2021 GMC Yukon vs Chevy Suburban

The redesigned Yukon has one of the most upscale interiors in the large SUV class. It seats up to nine people or seven with optional second-row bucket seats. All seats provide plenty of head- and legroom to ride comfortably. The Yukon provides 25.5 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats, expands to 72.6 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down and 122.9 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. It comes standard with cloth Upholstery and available with leather upholstery and heated and ventilated seats. An available Luxury package that includes a heated steering wheel, driver-seat memory settings, heated outboard-second-row seats, and power folding third row is an option. The Yukon comes in four trims: SLT, SLT, AT4, and Denali. A starting price of $50,700 comes with the SLT and ranges to a starting price of $68,400 for the Denali. Add-on packages will add to their pricing.

The 2021 Suburban is notably larger, with more cargo and passenger space. It seats up to nine in its three-row large SUV; and a front-row bench seat is optional on the LS trim. Second-row bucket seats in the Premier trim drops capacity to seven passengers. Its second and third rows have a couple more inches of legroom, and cargo area expands by 23 cubic feet, totaling 145 cubic feet. Its new independent rear suspension and design make the load floor flatter and lower. The Suburban also gets sliding second-row seats for the first time and an optional power-folding functionality for the rear seats that can be controlled from multiple places inside the SUV. Its Z71 trim is paired exclusively with four-wheel drive and its features are capable for your off-road adventures. It comes with cloth upholstery, power adjustable front seats, and manually adjustable second- and third-row bench seats. Leather upholstery is available, as well as heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, power-folding third-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Suburban is offered in six trim levels: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. Pricing starts at $51,700 for the LS trim and ranges to a starting price of $72,300 for the High-Country trim.

The Yukon offers standard advanced safety features, plus additional add-on packages for more advanced features. Features include forward collision mitigation, rearview camera, rear seat reminder, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, front and rear parking sensors, as well as keyless entry and ignition. Optional tire-pressure monitoring sensors for trailer, Max Trailering package that includes trailer brake controller, heavy-duty cooling system, and two-speed active transfer case (4WD only), a Pro-Safety Plus package that includes blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert are all options. It also offers plenty of easy-to-use cabin technology, with added features on each trim level. A large infotainment display with GMC’s latest easy-to-use IntelliLink interface with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six speakers, satellite radio, HD radio, Wi-Fi hot spot, six USB ports, and Bluetooth are standard. Available on higher trims is a 9 or 14--speaker Bose audio system, wireless charging pad, navigation, and several optional technology packages.

The Suburban offers similar standard advanced safety features to feel secure on the road. Standard advanced safety features include a rearview camera with hitch guidance, rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, Teen Driver, and rear-seat alert. Lane departure warning with lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, front parking sensors, surround-view parking camera system, and safety alert seat are available. The Premier and High-Country trims feature adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a rearview mirror with an integrated camera display. It features a large touch-screen infotainment system and a user-friendly control layout. Its standard with Apple CarPlay and Android auto compatibility, a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, eight USB ports, HD Radio, satellite radio, six speakers, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 120-volt household-style power outlet.

The Yukon delivers a powerful performance for just about every driving situation in its base engine, but it can deliver even more acceleration with its available larger engine. All trims, except the Denali feature a 5.3-liter engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb ft of torque. The Denali features a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb ft of torque. All Yukon engines are now paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and later in the model year, a diesel powertrain will add to the two V8 options. Its ride is cushioned over road surfaces, and composed and easy to maneuver on winding roads. For its off-road ability, stick to the AT4 trim that comes with a two-speed transfer case and skid plates. It averages 16/20 mpg in the city and on the highway; and can tow up to 8,400 pounds.

The Suburban features the same power as the Yukon. It comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque; and it is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is available on all trim levels and standard on the Z71. The High-Country trim gets a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. An optional turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque is available on every Suburban trim except the Z71. The Suburban has a maximum towing capacity of 7,300 pounds. The Max Trailering package will give you a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds. Its 5.3-liter V8 engine will give you 16/20 mpg in the city and on the highway and the 6.2-liter V8 will give you 15/20 mpg city/highway.