Designed for Strength and Sophistication

The sizable stance of the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade immediately let you know they mean business. With their bold grilles, muscular silhouettes, and wheels up to 24 inches, these full-size luxury SUVs are tough and elegant, proof that strength and sophistication need not be mutually exclusive.

Beyond their imposing stances, the Yukon and the Escalade demand attention with their chic light designs. Each vehicle is outfitted with standard headlight animation that greets you with a choreographed dance when you unlock your vehicle. Regarding color options, each vehicle comes standard with six options that offer a mix of greyscale and vibrant shades.

With the Yukon and the Escalade offering similar exterior designs, the differences between these vehicles become more important. The Yukon with its sleek, three-lined grille reflects a sense of refined power, whereas the blacked-out design of the Denali Ultimate adds a touch of mystery. Nearly every Yukon trim level tells its own story with a unique grille design, while the Escalade toggles between two core design options.

Refined Comfort With Room to Roam

The interiors of the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade add a much-deserved high-end touch to every commute. This is thanks to their premium materials and upscale amenities. Regardless of which SUV you choose, you’ll have standard or available access to these details:

• Leather seating
• Heated first- and second-row seats
• 16-way seats with massage
• Panoramic sunroof

The Yukon and the Escalade offer more room for riders and cargo with their extra-long wheelbase options: the Yukon XL and the Escalade ESV. While these ultra-spacious configurations share many similarities, the Yukon XL edges ahead by offering 144.5 cubic feet of cargo space compared to 142.2 cubic feet.

On paper, this difference may not seem significant, but the extra space can hold a couple of extra grocery bags, a medium storage tote, or a folded yoga mat that would otherwise need to be left behind by drivers of the Escalade.

Potent Powertrain Possibilities

The GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade deliver the power of choice, offering rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive configurations. You also have your choice of engine, allowing you to pick the option that delivers the power you crave. However, the Yukon has a distinct advantage with its three options versus the one found with the Escalade.

The addition of a 3.0L Duramax® Turbo Diesel engine gives the Yukon more torque, which helps it achieve higher speeds quicker compared to the Cadillac Escalade.

Competent Towing for Weekends Away

When you want to enjoy an unplugged weekend with your family, your SUV must have the power to haul a camping trailer, boat, or a couple of jet skis. Luckily, the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade are capable of hauling recreational toys with ease.

Regardless of which SUV you choose, you can enjoy the convenience and confidence that comes with available features such as Blind Zone Steering Assist with Trailering Assist Guidelines. These SUVs have nearly identical towing capacities, but the Yukon gains ground with its 8,200-pound maximum towing capacity, which offers an extra 100-pound wiggle room when packing.

An additional advantage found with the Yukon is Super Cruise driver assist technology with trailering capabilities. When optionally equipped, this system allows you to enjoy hands-free driving on compatible roadways, even when towing. The Escalade also offers Super Cruise, but that system isn’t compatible with towing.

Seamless Connectivity, Flawless Entertainment

The GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade prove their luxury status by including next-level infotainment features, such as large, high-definition touchscreens. Among their similar standard offerings are:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay®/wireless Android Auto™
• Voice recognition
• Navigation
• Wi-Fi® hotspot
• Surround-sound premium audio systems

While they have comparable entertainment features, the Yukon asks how much is too much when it comes to technology. While the Yukon keeps things simple with two separate digital displays, the Escalade puts 55 inches of pillar-to-pillar screens that can add visual clutter. Included in this mammoth display is a front-passenger screen, which offers video streaming while the vehicle is in motion. This may help keep passengers occupied, but it also adds distractions while driving.

Smarter, Safer Driving

Of course, no technology is more critical when you’re behind the wheel than those that help protect you and your passengers. The GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade come equipped with an expansive suite of driver-assistance features, including brand-specific versions of:

• HD Surround Vision
• Forward Collision Alert
• Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane Keep Assist/Lane Departure Warning
• Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rear Cross Traffic Braking

These and many more safety systems serve as vigilant, virtual copilots that maintain a watchful eye on all sides of your luxury SUV.