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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie CarHead-to-Head: 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs GMC Yukon XL
Two large, in charge luxury SUVS go head-to-head when we compare the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and the 2022 GMC Yukon XL! So, which one wins?
It’s All About Luxury Here
When the lowest price tag is just over $56,000, you know that high-quality materials, packages jam-packed with safety, and the suites of the latest technology will be included. The 2022 GMC Yukon XL and the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer don’t lack in any of those areas. There are definitely differences, but most of them are in the number of speakers, navigation capability, and a few inches of legroom.
With so much quality and several similarities, making a decision between models and trims can be tough, but I’ll go over the specific differences below.
Specs
Each 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer has a 6.4L V8 engine that pushes out 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. Despite the large size of the SUV, the powerful engine easily controls the vehicle. Speeding up and merging into higher-speed traffic isn’t an issue. The V8 is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Wagoneer comes with a 4WD drivetrain.
When it’s properly equipped, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer tows up to 9,850 lbs. Standard sway control makes towing something a little more manageable, too. At 17.9 feet long, it weighs between 6,340 and 6,420 lbs. The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer may be powerful, and fast for its size (reaching 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds), but it’s not particularly efficient. It gets 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.
Meanwhile, the 2022 GMC Yukon XL offers two V8 engines: a 5.3L making 355 horsepower and a 6.2L making 420 horsepower. The 5.3L gets 383 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2L achieves 460 lb-ft of torque. It doesn’t stop there, though. The Yukon also comes with a 3.0L turbocharged diesel inline-six that makes 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. All 2022 Yukon XL models are mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which is controlled by a push-button panel.
8,400 lbs is the tow capacity for the 2022 GMC Yukon XL. That’s less than the Grand Wagoneer, but it’s still an impressive number. Most models are available in RWD or AWD. For a large SUV, the Yukon models with V8s do OK on gas mileage, getting 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. The turbo-diesel ups the efficiency of the Yukon to 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Weighing less than the Wagoneer probably doesn’t hurt the Yukon’s gas mileage numbers. The 2022 Yukon weighs 5,379 lbs. It’s 17.5 feet long, 6.75 feet wide, and 6.38 feet tall.
Driving & Performance
Looking at the specs in the section above, it’s easy to tell that the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a large vehicle. It doesn’t drive like a large vehicle, though. It’s easy enough to drive into curves. Sure, there’s some body lean, but, overall, it’s easy to drive. The independent rear suspension gives this SUV a cushier ride and better handling than some competitors.
There isn’t a full-on off-roading trim, but this is a Jeep vehicle, so of course there’s some off-roading capability without getting too uncomfortable. The adaptive air suspension, rear load-leveling, hill descent control, and a two-speed transfer case all help the Grand Wagoneer when going off the paved roads.
The 2022 GMC Yukon XL does offer a more specific off-road option. The AT4 has 20″ all-terrain tires, front two hooks, a skid plate, hill descent control, and adaptive suspension dampers to provide a better ride and overall handling. Magnetic Ride Control comes standard in both the AT4 and Denali trims. This uses sensors to continually read the road and alter the damping rate of the shocks.
All Yukon trims drive with relative ease, despite the mass of the vehicle. It is top-heavy, but that’s something that comes with driving a larger vehicle. It quickly responds when braking. The Yukon also powers up quickly enough when starting from a stopped position or when accelerating to interstate speeds. GMC‘s Yukon XL Denali, with the V8, has more power, but the SLE and SLT don’t fall too far below the Denali when it comes to powering up.
Comfort & Interior
The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer lives up to the term, ‘luxury SUV.’ At close to six figures for some of the trims, one would expect high-quality materials. Jeep delivers with wood trim, soft leather with contrast stitching, and textured metal inserts. This three-row SUV seats seven with second-row captain’s chairs. Optional second-row bench seat increases that capacity to eight.
Seating is supportive and comfortable, but, maybe more importantly, there is generous amounts of head, leg, and hip room. When we did a Jeep Wagoneer Sneak Peak, we mentioned that the Grand Wagoneer would be looking to compete with the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Space is one way they’re doing that.
