Compare the2026 Chevrolet SuburbanVS 2025 GMC Yukon XL

Both the Suburban 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.

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

The Suburban 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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Suburban third among large suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Yukon XL isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 4 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Suburban’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 65 more horsepower (420 vs. 355) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 383) than the Yukon XL’s standard 5.3 V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Suburban gets better mileage than the Yukon XL:

For better maneuverability, the Suburban’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Yukon XL’s (41.5 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Suburban has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate Air Ride (8 vs. 7.31 inches), allowing the Suburban to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Suburban Z71 Air Ride’s minimum ground clearance is 2.2 inches higher than on the Yukon XL AT4 (10 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Suburban offers optional seating for 9 passengers; the Yukon XL can only carry up to 8.

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

The Suburban has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Yukon XL (1750 vs. 1360 lbs.).

The Suburban has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Yukon XL (1759 vs. 1430 lbs.).

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Suburban is less expensive to operate than the Yukon XL because typical repairs cost much less on the Suburban than the Yukon XL, including $147 less for a water pump, $409 less for a muffler, $25 less for a fuel pump and $121 less for a power steering pump.

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