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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie Car2023 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 GMC Yukon XL
In this 2023 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 GMC Yukon XL comparison, we evaluate which of these giant-sized GM twins is the better SUV.
2023 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 GMC Yukon XL
It’s a battle of the 19-foot-long, 6,000-pound behemoths in this 2023 Chevrolet Suburban vs. 2023 GMC Yukon XL comparison. When it comes to hauling people, cargo, and trailers, there are few options as capable as these twins from General Motors.
Both models are from the all-new 12th generation that arrived in 2021 sporting fully independent suspension for the first time. GM’s highly regarded Super Cruise hands-free driving tech is now available on both SUVs and GMC adds the nearly six-figure Denali Ultimate to its lineup for 2023. So, let’s dive in and find out which land yacht does it best.
Specs
Comparing specifications of the 2023 Suburban and Yukon XL is relatively straightforward as they have identical bodies and powertrains. Both stretch to just under 19 feet in length – the Suburban is technically 0.3 inches longer – both are rear-wheel-drive with the option for dual-range 4WD, and both utilize a 10-speed automatic across all three engine options. The base motor is a 5.3L V8 rated for 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Per the EPA, fuel economy figures are 15 mpg in city driving and 20 on the highway.
A 6.2L V8, making 420 horses and 460 torques, is included in the Suburban High Country and Yukon XL Denali models. It comes in at 14/20 mpg in city/highway driving. Boasting 21 mpg around town and 27 on the open road is an optional 3.0L turbodiesel inline-6 that puts down 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of twist. With the 28-gallon gas tank onboard both SUVs, that translates to over 750 miles of highway range. Adding 4WD running gear brings all fuel economy figures down by 1-2 mpg.
Driving and Performance
The driving and performance conversation is also very similar in this 2023 Chevrolet Suburban vs. 2023 GMC Yukon XL matchup. Both vehicles ride on four-corner independent suspension and weigh between 5,500 and 6,000 pounds. When equipped with the big V8, these SUVs can hit 60 mph in a startling 6.1 seconds. And while neither are canyon carvers, they both offer an adaptive air suspension in place of the coil springs and magnetorheological dampers in place of the standard shocks.
The latter, which GM calls Magnetic Ride Control, is an impressive piece of handling technology that the automaker has been refining for over 20 years. It adapts to real-time conditions some 1000 times per second to smooth the road ahead for a buttery ride. Only the Yukon XL in Denali Ultimate trim makes both of these suspension upgrades standard, but they are available as optional equipment throughout both SUV lineups.
For those in search of added off-road abilities, the Suburban Z71 and Yukon XL AT4 bring comparable levels of equipment to the table. Both come standard with 4WD, 20-inch all-terrain tires, a front skid plate, Hill Descent Control, and a special front fascia designed to enable a steeper approach angle. Tacking on the air-powered suspenders to these models brings up to 10 inches of ground clearance.
Towing capacity is another key selling point for these SUVs, which can each handle up to 8,300 pounds. Trailer sway control is standard across both lineups as are optional trick systems like blind-spot monitoring that covers the trailer and Transparent Trailer View. The latter feature allows drivers to “see through” their trailer on the dashboard infotainment screen.
Comfort and Interior
Both of these cavernous SUVs feature three rows of seats and cargo space that tops out at 145 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. It’s just one of the reasons the Yukon XL makes this list of best family SUVs. Space behind the second row comes in at 94 cubes with 41 on hand behind the third row.
Only the Suburban LS and Yukon XL SLE can seat nine people with an available first-row bench. Most other models have buckets up front and a middle bench to seat eight, while top-spec models come with second-row captain’s chairs that can handle seven occupants. Legroom is likewise identical with 42 inches for the second row and 37 inches in the way back.
Cabin materials range from cloth upholstery on entry-level models of both SUVs to perforated leather and real wood trim on top-spec trim lines. Helping justify its significantly higher price point, the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate adds laser-etched topographical maps of its namesake mountain to interior panels. Both Denali models also have a revised dash layout that integrates the 10-inch infotainment touchscreen within its leathery folds versus the rest of both lineups that mount that display atop the center stack.
Speaking of infotainment, aside from the 8-inch variant found in the Suburban LS, every other model in this comparison sports a 10-inch screen. Wireless connection for Apple and Android smartphone mirroring – one of our favorite family car features – is standard across the board as is a Wi-Fi hotspot
Tech highlights include Google Built-In, which is included on all 2023 Yukon XLs and every 2023 Suburban except the base model. Chevy- and GMC-branded connectivity apps are lineup standard and both SUVs are equipped with a wireless charging pad on all trims except the entry-level options.
High-end tech like a head-up display (HUD), digital rearview mirror, and surround-view monitor are standard on the Suburban High Country and both Yukon XL Denalis. Premier and High Country Suburbans have a 10-speaker Bose stereo, but the Yukon XL can be fitted with a 14-speaker system on regular Denalis and an 18-speaker setup – with front headrest components – on the Ultimate model.
Trims and Features
Full LED exterior lighting, rain-sensing wipers, triple-zone automatic climate control, and a robust suite of advanced safety nets are standard on both the 2023 Suburban and 2023 Yukon XL. That system of driver aids includes forward collision mitigation, a lane-keeping system, and automatic high beams. The $64,000 Suburban LT comes with a hands-free liftgate and heated front seats. For $68,000, a Yukon XL SLT includes the same features but adds ventilation to the front row plus a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and GM’s safety alert seat. You can learn more about the 2023 Yukon trim offerings in our review here.
Suburban Premier models, starting at $72,000, come with climatized front buckets, power operation of the steering column adjustment, front center console lid, second-row release, and third-row folding. It also features blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and the safety alert seat. This advanced safety explainer article goes in-depth on how these systems work. High Country trim, the top-spec Suburban, comes in at $79,000 with a heated steering wheel and second-row seats as well as the option for power-operated running boards, a panoramic sunroof, and Super Cruise. Our review of the 2023 Suburban offers more detail on the various trims and features.
GMC offers two Denali versions of the Yukon XL. A “regular” Denali runs $82,000 and features the same content as a top-line Suburban plus a unique dash design, real wood trim, 15-inch HUD, and a rear pedestrian alert. Jumping way up to $99,000, the Denali Ultimate boasts “Vader chrome” exterior trim, 22-inch rims, power running boards, an exclusive Alpine Umber leather-lined cabin with “fractal” stitching, massaging front buckets with 16-way adjustability, a dual-screen rear entertainment system, automated parking assist, and advanced security measures. And yet, for all that dough, Super Cruise is still a $2,200 extra.
The Verdict
Short of showing off an exterior named after the ultimate Star Wars villain and a cabin with a bumping sound system wrapped in handsome dark brown leather, there’s no reason to visit a GMC lot when it comes to this 2023 Chevrolet Suburban vs. 2023 GMC Yukon comparison. That’s not to say the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate isn’t cool. It is. And I want one just for those laser-etched maps.
But for 100 grand – when you tack on Super Cruise – it’s an awfully expensive SUV that doesn’t add a whole lot more value over a loaded Suburban that is tens of thousands less. GMC occupies a hard-to-define gray area between Chevy and Cadillac with lots of overlap on the Chevrolet side for more money. So, my wallet would find its way to a Bowtie dealership for some Suburban shopping.
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