Yukon Denali Duramax - Is it slow?

[Stbentoak]

I really don’t know what it lacks, I move away from traffic lights equally or better than anyone else, I keep up with people in traffic equal to or better than anyone else, and I go 85 on the interstates equal to or better than anyone else. You’re driving a small bus not a super charged jaguar SUV. (Incidentally which I also own…A 21 not shown below..)
My Jag would run circles around this thing, but for versatility and every day use I don’t feel my Yukon is lacking anything. It warms up quickly cools down the cabin quickly when I need it goes anywhere and does anything…. half a mile or 1000 miles. No fuss no muss. I personally think it is geared very well…..

 

[VAF84]

I really don’t know what it lacks, I move away from traffic lights equally or better than anyone else, I keep up with people in traffic equal to or better than anyone else, and I go 85 on the interstates equal to or better than anyone else. You’re driving a small bus not a super charged jaguar SUV. (Incidentally which I also own…A 21 not shown below..)
My Jag would run circles around this thing, but for versatility and every day use I don’t feel my Yukon is lacking anything. It warms up quickly cools down the cabin quickly when I need it goes anywhere and does anything…. half a mile or 1000 miles. No fuss no muss. I personally think it is geared very well…..

It's most likely that I'm in the minority since this is the slowest vehicle I have driven in a long time that isn't a typical compact car. I'd say most of my complaints are in the 0-45mph range. I'm fine cruising on the highway. I get it's not a supercharged SUV, but I'd expect it to at least match a 3/4 ton heavy duty truck.

With you on everything else. Glad you brought up the AC as I'm really impressed with the climate control system in there. Now that it's winter I almost traded the Ram just based on that. My Ram won't initiate full heating with remote start unless it's below 40 degrees; and it drives me insane because guess how cold it has been here lately... 41 degrees!

On a side note since you brought up your supercharged Jaguar... just got my first supercharged vehicle this year (TRX), I love the supercharged engine. A lot more enjoyable than Turbo's! I'm sure you have a blast driving yours.

 

[Rizop]

It's most likely that I'm in the minority since this is the slowest vehicle I have driven in a long time that isn't a typical compact car. I'd say most of my complaints are in the 0-45mph range. I'm fine cruising on the highway. I get it's not a supercharged SUV, but I'd expect it to at least match a 3/4 ton heavy duty truck.

With you on everything else. Glad you brought up the AC as I'm really impressed with the climate control system in there. Now that it's winter I almost traded the Ram just based on that. My Ram won't initiate full heating with remote start unless it's below 40 degrees; and it drives me insane because guess how cold it has been here lately... 41 degrees!

On a side note since you brought up your supercharged Jaguar... just got my first supercharged vehicle this year (TRX), I love the supercharged engine. A lot more enjoyable than Turbo's! I'm sure you have a blast driving yours.

Similar observations here in terms of the slower acceleration from a stop . Previous suv was a 2016 Lexus GX 460 that felt slow , and the Yukon feels even slower from a standstill , however I knew that going in and still love it .

At 40 mph though , acceleration is a breeze and it feels strong on the interstate .For me, It doesn’t seem to run out of steam at 80+ mph like some others have said . Acceleration and passing at 75+ feels great .

Unbelievable mpg which is somewhat negated by the high price of diesel; although not having to even think about lifter problems makes it work it 10x over for me . Over 700 miles on one tank. Really love this car

Also wanted to add that I drove my friend’s 2021 6.2 Yukon Denali and the acceleration was almost effortless , however I didn’t want to deal with potential lifter issues . Unfortunately his lifters went out 2 months later , leaving his family stranded in the boondocks on a road trip

 

[Stbentoak]

Unbelievable mpg which is somewhat negated by the high price of diesel; although not having to even think about lifter problems makes it work it 10x over for me . Over 700 miles on one tank. Really love this car

This right here is what does it for me. If it wasn't for the Dmax, I'd have a Lexus, X7 or Grand Waggy.

 

[VAF84]

Altight folks... I have to make a slight redaction to my prior comments. They pertain to the 3.0 Duramax through 2022.

I recently caught wind that the 2023's got the updated 3.0 Duramax with increased horsepower and torque; the LZ0 version.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/08/gms-new-duramax-diesel-3-0l-lz0-engine-gets-more-power-torque/

The difference was enough that I thought it could work for me, so I went to test drive a 2023 3.0 Duramax today back to back with a 6.2l gasser. IMO the new one has the right amount of power. The difference with the 6.2L was markedly less noticeable now. Sure, I could always want more, and I'm still considering the 6.2L, but to me it now makes it something I'd be happy with. Now I'm tilting 90% towards the new Duramax.

 

[BrokerThis]

@VAF84 the new SUVs still have the LM2 not the LZ0 ..... they arent switching to the LZ0 in the SUVs til 24. Only in the pickup currently.....