The front row is the most limited when it comes to leg room, measuring in at 40.9″. The second and third rows have 42.7″ and 36.6″ to stretch out. Second and third-row passengers edge out even the Escalade when it comes to head room. Those measure 40″ and 39″ respectively. Then there’s cargo space. With all rows up, there is 27.4 cu-ft of cargo available. With the third row folded down, there is 70.0 cu-ft of space. The maximum capacity, with all rows folded, is 116.7 cu-ft.
The displays can’t be ignored either. The standard 12″ touchscreen is easy to reach and see. Designers of the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer also provided a good amount of visibility for the driver and any passengers in the SUV.
No matter the trim, the 2022 GMC Yukon XL can hold up to eight people. Optional second-row captain’s chairs will limit the capacity to seven. We described the 2021 GMC Yukon as a fine ‘land yacht,’ and that holds true with the 2022 GMC Yukon XL, too. Most people would be hard-pressed to find complaints about the interior, especially the high-end Denali. Hand-stitched leather can be found on the seats and steering wheel of most trims. The leather upholstery is accompanied by a wood-trimmed dashboard and power-sliding center console.
For stretching the legs, there is 44.50″ of space in front. An accommodating 42″ is given in second row and 34.90″ is reserved for third-row passengers. Head room in the Yukon comes out to 42.3” in the first row, a little more than the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The second and third rows measure a bit more than the Wagoneer, though. There is 38.9” of head room in the second row, and 38.2” in the third.
Cargo can be packed into 41.5 cu-ft of space behind the third row. When third-row seats get folded, there’s 93.8 cu-ft behind the second row. Finally, there’s 144.7 cu-ft of total cargo space with the second and third rows folded down. Those numbers are pretty comparable to the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The infotainment screens are arranged nicely, with a clear 12” digital gauge display that comes standard.
Trims & Features
There are four different trims on the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Starting at $88,440 is the Series I. The Series II starts at $95,440. Another $5,000 gets an Obsidian. Finally, there’s the Series III at the $104,845 price point. Infotainment available at every trim level include: a 12″ touchscreen, navigation, HD radio, satellite radio, a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, and integration for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa. Amazon’s FireTV is even included.
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer does have a lot of standard driver assistance features, even in the basic trim. Head-up display, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and parking sensors are some of the features that come with every model. Series II comes with additional driver assists like night vision and a semi-autonomous drive mode. It also has an additional 10.3″ touchscreen for the front passenger, leather-trimmed upholstery, 22″ wheels, and a rear-seat monitoring system. The Obsidian and Series III trims have 23 speakers and four first-row LCD monitors.
The 2022 GMC Yukon XL also has four trims: the $56,445 SLE, the $61,600 SLT, the $69,300 AT4, and the $72,700 Denali. Cloth interior will be found in the SLE trim, along with a 10.2” touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are in all trims. As is HD radio, satellite radio, and seven USB ports. Moving up to the Yukon XL SLT gets leather upholstery, wireless smartphone charging, and a 9-speaker Bose stereo. It also has heated and cooled front seats. The Denali offers additional wood trim, 14-speaker Bose surround sound, and comes with a navigation system.
Automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning, a rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring are all driver assists that can be found across the lineup. Going up to the SLT trim and above provides even more compelling features, like hands-free tailgate operation and a rear cross traffic alert. A rear pedestrian alert is added to the Denali trim. There’s also a new feature on all 2022 GMC Yukon models is called ‘Buckle to Drive.’ In order to start the vehicle, the driver’s seat belt must be clicked into place.
You Can’t Go Wrong Here
In a situation like this, either SUV will provide so many standard features and comforts. Getting into models nearing the six-figure range does that. If cost isn’t an issue, go with the quality that can be found in the Wagoneer, for sure. At the top of the price range, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Series III has just about every infotainment or safety feature one could ask for. Are all of those extra features needed though? With a starting MSRP of $104,845, I can give up some extra speakers, the extra LCD monitors, and hand-stitched leather.
The 2022 GMC Yukon XL has more features than most people really need and is much cheaper. For just over $60,000, the SLT trim has leather upholstery, a power rear liftgate, a powered center console, and a good suite of driver-assistance features. There’s more than enough infotainment, safety, cargo space, and luxury packed into the 2022 GMC Yukon XL SLT without breaking the bank.
While you’re looking at reviews, be sure to check out our review of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer. The storied nameplate has been resurrected with a new focus on luxury.
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