2022 GMC Yukon AT4 4WD Review

General Motors created the demand for the full-size sport-utility vehicle, which is not only used by affluent consumers in the U.S. and across much of the Middle East, but also by police agencies across the country but also by the military. 

Other manufacturers, such as Ford, Toyota and now Jeep, have made a bid to get a piece of the action. But GM remains dominant in the segment with vehicle such as the new Yukon AT4, and it has been suggested one of the reasons GM is so eager to sell electric vehicles is to keep building enormously profitable full-size SUVs. 

Overview: A Week With The 2022 GMC Yukon AT4 4WD

The 2022 GMC Yukon AT4 4WD is big, rugged and — in its own-unique way — rather handsome. This vehicle is also loaded with comfort and convenience features ranging from an adaptive suspension, which makes it easier to enter or leave the vehicle, to heated seats in the second row. In addition, the technology behind the safety, infotainment and navigation system in the vehicles is deftly integrated. 

Exterior

The basic shape of a full-size SUV is baked in from the start as the vehicle is designed around a package meant to carry multiple passengers — the vehicle I drove had room for seven — and their gear. But GMC designers have worked on setting the Yukon apart with a unique front fascia and neatly integrated lighting fixture for the LED lamps in the front and rear. 

GM also took care with the sheet metal on the sides of the vehicle, presenting a tailored appearance to anyone walking up to one of the four doors. The 20-inch wheels are also set off and provide a look at the vehicle’s muscular underpinnings and underscore the vehicle is versatile enough to drive on poor dirt or gravel roads or no roads at all when necessary, adding to the Yukon’s rugged appeal. 

Interior 

Full-sized SUVs are all about power and space and the cabin of the 2022 GMC Yukon AT4 has all kinds of space since it is wide and tall. The cabin is smartly laid out and despite the vehicle’s size, important controls are within easy reach. 

The center stack, with its 10.2-touch screen, is also equipped with knobs to control the heating, cooling and sound. It is also functional rather than luxurious, though the materials are first rate. The shift lever has been replaced with buttons on the dash, making it easier to use a laptop, take notes or eat lunch inside the cabin. There was moonroof in vehicle I drove to in the vehicle a drove. 

The Yukon also offers a great view of the road and comes with a surround view camera when you are backing out of driveway or out of parking space in a crowded parking lot and the layout of the instrument cluster was designed to deliver a substantial amount of information directly to the driver. 

Powertrain

The V-8 engine is not extinct yet. Thus, the GMC Yukon AT4 is equipped with a 6.2-liter Ecotech engine with dual exhaust and a 10-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. It puts out 420 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. The automatic start-stop system has been deleted from the package due to the semiconductor shortage, but it does have hill descent control and stabilitrak. 

The fuel economy is not great the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency has given this version of the Yukon a combined fuel-economy rating of 16 miles per gallon. The city rating is 14 mpg and the highway rating is 19 mpg. 

Safety and Technology

The 2022 GMC Yukon AT4 4WD comes equipped with lane-keep assistance with lane-departure warning, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear park assist and automatic emergency braking. 

It also has intelligent high beams, which actually work, and a nine-speaker Bose sound system, satellite radio, OnStar, wireless charging, Bluetooth, GMC Premium infotainment and two 12.6-screeens facing the bucket seats in the second row for the rear-seat media system. The vehicles also are equipped with retractable running boards and with perimeter lighting.  

Driving Impressions

I do not think anyone ever describes a big SUV as fun to drive, but with a solid grip on the road and steady driving dynamics, which include accurate steering and excellent brakes, the Yukon AT4 does bring a smile to your face on occasion. 

The big engine produces more than enough power and, if you are not towing a large trailer, it comes on quickly. It’s also equipped with well-tuned suspension with plenty of electronic assistance that helps smooth out any kind of road surfaces, including dirt. The Yukon is pleasant and comfortable. 

2022 GMC Yukon AT4 4WD specifications

Wrap Up 

This is an expensive vehicle and the one I drove was priced at just under $80,000. So it might not be practical unless you happen to carry several passengers and their luggage or sporting equipment on a regular basis or are perhaps planning to spend a lot of time on the road with your family or best friends traveling to a remote location way off the beaten track. But it is large, comfortable and versatile, which means it can be used to carry out any number of heavy-duty tasks. 

2022 GMC Yukon AT4 4WD ­— Frequently Asked Questions