Compare the2023 GMC YukonVS 2022 Kia Telluride

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The Yukon (except SLE with front bench seat) has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Telluride doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Yukon Denali offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Telluride doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Yukon AT4/Denali 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Telluride doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Yukon and the Telluride 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The GMC Yukon weighs 1050 to 1810 pounds more than the Kia Telluride. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Yukon is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Yukon	Telluride
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	146	281
Neck Injury Risk	23%	27%
Leg Forces (l/r)	152/161 lbs.	164/998 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	233	378
Neck Compression	66 lbs.	91 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Yukon is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Yukon	Telluride
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	41
Hip Force	118 lbs.	440 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	137
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	449 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	239	450
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	52 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Yukon’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Telluride’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

There are over 2 times as many GMC dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

Engine

The Yukon’s standard 5.3 V8 produces 64 more horsepower (355 vs. 291) and 121 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The Yukon’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 129 more horsepower (420 vs. 291) and 198 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 198 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 262) than the Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the GMC Yukon 6.2 V8 is faster than the Kia Telluride:

	Yukon	Telluride
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	7.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15.4 sec	17.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.4 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	94 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Yukon gets better mileage than the Telluride:

			MPG
Yukon
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
Telluride
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	19 city/24 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon V8’s fuel efficiency. The Telluride doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Yukon’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Yukon has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Telluride (24 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Yukon has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Telluride doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Yukon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Telluride.

Brakes and Stopping

The Yukon’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Telluride are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Yukon has larger standard tires than the Telluride (265/65R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Yukon’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Telluride (275/60R20 vs. 245/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Telluride’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The GMC Yukon’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Telluride only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Yukon has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Telluride doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Yukon has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Telluride; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Yukon offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Telluride’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Telluride (120.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the Telluride.

For better maneuverability, the Yukon’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Telluride’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Air Ride has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Telluride (10 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Yukon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Yukon (except Diesel) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Telluride doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Yukon offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Telluride can only carry 8.

The Yukon has 13.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Telluride (168.3 vs. 155).

The Yukon has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear hip room, 3.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .1 inches more third row headroom, 3.5 inches more third row legroom, 5.7 inches more third row hip room and 7.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Telluride.

Cargo Capacity

The Yukon’s cargo area provides more volume than the Telluride.

	Yukon	Telluride
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	21 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.6 cubic feet	46 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	122.9 cubic feet	87 cubic feet

The Yukon’s cargo area is larger than the Telluride’s in almost every dimension:

	Yukon	Telluride
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/54”/89.5”	20.4”/49.8”/83.8”
Max Width	49.5”	54.4”
Min Width	49.4”	43.5”
Height	36.5”	34.5”

Both the Yukon and the Telluride offer second row automatic folding seats. The Yukon’s (not available on SLE) optional third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The Telluride doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Payload and Towing

The Yukon’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Telluride’s (7700 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Telluride is only 5000 pounds. The Yukon offers up to a 8400 lbs. towing capacity.

The Yukon 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Yukon can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Telluride can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Yukon has a higher standard payload capacity than the Telluride (1702 vs. 1662 lbs.).

The Yukon has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Telluride (1792 vs. 1664 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Yukon is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Telluride. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Yukon’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Telluride does not have an oil pressure gauge.

On a hot day the Yukon’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Telluride can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Yukon’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Telluride’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Yukon SLT/AT4/Denali’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Telluride offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Yukon Denali Ultimate has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Telluride.

The Yukon Denali’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Yukon owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Yukon with a number “6” insurance rate while the Telluride is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Yukon is less expensive to operate than the Telluride because typical repairs cost much less on the Yukon than the Telluride, including $53 less for front brake pads, $94 less for a starter, $18 less for fuel injection, $75 less for front struts and $625 less for a power steering pump.

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