Celebrate 25 years of Denali​ with GMC

GMC of Rochester is proud to announce that 2025 marks 25 years of the GMC Denali luxury sub-brand. Denali has come to represent the best that GMC offers across its model lines in terms of luxury, technology, and performance. 

The Beginning 

It began with the 1999 GMC Yukon, which received the Denali name for its flagship trim level. Compared to the standard Yukon, the 1999 Yukon Denali featured a distinct front fascia and side trim. Inside, it offered standard dual power front seats, Nuance leather seating surfaces, Bluetooth hands-free phone capability, OnStar, and a Bose audio system, among other upgraded features. The Yukon XL was the next model to receive the Denali treatment, followed by the Sierra 1500. 

Today 

The Denali sub-brand is now found across the GMC model line, from the Terrain mid-size crossover to Sierra HD trucks. Denali models now account for 30% of GMC retail sales, and the two millionth Denali model was sold this past year in Austin, Texas, as a 2024 Onyx Black Sierra 2500 Crew Cab. Today, it is not uncommon for customers to refer to their model as “a Denali.” 

In 2022, starting again with Yukon and Yukon XL models, GMC introduced the Denali Ultimate trim. This trim standardized most of the optional features of the Denali trims, making “Denali” a family of trim levels.  

The Top of North America 

The Denali name comes from the name of the tallest mountain peak in North America, which is about 100 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. It was a name used for centuries by the native Koyukon people. Americans named it Mount McKinley after the 25th President, but in 1975, Alaska gave the peak back its original name, and in 2015, the US government followed suit. 

Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Yukon Package 

To commemorate the 25th anniversary, GMC is offering a special 25th Anniversary Denali Package on the model that started it all, the Yukon.  In addition to the many Denali features, this limited edition includes: 

• Black 24-inch wheels w/ black center caps 
• Black mesh grille 
• Black illuminated front GMC emblem 
• Black nameplates and badging 
• Black mirror caps 

The Denali 25th Anniversary Package can be ordered in Denali or Denali Ultimate trim and is limited to less than 3,000 units globally. 

“Denali represents the pinnacle of GMC’s ‘Professional Grade’ ethos,” said Jaclyn McQuaid, global vice president, Buick GMC. “GMC and Denali’s unique combination of premium design, luxurious appointments, advanced tech, and true capability continues to resonate with customers in the U.S. and around the world. No one does trucks and SUVs like GMC, and the proof is in the performance, with record sales and growth for GMC at home and abroad, and Denali accounting for nearly one in three GMC retail sales in the U.S. in 2024.” 

“And we’re continuing to evolve and push the Denali brand forward,” McQuaid added. “The recent launch of the Sierra EV Denali showcases what the next generation of Denali can deliver to customers and how EVs can further elevate the Denali experience. It reimagines what an EV truck can be; combining performance, tech, and capability in a package that I believe is the single best truck on the market, bar none. It is truly the Denali of EVs.” 

We invite you to visit GMC of Rochester and see what the Denali brand offers for the GMC model of your choice. If that model is a Yukon, and you like black trim, ask one of our sales professionals about ordering the 25th Anniversary Yukon Package.