The most visible difference between the SLE and Denali is the Denali's aftermarket-inspired chrome grille, in place of the SLE's blacked out grille.

An important choice to make here is whether you want a contemporary hatch rear door that lifts up or old-fashioned side-by-side cargo doors. Cargo doors are more useful for towing trailers, while the hatch style is usually more convenient for families partly because the window can be opened separately for quick loading or unloading of smaller items. Denali buyers are limited to a hatch with flip-up window. Utility-minded shoppers looking for cargo doors will have to limit themselves to an SLE.