have.

The GMC Yukon Denali also offers up to nine different camera views. That can be especially important when driving a large vehicle. High Definition Surround Vision, a rear camera mirror and GMC’s upgraded trailering system all improve the driver’s ability to maneuver the Yukon Denali through the Rocky Mountains’ often treacherous driving conditions.

Rocky Mountain Automotive Press

RMAP membership consists of automotive journalists from Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas, and Nebraska. RMAP members reach millions of potential car, SUV, and truck buyers via the internet, in print, on TV, or via radio. I have been a member of RMAP since 2013.

The other finalists for 2021 were the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE63W4S, the 2021 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT, the 2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD, and the 2021 Toyota Rav4 Prime.

Typically, the winner of the Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year is announced in the spring during the Denver Auto Show. However, the show has been pushed back until September, because of continuing concerns about the COVID 19 virus. 2021 marks the fifteenth annual Rocky Mountain Vehicle of the Year awards.

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