Compare the2024 GMC YukonVS 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

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 Atlas doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Yukon and the Atlas 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 827 to 1579 pounds more than the Volkswagen Atlas. 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 Volkswagen Atlas:

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 Volkswagen Atlas:

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

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

There are almost 3 times as many GMC dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon second among large suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Atlas isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen With 25 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 2 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Yukon’s standard 5.3 V8 produces 86 more horsepower (355 vs. 269) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Yukon’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 151 more horsepower (420 vs. 269) and 187 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 8 more horsepower (277 vs. 269) and 187 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the GMC Yukon 5.3 V8 is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas:

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

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

The Yukon has 5.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Atlas (24 vs. 18.6 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 Atlas doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 Atlas.

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

The Yukon stops much shorter than the Atlas:

For better traction, the Yukon has larger standard tires than the Atlas (265/65R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Yukon’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Atlas (275/60R20 vs. 265/45R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Atlas’ largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The GMC Yukon’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volkswagen Atlas 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 Atlas 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 Atlas; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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 Atlas’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Yukon AT4/Denali has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Atlas doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Atlas (120.9 inches vs. 117.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the Atlas.

For better maneuverability, the Yukon’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Atlas’ (38.1 feet vs. 40.5 feet). The Yukon w/20-22 inch wheels’ turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Atlas’ (39.7 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Yukon has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas (8 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Yukon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Yukon AT4 Air Ride’s minimum ground clearance is 3.7 inches higher than on the Atlas (10 vs. 6.3 inches).

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

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

The Yukon has 14.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Atlas (168.3 vs. 154).

The Yukon has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, 4.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room, 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.2 inches more third row legroom, 4.3 inches more third row hip room and 7.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Atlas.

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

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Yukon’s (not available on SLE) optional second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Atlas doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Yukon’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (7700 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen Atlas 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 Atlas can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Yukon has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Atlas (1702 vs. 1091 lbs.).

The Yukon has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Atlas (1792 vs. 1135 lbs.).

The engine in the Yukon is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Yukon SLT/AT4/Denali’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Atlas does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Yukon has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Atlas has 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 Atlas.

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 Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Yukon is less expensive to operate than the Atlas because typical repairs cost much less on the Yukon than the Atlas, including $250 less for a water pump, $31 less for front brake pads, $419 less for a starter, $153 less for fuel injection, $278 less for front struts, $168 less for a timing belt/chain and $583 less for a power steering pump.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Volkswagen Atlas by 279 units during 2022.