Compare the2023 GMC Yukon XL VS 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Yukon XL are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Yukon XL (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 Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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

Both the Yukon XL and the Range Rover Sport 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.

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Yukon XL 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Range Rover Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Range Rover Sport ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many GMC dealers as there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon XL’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover With 92 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Land Rover.

The Yukon XL’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 95 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 365) than the Range Rover Sport P360’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid. The Yukon XL’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 405) than the Range Rover Sport P400’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Yukon XL gets better mileage than the Range Rover Sport:

			MPG
Yukon XL
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
Range Rover Sport
	AWD	5.0 supercharged V8	17 city/22 hwy
		SVR 5.0 supercharged V8	15 city/20 hwy
		P400 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy
		P360 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy

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

Both the Yukon XL and the Range Rover Sport have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Yukon XLs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Range Rover Sport P360/P400 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Yukon XL uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Yukon XL Denali for maximum performance). The Range Rover Sport requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Yukon XL 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 Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

For better traction, the Yukon XL has larger standard tires than the Range Rover Sport (265/65R18 vs. 235/65R19).

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

The Yukon XL 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 Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

All Yukon XLs have standard full size spares so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Range Rover Sport Without it you must depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon XL’s wheelbase is 19 inches longer than on the Range Rover Sport (134.1 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon XL is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Range Rover Sport.

The front grille of the Yukon XL (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 Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Yukon XL offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Range Rover Sport can only carry up to 7.

The Yukon XL has 42.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Range Rover Sport (170.8 vs. 128).

The Yukon XL has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 5 inches more front legroom, 5.3 inches more front shoulder room, 5 inches more rear legroom and 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Range Rover Sport.

The Yukon XL’s cargo area provides more volume than the Range Rover Sport.

	Yukon XL	Range Rover Sport
Behind Third Seat	41.5 cubic feet	10.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	93.8 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	31.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	144.7 cubic feet	63.7 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Yukon XL’s (except SLE) optional second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is limited to 7716 pounds. The Yukon XL offers up to a 8300 lbs. towing capacity.

The Yukon XL 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 XL can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Range Rover Sport can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Yukon XL has a higher standard payload capacity than the Range Rover Sport (1687 vs. 1631 lbs.).

The Yukon XL has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Range Rover Sport (1698 vs. 1631 lbs.).

The Yukon XL’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 Range Rover Sport does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Yukon XL has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Yukon XL SLT/AT4/Denali has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Yukon XL Denali’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Range Rover Sport’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Yukon XL is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Yukon XL is less expensive to operate than the Range Rover Sport because typical repairs cost much less on the Yukon XL than the Range Rover Sport, including $44 less for front brake pads, $360 less for a starter, $289 less for fuel injection, $210 less for front struts and $73 less for a timing belt/chain.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon XL third among s in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Range Rover Sport isn’t in the top three in its category.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Land Rover Range Rover Sport by over four to one during the 2021 model year.