Compare the2023 GMC Yukon XLVS 2023 Land Rover Discovery

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the GMC Yukon XL are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Discovery doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Discovery 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 Discovery 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 for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Discovery doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the Yukon XL and the Discovery have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 XL weighs 473 to 1223 pounds more than the Land Rover Discovery. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Yukon XL 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Discovery. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Discovery 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 standard 5.3 V8 produces 59 more horsepower (355 vs. 296) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 295) than the Discovery’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Yukon XL’s 5.3 V8 produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 369) than the Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid. The Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8 produces 65 more horsepower (420 vs. 355) and 91 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 369) than the Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid.

The Yukon XL’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 165 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 295) than the Discovery’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Yukon XL’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 91 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 369) than the Discovery P360’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Yukon XL gets better mileage than the Discovery:

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

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 Discovery requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Yukon XL has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Discovery (28.3 vs. 23.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Discovery 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 Discovery.

For better traction, the Yukon XL has larger standard tires than the Discovery (265/65R18 vs. 255/55R20).

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 Discovery 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 Discovery doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Yukon XL has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Discovery. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon XL’s wheelbase is 19 inches longer than on the Discovery (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 Discovery.

The Yukon XL offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Discovery can only carry 7.

The Yukon XL has 2.9 inches more front headroom, 5.4 inches more front legroom, 3.7 inches more front hip room, 5.6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.6 inches more rear legroom, 5.6 inches more rear hip room, 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room, .3 inches more third row headroom, 3.2 inches more third row legroom, 7.4 inches more third row hip room and 15.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Discovery.

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

A standard locking glovebox and optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Yukon XL. The Discovery doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Yukon XL’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Discovery’s (7500 vs. 5925 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Land Rover Discovery is only 8200 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 Discovery can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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 Discovery does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

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 Discovery doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Yukon XL has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Discovery doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Yukon XL Denali’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Discovery’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 Discovery doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Yukon XL owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Yukon XL will cost $2415 to $6455 less than the Discovery over a five-year period.

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 Discovery isn’t in the top three.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Land Rover Discovery by almost 61 to one during 2022.