Keeping Up With The Joneses

GMC YUKON DENALI AND INFINITI QX80 GET PRIMPED TO STAY FRESH

- Alisa Priddle

Big luxury SUVs have long lifecycles compared to sedans or small crossovers. And there are few choices when it comes to big SUVs that can transport entire families in opulence while also towing their full assortment of toys. Refreshes are mandatory to stay competitive and keep these profitable land yachts on buyers’ radar screens.

When the competition is all-new like the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator or still-new like the Land Rover Discovery, the rest of the field has to freshen its makeup to keep current between overhauls.

We spent seat time in two competitors from the latter category: the 2018 Infiniti QX80 and GMC Yukon Denali.

GMC YUKON DENALI

For 2018 the Denali gets some cosmetic work inside and out, but the big news is the 10-speed automatic transmission co-developed with Ford.

Replacing the eight-speed with a 10-speed with a wider 7.39 gear ratio spread, the new transmission is paired with the carryover 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque to propel this nearly 3-ton vehicle.

This is the fourth application of the 10-speed for GM. It made its debut in the 2017 Camaro ZL1, tuned for performance, but it was engineered for smoothness, accuracy, and comfort in this body-on-frame SUV

Ford introduced its version of the 10-speed in the Raptor and some F-150 models, but GM’s version takes a more discrete path—calibrating the transmission’s controls and algorithms for shift points and throttle response that are quick but seamless. As such, the Yukon Denali stays in the meat of the torque curve and powerband longer but in a manner barely detectable by the driver.