GMC Denali: The Art of Innovation

There is little question that the “Denali” name has gained quite a reputation around GMC vehicles. It represents a pinnacle of all the SUVs and CUVs the brand offers, but it’s about a lot more than that.

Back in late 1999 when we first saw the Denali names affixed to a GMC product – the 2000 Yukon – it represented a big step up on the superficial level, to be sure. The chrome bumpers shone brightly as did the wheels; the window tint was dark and the grille was proud. 

Behind said grille sat a 5.7-litre V8 good for 255 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, a smooth powerplant that paired with a four-speed auto and – for the first time in a Yukon – a full-time 4WD system. It could automatically switch between two- and four-wheel-drive when slip was detected; that is more commonplace now but was somewhat of a game changer back then.

Also a game changer – albeit one that took a little longer to take hold – was the addition of four-wheel steering when the Denali nameplate made the jump to the Sierra pickup for 2001. Called “Quadrasteer” in GM-speak, at low speeds it turned the rear wheels in the opposite direction from the fronts for a tighter turning radius. At high speeds, meanwhile, the rears rotated in the same direction as the fronts for increased stability. We’re seeing that more and more today, but back then the tech was really just found in a sprinkling of Japanese sports cars, monster trucks and…the GMC Sierra. 

Why does all of this matter? Put simply, it matters because it shows that more than just a top-flite trim package, the Denali nameplate quickly became almost a brand unto itself at GMC, bringing not just the luxe, but the tech  -- and even the innovation – as well.

Today, every GMC vehicle save the Savannah van is available in Denali trim, and with that specification comes everything you’d expect from a brand with so much equity. The leather you see draped across the seats, dash and door panels is all real, as is the aluminum sprinkled throughout the cabin of any given Denali model. The exteriors shine with details like a selection of rims in a variety of styes, sizes and colours and the chrome trimwork that got its start back in 2000 remains in an even bigger way, dripped across the grilles, underbody protection and even the door handles. Engines range from punchy diesels, to efficient turbo four-cylinders and as is tradition, gutsy V8s. You can even Denali-spec your hard-working Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD trucks, again showcasing how the Denali brand is transcendent.