Compare the2022 Toyota SequoiaVS 2021 GMC Yukon XL

The Toyota Sequoia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sequoia’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Yukon XL.

The Sequoia has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Yukon XL’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sequoia has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the Yukon XL.

The Sequoia’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sequoia and the Yukon XL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available four-wheel drive.

The Sequoia’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Yukon XL’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sequoia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Yukon XL.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Sequoia has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Yukon XL.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sequoia’s reliability 42 points higher than the Yukon XL.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sequoia third among large suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Yukon XL isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. GMC is ranked 16th.

The Sequoia’s 5.7 DOHC V8 produces 26 more horsepower (381 vs. 355) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (401 vs. 383) than the Yukon XL’s standard 5.3 V8.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Sequoia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Yukon XL Denali requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sequoia higher (5 out of 10) than the GMC Yukon XL (3 to 5). This means the Sequoia produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Yukon XL every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Sequoia’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Yukon XL:

For better traction, the Sequoia has larger tires than the Yukon XL (275/65R18 vs. 265/65R18).

For better maneuverability, the Sequoia’s turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Yukon XL’s (38.1 feet vs. 42.3 feet). The Sequoia’s turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the Yukon XL w/20-22 inch wheels’ (38.1 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Sequoia is 1 foot, 8.1 inches shorter than the Yukon XL, making the Sequoia easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sequoia has 1 inch more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row hip room and 2.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Yukon XL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sequoia’s middle and third row seats recline. The Yukon XL’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Sequoia’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Yukon XL’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the front windows are left open on the Sequoia the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Yukon XL can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Sequoia has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sequoia to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Insurance will cost less for the Sequoia owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sequoia will cost $120 less than the Yukon XL over a five-year period.

The Sequoia will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sequoia will retain 46.51% to 54.58% of its original price after five years, while the Yukon XL only retains 43.34% to 45.99%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sequoia is less expensive to operate than the Yukon XL because it costs $464 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sequoia than the Yukon XL, including $59 less for a water pump, $782 less for a muffler, $18 less for front brake pads, $65 less for fuel injection and $374 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Sequoia will be $1511 to $8933 less than for the GMC Yukon XL.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Sequoia, based on reliability, safety and performance.