BIG SHOW

IN A BATTLE OF THE BIG WAGONS, WE PITCH THE NEW GMC YUKON DENALI AGAINST THE RECENTLY UPDATED NISSAN PATROL Y-62 TO SEE WHICH ONE DOES THE JOB THE BEST

- WORDS MATT RAUDONIKIS PHOTOS ELLEN DEWAR

When GMSV recently launched the GMC brand in Australia with the Yukon Denali, it stepped into a niche corner of the local new-vehicle market – the full-size, three-row 4x4 wagon segment.

It’s a segment that was once dominated by the Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero and, to some extent, the Land Rover Discovery, but vehicles have grown in size and Nissan’s Y62 Patrol has had the segment to itself in recent years.

Yes, the LandCruiser is still available, but the 300 Series isn’t as large as the current Patrol, and while the Discovery is also on sale, it now sits in a more premium segment than the big Nissan. You could argue the Land Rover Defender belongs here too - it’s a large, three-row petrol wagon – but at the time of testing, Land Rover was phasing out its sublime Ingenium six and moving exclusively to V8 power for its petrol variants.

STARS AND STRIPES

The GMC Yukon Denali is a premium product with a price tag to match, and we figured the recently refreshed Nissan Patrol has got to be its closest rival - even if it costs nearly half as much. Both are V8-powered 4x4 wagons with seating for eight, but they target very different buyers.

The all-American GMC is a true luxury wagon, and it’s kitted out to justify its $175K price tag. The cabin is spacious and plush, with all three rows of seating trimmed in soft leather. The front seats are heated and ventilated, the second row gets heating, and the third-row passengers make do with aircon vents. All seats feature power adjustment or folding, and both the second and third rows fold flat to create a long, level load space. It's roomy enough to roll out a swag if the weather turns nasty.