Compare the2025 GMC Yukon XLVS 2025 BMW X7

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 BMW X7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

Both the Yukon XL and X7 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Yukon XL has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X7’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 X7 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Yukon XL 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 X7 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Yukon XL and the X7 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Yukon XL 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 5 times as many GMC dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon XL’s warranty.

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 BMW vehicles. With 5 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than BMW.

The Yukon XL’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 97 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 398) than the X7 xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon XL V8’s fuel efficiency. The X7 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 X7 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Yukon XL has 6.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the X7 (28.3 vs. 21.9 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 X7 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 X7.

For better stopping power the Yukon XL’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X7:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate offers optional 24-inch wheels. The X7’s largest wheels are only 23-inches.

The GMC Yukon XL’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X7 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 X7 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Yukon XL has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X7; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon XL’s wheelbase is 11.9 inches longer than on the X7 (134.1 inches vs. 122.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon XL is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X7.

The Yukon XL offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the X7 can only carry 7.

The Yukon XL has .4 inches more front headroom, 4.7 inches more front legroom, 5.5 inches more front shoulder room, 4.4 inches more rear legroom, 6.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.6 inches more third row headroom, 3.4 inches more third row legroom and 14.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the X7.

The Yukon XL’s cargo area provides more volume than the X7.

The Yukon XL’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X7’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

The Yukon XL’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the X7’s (7500 vs. 5950 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the BMW X7 is only 7500 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 X7 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Yukon XL has a higher standard payload capacity than the X7 (1360 vs. 1180 lbs.).

The Yukon XL has a higher maximum payload capacity than the X7 (1430 vs. 1316 lbs.).

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Yukon XL’s available exterior PIN entry system. The X7 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Yukon XL has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 X7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Yukon XL is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X7 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 $6240 to $12300 less than the X7 over a five-year period.

The Yukon XL will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Yukon XL will retain 53.07% to 55.7% of its original price after five years, while the X7 only retains 46.74% to 50.28%.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon XL second among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The X7 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL outsold the BMW X7 by almost three to one during 2023.