2021 Ford Expedition Max vs GMC Yukon XL

The Expedition Max full-size SUV seats up to seven or eight people in three rows, depending if they opt for captain’s chairs or a bench seat in the second row. The Expedition Max features comfortable seating, with enough room to seat adults in the third row with plenty of legroom. The exterior features a wide, expressive grille that frames its headlights and is trimmed with metallic accents. Its long wheel base will give you 36 cubic feet behind the third row, 79.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row and an overall cargo capacity of 121.4 cubic feet. Standard features include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio control, power-folding third-row seats, a cargo bin, and tri-zone auto climate control. Each trim adds more features including a heated steering wheel, power tilt and telescoping steering column with memory, and rear auxiliary climate controls. Additional luxury features in the King Ranch and Platinum trims include heated and ventilated 10-way power driver and passenger captain’s chairs, power lumbar and power recline driver and passenger captain’s chairs, Del Rio leather seating, leather door-trim accents, premium wrapped leather steering wheel, and leather door-trim accents. Trims include the XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum. It carries a starting price of $55,410 and ranges to a starting price of $76,375 for the Platinum Max.

The redesigned Yukon XL has one of the most upscale interiors in the large SUV class. It seats up to nine people or seven with optional second-row bucket seats in its three rows and provides plenty of head and legroom to ride comfortably. The Yukon XL provides 41.5 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats, expands to 93.8 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down and 144.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. This next generation Yukon XL offers premium quality, a distinctive design, and a unique AT4 exterior styling with rugged capability. Cloth upholstery and power-adjustable front seats come standard; leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel are available. LED headlamps and taillamps with GMC signature C-shape design that feature daytime running lamps and LED fog lamps are standard on all trims, as well as Rainsense Windshield Wipers and assist steps: black with gloss-black inserts. The Denali and AT4 trim come standard with outside heated, power-folding adjustable mirrors, which are also available on the SLT. A hands-free programmable power liftgate with GMC logo projection is standard on the Denali, AT4, and SLT. The Yukon XL trims start at $50,700 for the SLE trim, $57,800 for the SLT trim, $64,800 for the AT4 trim, and $68,400 for the Denali. Optional packages are available for additional pricing.

The Expedition Max standard features include Ford Co-Pilot360 technology and an advanced SYNC 3 Enhanced Voice Recognition Communications and Entertainment. It features the latest driver-assistance technology with its standard Ford Co-Pilot360 that includes pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, auto high-beam headlamps, lane keep assist, and a rear-view camera. Standard technology features include the SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and four SUB ports. A navigation system, wireless device charging, third-row USB ports, HD radio, and premium 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system is also available.

The 2021 GMC Yukon XL offers standard advanced safety features, plus additional add-on packages for more advanced features. Standard features include forward collision mitigation, rearview camera, rear seat reminder, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, front and rear parking sensors, and keyless entry and ignition. An available Technology package that includes rear cross-traffic alert system, surround-view camera system, and a head-up display is an option on the AT4 and Denali trims. The AT4 also adds hill descent control. All Yukon XL models come with a large infotainment display with GMC’s latest IntelliLink interface. It is standard with a 10.2-inch touch screen, wireless Android and Apple CarPlay, six speakers, satellite radio, HD radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, six USB ports, and Bluetooth.

The Expedition Max is capable of tackling most driving situations, along with a smooth ride and great handling. All trims on the Expedition Max come with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, except the Platinum will give you 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a ten-speed automatic transmission and either rear- or four wheel-drive on all trims. The Expedition Max has a maximum towing capacity of 9,000 pounds, and it has an estimated 16/21 mpg city and highway.

The Yukon XL has a powerful performance for just about every driving situation in its base engine, but can deliver even more acceleration with its available larger engine. Both engines are now paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Yukon SLE, SLT, and AT4 feature a 5.3-liter engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The Yukon Denali features a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A new 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo diesel engine with 277-horsepower will join this lineup later in this model year. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is optional on all trims except on the AT4, where it is standard. It delivers a cushioned ride over any road surface and is composed on winding roads, but for off-roading, look to the AT4 trim, which comes with a two-speed transfer case and skid plates. The Yukon can tow up to 8,400 pounds, and has an estimated 16/20 mpg in the city and on the highway.