Compare the2024 GMC YukonVS 2024 Volvo XC90

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 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Yukon and the XC90 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 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 Volvo XC90:

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, results indicate that the GMC Yukon is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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 Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 6 times as many GMC dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Yukon has a standard 220-amp alternator (250-amp - Yukon Diesel). The XC90’s 210-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon second among large suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The XC90 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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo 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 Volvo With 64 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Volvo.

The Yukon has more powerful engines than the XC90:

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 30 more horsepower (277 vs. 247) and 202 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 258) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 150 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 310) than the XC90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the GMC Yukon 6.2 V8 is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon V8’s fuel efficiency. The XC90 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Yukon and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Yukon’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 Recharge doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Yukon uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 6.2 V8 engine for maximum performance). The XC90 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Yukon has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (24 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 XC90.

For better stopping power the Yukon’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The Yukon stops shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the Yukon has larger standard tires than the XC90 (265/65R18 vs. 235/55R19).

The GMC Yukon’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo XC90 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 XC90 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 XC90; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The front and rear suspension of the Yukon uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the XC90 (120.9 inches vs. 117.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.

For better maneuverability, the Yukon’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the XC90’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Air Ride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC90 w/Air Suspension (10 vs. 9.9 inches), allowing the Yukon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Yukon offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the XC90 can only carry 7.

The Yukon has 64.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (168.3 vs. 103.8).

The Yukon has 3.4 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, 5.5 inches more front hip room, 8.3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 5 inches more rear legroom, 4.8 inches more rear hip room, 8.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.9 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 4.5 inches more third row hip room and 15.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

The Yukon’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

The Yukon’s cargo area is larger than the XC90’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Yukon’s (except SLE) optional second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC90 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Yukon’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (7700 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC90 is only 5000 pounds. The Yukon offers up to a 8400 lbs. towing capacity.

The Yukon has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1702 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Yukon has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1792 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The engine in the Yukon is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 XC90 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Yukon’s front and rear power windows all lower 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 XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Yukon has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Yukon is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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 XC90 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Yukon is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Yukon than the XC90, including $475 less for a water pump, $44 less for front brake pads, $312 less for a starter, $51 less for fuel injection, $62 less for a fuel pump, $120 less for front struts and $522 less for a power steering pump.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Volvo XC90 by over two to one during 2022.