 

[VAF84]

@VAF84 the new SUVs still have the LM2 not the LZ0 ..... they arent switching to the LZ0 in the SUVs til 24. Only in the pickup currently.....

I should have clarified that I meant the truck. I'd been using my wife's 21 Yukon Duramax as a reference. I'm looking at replacing my TRX with a Sierra 1500 and was just about convinced I needed the 6.2L after routinely driving her Duramax and test driving a 2022 Sierra 1500 Duramax. Upon learning of the more powerful updated 3.0 Duramax in the 1500 I went back to the dealer in search of one that had it.

So today I drove the 2023 Sierra 1500 with the new Duramax ,and it was noticeably better than the one in my wife's Yukon. If the Yukon is still using the original Duramax then my original comment still stands that I would go with the 6.2L without hesitation unless mpg were my primary concern. If it's the new Duramax, then it's hard to pass up even with the 6.2L option.

 

[Rizop]

I should have clarified that I meant the truck. I'd been using my wife's 21 Yukon Duramax as a reference. I'm looking at replacing my TRX with a Sierra 1500 and was just about convinced I needed the 6.2L after routinely driving her Duramax and test driving a 2022 Sierra 1500 Duramax. Upon learning of the more powerful updated 3.0 Duramax in the 1500 I went back to the dealer in search of one that had it.

So today I drove the 2023 Sierra 1500 with the new Duramax ,and it was noticeably better than the one in my wife's Yukon. If the Yukon is still using the original Duramax then my original comment still stands that I would go with the 6.2L without hesitation unless mpg were my primary concern. If it's the new Duramax, then it's hard to pass up even with the 6.2L option.

Wow that’s some really great insight ! I love the LM2 in my Yukon but it’s really interesting to see actual feedback from someone that has driven the new Duramax as well . Makes you wonder why changes were made to a relatively new engine . Besides the obvious horsepower increase , wonder if they changed the wet belt design or if increased internal testing revealed some long term issues with the engine.


Unfortunately I’ll probably have insufficient funds to upgrade to the new diesel when the time comes lol

 

[VAF84]

Wow that’s some really great insight ! I love the LM2 in my Yukon but it’s really interesting to see actual feedback from someone that has driven the new Duramax as well . Makes you wonder why changes were made to a relatively new engine . Besides the obvious horsepower increase , wonder if they changed the wet belt design if increased internal testing revealed some long term issues with the engine .


Unfortunately I’ll probably have insufficient funds to upgrade to the new diesel when the time comes lol

Thanks! Yeah, after reading about the update I had to see it for myself and report back for anyone shopping around. You'll know now for when the time comes to trade yours! Only reason I'm switching my pickup around so much is that I've bought right and breaking even on the trades. However, the market is softening so this next one I get I'll be sticking with for a long time.

If I remember correctly they reinforced the pistons, addressed the part that was causing the long crank issues, and did some updates to the belt to where the maintenance is now at 200k instead of 150k miles. Probably some other things in there I can't remember.

 

[s4cruiser]

Similar observations here in terms of the slower acceleration from a stop . Previous suv was a 2016 Lexus GX 460 that felt slow , and the Yukon feels even slower from a standstill , however I knew that going in and still love it .

At 40 mph though , acceleration is a breeze and it feels strong on the interstate .For me, It doesn’t seem to run out of steam at 80+ mph like some others have said . Acceleration and passing at 75+ feels great .

Unbelievable mpg which is somewhat negated by the high price of diesel; although not having to even think about lifter problems makes it work it 10x over for me . Over 700 miles on one tank. Really love this car

Also wanted to add that I drove my friend’s 2021 6.2 Yukon Denali and the acceleration was almost effortless , however I didn’t want to deal with potential lifter issues . Unfortunately his lifters went out 2 months later , leaving his family stranded in the boondocks on a road trip

Good info. My wife has a 2020 GX and I wouldn’t want my Denali to be slower. Considering switching my order to a 6.2, especially since diesel here in central NC is $1.75ish more per gallon vs premium.

 

[Rizop]

Good info. My wife has a 2020 GX and I wouldn’t want my Denali to be slower. Considering switching my order to a 6.2, especially since diesel here in central NC is $1.75ish more per gallon vs premium.

Yes , it definitely feels a little slower to accelerate from a standstill than the 4.6 in the GX . Once it gets to approximately 40 mph, the 3.0 has the upper hand and it accelerates effortlessly. The GX has a good amount of torque but at 40 plus mph the 3.0’s torque advantage is apparent

Honestly I was worried about the lifters in the 6.2, so I chose the 3.0 to hopefully minimize the chances of my family being stranded

 

[DuraYuk]

Thanks! Yeah, after reading about the update I had to see it for myself and report back for anyone shopping around. You'll know now for when the time comes to trade yours! Only reason I'm switching my pickup around so much is that I've bought right and breaking even on the trades. However, the market is softening so this next one I get I'll be sticking with for a long time.

