http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=00745236

That tells me that they aren't as confident about the fit/finish as they'd like to be at this point. Initial structural integrity is one thing but after a few miles, the body and chassis tend to develope squeeks and rattles. My wife's Denali is a PERFECT example of this. When we first got it, the overall vehicle had to be one of the most quiet and solid feeling vehicles I'd ever driven. Unfortunately, after 20K miles, it's anything but quiet and solid. The thing feels and sounds like a rattle-trap.

I guess you can take the vehicle out of Chevy but you can't take the CHEVY out of the vehicle ;)
Our last truck (Ford Expedition) was far more squeek and rattle free at the same mileage. It's a shame since this is a beautiful, fast, and comfortable truck.

KAT, sounds like you and I are closet Forders, eh? Even BMW's develop a lot of rattles and clunks. Did you do more offroading with your Denali than the Expedition? Just curious.

Off-Roading???
HA! These kind of trucks are NOT at home "off-road", believe me.
The Expedition went off-road once or twice during the 3 years we had it, the Denali has never been off-road from day 1. Really re-inforces the statistics about how most SUV owners never take their trucks off-road. It's mainly because:
1. Damn things cost too much to beat 'em up off-road.
2. Unless you change the tires, the SUV's SUCK off-road.

Now, TWO trucks ago, when the truck was MINE and not my WIFE's, I had a '95 Bronco and that puppy was off-road all the time ;)

So are there any SUV's that are actually made for off-roading FROM the factory. One that immediately comes to mind is the Hummer, but are there any others. I would guess tires they came with would play an important role also because not all SUV tires are for off-roading like you mentioned.

the 4runner seems like a decent off roader, with features like hill descent control and stuff like that

4 runner is just another sissy SUV. The Land Rover Discovery, Jeeps (except the Liberty), Ford F-250/350 and the H1 are just about the only off-roaders sold in the US.
The H2 has big tires to help it out but that IFS will kill it. In my opinion, if there isn't a solid axle under it, it's not going to go where I want it to. H1 is an exception but you wouldn't want to drive that suspension on the road every day.
FYI, my truck is a Yukon and I HATE the IFS on it. Can't articulate to save it's life.