Compare the2025 GMC YukonVS 2025 Volvo XC90

The Yukon 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Yukon Ultimate helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The XC90 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

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’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 41 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 1 place higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Yukon has more powerful engines than the XC90:

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 58 more horsepower (305 vs. 247) and 229 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 266) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 10 more horsepower (305 vs. 295) and 185 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 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 Yukons 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 T8 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 84.9 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 Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC90 (285/40R24 vs. 275/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon Denali offers optional 24-inch wheels. The XC90’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

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 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the XC90.

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Ultimate 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 8 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, 7.8 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 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 (7500 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC90 is only 5000 pounds. The Yukon offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Yukon has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1510 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Yukon has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1540 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Yukon’s available exterior PIN entry system. The XC90 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Yukon’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The XC90 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Yukon has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the XC90.

Both the Yukon and the XC90 offer available massaging front seats. The Yukon Denali Ultimate also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the XC90.

The Yukon’s 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 Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Yukon will cost $2390 to $5415 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

The Yukon will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Yukon will retain 53.72% to 56.98% of its original price after five years, while the XC90 only retains 49.37% to 51.75%.

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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon second among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The XC90 isn’t in the top three.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the Volvo XC90 by over two to one during 2023.