5.3 to 6.2 - initial impression

[RThomasII]

So it's been about a month since I traded my 2016 Tahoe LTZ for a 2019 Yukon Denali and I thought I'd provide some feedback having experience with both SUV's.

The Yukon has definitely proven to be a nice upgrade from the Tahoe. The primary area of improvement IMHO is without a doubt the powerplant. The Tahoe was fast for what it was but I also felt like the 6sp choked the 5.3 motor a bit. On the other hand, the Denali feels SCARY fast with 6.2/10sp combo. I also think the Denali rides better which is interesting since both trucks have Mag-Ride suspension. To be fair, the Tahoe sat lower on its suspension than the Denali, especially in the front. It also felt like it had less body roll in turns than the Yukon but the Yukon does do a much better with handling bumps in the road than the Tahoe ever did.

Inside I'd say it's pretty much a push. The only noticeable differences between the two are the console charging pad in the Denali actually charges my Samsung S10+ whereas I could never get it to work in the Tahoe. And the cooled/ventilated seats actually blow air in the Denali. That feature "worked" in the Tahoe but was not near what I thought it should have been.

I was actually concerned that the jump from the Tahoe to the Yukon would be a bit of a disappointment especially since I always experience buyers remorse with any large purchase. I have to say though I'm pretty happy I made this move.....

 

[cardude2000]

So it's been about a month since I traded my 2016 Tahoe LTZ for a 2019 Yukon Denali and I thought I'd provide some feedback having experience with both SUV's.

The Yukon has definitely proven to be a nice upgrade from the Tahoe. The primary area of improvement IMHO is without a doubt the powerplant. The Tahoe was fast for what it was but I also felt like the 6sp choked the 5.3 motor a bit. On the other hand, the Denali feels SCARY fast with 6.2/10sp combo. I also think the Denali rides better which is interesting since both trucks have Mag-Ride suspension. To be fair, the Tahoe sat lower on its suspension than the Denali, especially in the front. It also felt like it had less body roll in turns than the Yukon but the Yukon does do a much better with handling bumps in the road than the Tahoe ever did.

Inside I'd say it's pretty much a push. The only noticeable differences between the two are the console charging pad in the Denali actually charges my Samsung S10+ whereas I could never get it to work in the Tahoe. And the cooled/ventilated seats actually blow air in the Denali. That feature "worked" in the Tahoe but was not near what I thought it should have been.

I was actually concerned that the jump from the Tahoe to the Yukon would be a bit of a disappointment especially since I always experience buyers remorse with any large purchase. I have to say though I'm pretty happy I made this move.....

Congrats.

The leather in my Denali is pretty bottom of the barrel but apparently it’s better than Tahoe leather...any thoughts??

 

[RThomasII]

Congrats.

The leather in my Denali is pretty bottom of the barrel but apparently it’s better than Tahoe leather...any thoughts??

The leather in the Tahoe held up well but take that comment with a grain of salt since I only had 28k miles on the truck, purchased right before I got divorced, and I only have one kid (teenager). In other words... The Tahoe seats didn't get a lot of use. I'm likely to put fewer miles on the Yukon since my daily driver is a 2007 Silverado and I only work 5 miles from home one way.

That said... The Denali seats do feel more firm but I assumed its the same same seat/leather.

 

[hcvone]

What no pictures?

 

[GTNator]

Interesting that you note the noticeable ride improvement. GM continued to tweaked the MRC after 2016.


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[cardude2000]

Interesting that you note the noticeable ride improvement. GM continued to tweaked the MRC after 2016.


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They did? Physical changes or just software updates?

 

[GTNator]

They did? Physical changes or just software updates?

I read it was all software. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t hardware too, I just remember the article I read only mentioned software.


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[cardude2000]

I read it was all software. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t hardware too, I just remember the article I read only mentioned software.


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Too bad that if it’s ONLY a software fix that they aren’t applying it to 15’s and 16’s.

Wish the GM rep would chime in here on stuff like this.

 

[LT1ZOB]

Can’t talk about Tahoe, my Tahoe does not have MRC, but will say, after owning several MRC GM cars over the years, GM absolutely nailed it in 18. I took my 16 vette in last summer for the latest update and was blown away. I won’t say it rides like a Cadillac in tour mode, but unbelievably smooth. Sport mode saw a major improvement too with the 18 update. Track mode will still compress your spine, but does exactly what it’s supposed to.
I’d say the 2018 update knocked it out of the park.

 

[GTNator]

Can’t talk about Tahoe, my Tahoe does not have MRC, but will say, after owning several MRC GM cars over the years, GM absolutely nailed it in 18. I took my 16 vette in last summer for the latest update and was blown away. I won’t say it rides like a Cadillac in tour mode, but unbelievably smooth. Sport mode saw a major improvement too with the 18 update. Track mode will still compress your spine, but does exactly what it’s supposed to.
I’d say the 2018 update knocked it out of the park.

I totally agree.


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[RThomasII]

What no pictures?

Well... Since you asked...

My old Tahoe...

And the Yukon...

 

[Duke40]

I went from owning 4 Toyota Sequoia's over 10 years and bought a '19 Tahoe 6.2 RST with Borla exhaust earlier this year. Can't believe how much I'm enjoying this truck in comparison. The chassis feels tighter, the engine has tons of power, fun to drive and the fuel economy is significantly better. Shoulda made the switch sooner but better late than never.

 

[cardude2000]

I went from owning 4 Toyota Sequoia's over 10 years and bought a '19 Tahoe 6.2 RST with Borla exhaust earlier this year. Can't believe how much I'm enjoying this truck in comparison. The chassis feels tighter, the engine has tons of power, fun to drive and the fuel economy is significantly better. Shoulda made the switch sooner but better late than never.

You give up a ton of cargo space but there’s no question the Tahoe is a nicer place to be.

Of course the current sequoia is ~12 years old so it’s the same age as the old Tahoe.

 

[Duke40]

Exactly. If they had made any changes I would have stayed but after 10 years wanted something different. Thanks Toyota.

 

[hcvone]

Well... Since you asked...

My old Tahoe...

View attachment 227965


And the Yukon...
View attachment 227966

Very nice, best of luck with it.

 

[GTNator]

I went from owning 4 Toyota Sequoia's over 10 years and bought a '19 Tahoe 6.2 RST with Borla exhaust earlier this year. Can't believe how much I'm enjoying this truck in comparison. The chassis feels tighter, the engine has tons of power, fun to drive and the fuel economy is significantly better. Shoulda made the switch sooner but better late than never.

Yup, you are absolutely right. My wife has a 2014 Sequoia. It was already ancient on the day we bought it new back in late 2013. And the current models are literally exactly the same. Toyota is letting that model die on the vine.

I have a 17 Escalade ESV (6.2) and I get 50% better gas mileage! And so much better technology, comfort, and smoother ride.

You made a good choice.


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[petethepug]

We went from Denali 6.0 in an 06 to 6.2 in our current 08 and agree, they nailed it. SW updates for MRC, hmmmm, I’ll have to look into that (rubbing hands together).


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[Chris T]

My '16 Denali rode like a potato wagon. Absolutely no shocks whatsoever, horribly stiff. Had to trade out of it due to the booming. Glad they fixed it but I'm done with MRC anytime soon.

 

[cardude2000]

I'm done with MRC anytime soon.

Huh?

 

[91RS]

They don’t admit to it but I think GM made a lot of changes somewhere between 17 and 18. The 15s and 16s ride like garbage and the 17s are not bad for the most part.