Compare the2024 GMC YukonVS 2023 Lexus GX

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 GX 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 for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Yukon and the GX 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.

There are almost 7 times as many GMC dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Yukon’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the GX’s camshafts. If the GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 GX’s 130-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 GX 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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is rated lower.

The Yukon’s standard 5.3 V8 produces 54 more horsepower (355 vs. 301) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8. The Yukon’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 119 more horsepower (420 vs. 301) and 131 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8.

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 131 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the GMC Yukon 6.2 V8 is faster than the Lexus GX:

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon V8’s fuel efficiency. The GX 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 GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

The Yukon has a gallon more fuel capacity than the GX (24 vs. 23 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 GX 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 a six-speed automatic is available for the GX.

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

The Yukon stops shorter than the GX:

For better traction, the Yukon’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (275/60R20 vs. 265/60R18).

The Yukon’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon offers optional 22-inch wheels. The GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the GMC Yukon has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 11.1 inches longer than on the GX (120.9 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 6 inches wider in the front and 5.7 inches wider in the rear than on the GX.

For better maneuverability, the Yukon’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the GX’s (38.1 feet vs. 41.1 feet). The Yukon w/20-22 inch wheels’ turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the GX’s (39.7 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Air Ride has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GX (10 vs. 8.1 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 GX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

The Yukon has 38.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GX (168.3 vs. 129.7).

The Yukon has 4.3 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 5 inches more front hip room, 10.6 inches more front shoulder room, 7.9 inches more rear legroom, 6.1 inches more rear hip room, 7.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 3 inches more third row headroom, 5.6 inches more third row legroom, 6.3 inches more third row hip room and 8.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the GX.

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

The Yukon’s cargo area is larger than the GX’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 GX doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Yukon’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Yukon SLT/AT4/Denali’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The GX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

The Yukon’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the GX’s (7700 vs. 6500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus GX is only 6500 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 GX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Yukon has a much higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1702 vs. 1295 lbs.).

The Yukon has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the GX (1792 vs. 1295 lbs.).

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 GX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Yukon (except SLE/SLT) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Yukon’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Yukon’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The GX’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Yukon’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

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 GX.

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

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 GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Yukon is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX 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 GX 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 GX because typical repairs cost much less on the Yukon than the GX, including $470 less for a starter, $58 less for fuel injection, $12 less for a timing belt/chain and $601 less for a power steering pump.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Lexus GX by almost three to one during 2022.