If I remember correctly they reinforced the pistons, addressed the part that was causing the long crank issues, and did some updates to the belt to where the maintenance is now at 200k instead of 150k miles. Probably some other things in there I can't remember.

The Pistons in the lm2 are aluminium (these pistons probably cost more as they are also hypereutectic). The pistons in the lz0 are steel. The 'part' that was causing the long crank was on early lm2s. It was a supplier defect in the reluctor ring so it couldn't read properly. The affected units were fixed and the new lm2s from then on didn't have the problem. The lz0 still uses the wet belt design for the oil pump. The lz0 also has more emmisions stuff like a second def injector. The changes from lm2 to lz0 more likely had to do with tightening emmisions rather then any design issues.

It's really not a redesigned engine as much as it is just some life cycle changes and to meet current standards.

 

[Rizop]

The Pistons in the lm2 are aluminium (these pistons probably cost more as they are also hypereutectic). The pistons in the lz0 are steel. The 'part' that was causing the long crank was on early lm2s. It was a supplier defect in the reluctor ring so it couldn't read properly. The affected units were fixed and the new lm2s from then on didn't have the problem. The lz0 still uses the wet belt design for the oil pump. The lz0 also has more emmisions stuff like a second def injector. The changes from lm2 to lz0 more likely had to do with tightening emmisions rather then any design issues.

It's really not a redesigned engine as much as it is just some life cycle changes and to meet current standards.

That was a great and really enlightening read . It’s also great that they used this opportunity to give it a hp boost . The Lm2 I’ve had for 6 months is fantastic and its encouraging that they’re already evolving the design

 

[StephenPT]

Here’s an interview with the chief engineer of the Duramax and he discusses the new LZ0.

 

[Stbentoak]

Also, the belt that was 150K in the LM2 is the same belt touted for 200K in the LZ0. The early estimates for the LM2 belt were very conservative. I'm surprised people are still bringing this up. A total non-issue for 98% of owners...

 

[VAF84]

Also, the belt that was 150K in the LM2 is the same belt touted for 200K in the LZ0. The early estimates for the LM2 belt were very conservative. I'm surprised people are still bringing this up. A total non-issue for 98% of owners...

Agree with that. My dad was hung up on the belt issue when we purchased the 2021, kept him from looking at the 3.0L even though he like the mpg aspect. Didn't bother me and wasn't a consideration.

 

[DuraYuk]

Also, the belt that was 150K in the LM2 is the same belt touted for 200K in the LZ0. The early estimates for the LM2 belt were very conservative. I'm surprised people are still bringing this up. A total non-issue for 98% of owners...

Even the later lm2s have the interval moved to 200k I do believe.

It's crazy how some think it's a big deal when many vehicles have had timing belts and usually the consequence of it snapping is the engine grenading.

 

[OBSSSD]

Very little out there on the performance aspect of the Yukon with the Duramax. Seems no one wants to put it’s 0-60 times and such on paper. We have a 2019 Escalade with the 6.2, and it has plenty of grunt, I’m wondering if the smaller Duramax will feel like a dog when you get on it. I drive an F250 diesel, so I’m familiar with the feel, and mine is just fast enough, but I’d be worried about a 3L because of it’s size in comparison to the vehicle weight. It would have been awesome if GM installed the 6.6L Duramax, but I digress.

Anyway, for those of you who typically drive faster cars, does it feel lacking off the line, or overtaking on a two lane country road?

As a gauge my wife has 22' Escalade with 6.2 V8, she thinks it feels slow compared my XL with the LM2

 

[VAF84]

As a gauge my wife has 22' Escalade with 6.2 V8, she thinks it feels slow compared my XL with the LM2

I agree with her assessment. When we were shopping, my wife was driving a 2019 Escalade. We drove both the diesel Yukon and the Escalade almost back to back and the new Escalade did not feel as quick as hers. I think it has a lot to do with weight, because the new one is heavier, but there was no improvement to the power output of the motor

Having said that, as luck would have it, I ended up with a 6.2 L GMC sierra and it’s definitely faster. So much so that now when my wife first borrowed it she has trouble taking off and chirped the tires when pulling out. It was actually kind of funny.

 

[steiny93]

As a gauge my wife has 22' Escalade with 6.2 V8, she thinks it feels slow compared my XL with the LM2

was their a baseball under the accelerator?

There is no comparison between a current 6.2 and a current diesel. We have both, they get driven side by side all the time, other than mileage the diesel doesn't do anything better then the 6.2 in the drivability department.