Compare the2025 GMC Yukon XLVS 2025 Ford Expedition Max

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Yukon XL and Expedition Max 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 Expedition Max’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 Expedition Max 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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Yukon XL and the Expedition Max 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, 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 XL is safer than the Ford Expedition Max:

	Yukon XL	Expedition Max
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	165
Neck Injury Risk	23%	32%
Neck Stress	312 lbs.	361 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	147 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 GMC Yukon XL is safer than the Ford Expedition Max:

	Yukon XL	Expedition Max
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	118 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	27 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	434 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s

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

Warranty

The Yukon XL’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Expedition Max’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

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 Ford With 33 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Ford.

Engine

The Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

The Yukon XL’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 480) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Yukon XL	Expedition Max
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Yukon XL has larger standard tires than the Expedition Max (275/60R20 vs. 265/70R18).

The Yukon XL AT4’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Expedition Max’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon XL has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Expedition Max.

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 Expedition Max doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Yukon XL AT4/Denali has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon XL’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Expedition Max (134.1 inches vs. 131.5 inches).

Passenger Space

The Yukon XL has .5 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more third row headroom and .2 inches more third row legroom than the Expedition Max.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Yukon XL	Expedition Max
Behind Third Seat	41.5 cubic feet	36.1 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	93.6 cubic feet	75.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	144.5 cubic feet	123.1 cubic feet

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 Expedition Max’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.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Yukon XL AT4/Denali’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The Yukon XL’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition Max’s (7500 vs. 6000 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Yukon XL’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The Yukon XL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Yukon XL’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 Expedition Max’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

The Yukon XL’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Expedition Max only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Yukon XL’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 Expedition Max’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

When the Yukon XL is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Expedition Max’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The GMC Yukon XL has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The Yukon XL 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 Expedition Max.

The GMC Yukon XL has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Ford charges extra for Homelink® on the Expedition Max.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Yukon XL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The Yukon XL’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Yukon XL owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Yukon XL will cost $805 less than the Expedition Max over a five-year period.

Recommendations

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 Expedition Max isn’t in the top three.

The GMC Yukon outsold the Ford Expedition by 10% during 2024.

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