What is a GMC Yukon? The SUV behind Justin Bieber’s viral hit

• One of Justin Bieber's latest hits is named after an American full-size SUV.
• The GMC Yukon is large, spacious, and worthy of a Bieber song in the eyes of many drivers.

Justin Bieber kicks off his latest hit "Yukon" with the nostalgic line, "In the city, 'member used to drive a Yukon,” setting the tone for his new album, Swag.

But what's a Yukon, and why is it enticing enough to inspire a song from a pop icon?

Here's what you should know about the SUV named in the song. Let's start with the basics.

What is a GMC Yukon?

A GMC Yukon is a full-size SUV from American automaker General Motors. It's a close cousin to the Chevrolet Tahoe large SUV.

The Yukon isn't the most affordable full-size SUV in its segment, but it's a mainstream model that plenty of drivers enjoy. Yukon is a territory in the Northwestern region of Canada, so the GMC Yukon nod could also be a way for Bieber to acknowledge his Canadian roots.

The official music video for the song has amassed a whopping 29 million views on YouTube. The song has also been getting plenty of radio play and social media attention, especially on TikTok.

How much is a 2026 GMC Yukon?

The 2026 GMC Yukon starts at $69,200. It comes standard with a mighty 5.3-liter V8 engine that produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.

The Yukon achieves 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway, which is average for such a large SUV.

2026 GMC Yukon trims

• Elevation ($71,795)
• AT4 ($78,595)
• Denali ($82,595)
• AT4 Ultimate ($98,395)
• Denali Ultimate ($104,395)

GMC also offers XL versions of the SUV, making it even larger for drivers who need lots of cabin and cargo space.

How big is a GMC Yukon?

The GMC Yukon is 210 inches long and 81 inches wide (without mirrors). It has 7.8 inches of ground clearance and 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up. With the seats down, its cargo space increases to 122.9 cubic feet.

GMC's Yukon XL is 225.2 inches long, a whopping 15.2 inches longer than the standard Yukon. It's also 81 inches wide (without mirrors.) The Yukon XL has 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up. It has a massive 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats down. That's around 21.8 more cubic feet of max cargo space than the smaller Yukon model.

Should you get a GMC Yukon?

There are several reasons drivers choose GMC's large SUV including its powerful standard V8 engine, spacious cabin and cargo area and long list of standard safety features. It's designed to comfortably seat seven to eight passengers.

Additionally, GMC offers several off-road trims for adventurous drivers like the AT4 and AT4 Ultimate. These trims are equipped with skid plates, upgraded suspensions and all-terrain tires to tackle the road less traveled. The GMC Yukon is a fine large SUV, but is it the undisputed best in its segment?

What's the best full-size SUV for 2025?

GMC Yukon vs. rivals

The full-size SUV vehicle segment isn't as crowded as other segments (small SUVs, midsize cars, etc.) because large SUVs aren't as popular. Since there are fewer competitive models on the market, it's easy to see which are standouts based on vehicle reviews and rankings.

U.S. News & World Report gave the GMC Yukon an 8.5/10, ranking it among the best large SUVs for 2025. The media company gave the top spot to the Jeep Wagoneer, another massive American SUV with plenty of cabin and cargo space.

Car And Driver calls the Yukon the second-best new large SUV for 2025, behind its cousin the more affordable Chevrolet Tahoe. MotorTrend praises the 2025 Yukon's "off-road and luxury variants" and "huge interior volume." The Yukon may not be the clear leader in its segment, but it's getting plenty of love from experts and reviews.