Compare the2025 Ford Expedition MaxVS 2025 GMC Yukon XL

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing

Safety

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The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition Max inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Expedition Max has standard Post-Impact Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Expedition Max and the Yukon XL 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition Max is safer than the GMC Yukon XL:

	Expedition Max	Yukon XL
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	152/161 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	47%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	272 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/178 lbs.	333/811 lbs.

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 Ford Expedition Max is safer than the GMC Yukon XL:

	Expedition Max	Yukon XL
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	25
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	111 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	88
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	239
Hip Force	569 lbs.	764 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Expedition Max is .4% to 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Yukon XL.

Warranty

The Expedition Max’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Yukon XL’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 73 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Expedition Max’s warranty.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Expedition Max have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Yukon XL.

The Expedition Max has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Expedition Max’s reliability 13 points higher than the Yukon XL.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 2 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (400 vs. 355) and 97 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 383) than the Yukon XL’s standard 5.3 V8. The Expedition Max’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 460) than the Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8. The Expedition Max’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (440 vs. 420) and 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 460) than the Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Expedition Max’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Yukon XL:

	Expedition Max	Yukon XL
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.5 inches

Suspension and Handling

The Expedition Max has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Expedition Max flat and controlled during cornering. The Yukon XL’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Expedition Max’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Expedition Max has a 2.39 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate Air Ride (9.7 vs. 7.31 inches), allowing the Expedition Max to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Expedition Max’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the Yukon XL AT4 (9.7 vs. 7.8 inches).

Chassis

The Expedition Max is 3.5 inches shorter than the Yukon XL, making the Expedition Max easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Expedition Max Platinum Stealth uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Expedition Max has .8 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear hip room, .1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row hip room and 1.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Yukon XL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition Max’s middle and third row seats recline. The Yukon XL’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Expedition Max’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Yukon XL’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Yukon XL is limited to 8300 pounds. The Expedition Max offers up to a 9000 lbs. towing capacity.

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