2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 GMC Yukon

The 2022 GMC Yukon was a chrome lover's dream. Even the base SLE model had enough shiny accents to give it a premium look. As you moved up to the Denali trim, the chrome became even more prominent, with the front of the Denali almost entirely constructed of it. The multi-dimensional grille, resembling an industrial-sized cheese grater, gave the vehicle a unique and commanding presence. The 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels on our test vehicle, part of the optional Ultimate package, stood out against the dark Redwood Metallic paint. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim had its own distinct look with a dark grille, skid plate, and horizontal red recovery hooks.

Inside, the Yukon offered a spacious and tastefully crafted cabin with standard seating for eight, or seven with the available second-row captain's chairs. Cloth seats were standard on the SLE, while all other trims featured perforated leather. The AT4 and Denali trims came with heated and cooled front seats. The Denali also offered four exclusive interior designs, with our test vehicle featuring the Teak/Light Shale color combo, adding layers and textures for a premium look. The AT4 trim had a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum details, along with embroidered AT4 badging on the front-seat head restraints.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler required buyers to choose between the classic two-door or the more practical four-door model. Engine options included a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or plug-in hybrid powertrain. The turbo-four and V6 engines came standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with an eight-speed automatic as an upgrade. Four-wheel drive was standard, with multiple systems available depending on the trim level. The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions offering various top options.

Our test vehicle was the new High Tide special edition model, based on the four-door Sport S trim. It featured LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, a Gorilla Glass windshield upgrade, sand-and-slush floor mats, and High Tide or Beach hood decals. The High Tide stood out with the standard Xtreme Recon package, which included a 1.5-inch suspension lift, revised shock tuning, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires, and a 4.56 rear axle ratio. The package also included a Mopar tire relocation kit, hinge-gate reinforcement, wheel flare extensions, and rock rails. Our Wrangler had a gasoline V6 engine with eTorque mild hybrid electrification, an automatic transmission, Selec-Trac full-time 4WD, and several option packages, bringing the MSRP to $58,845.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered three engine choices, including an economical diesel option. The standard engine on all trims except the Denali was a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Denali and AT4 trims came with a 6.2-liter V8 engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. A new addition to the lineup was a 3.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, available on all trims except the AT4. This "Baby Duramax" produced 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a range of up to 648 miles on a tank. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard on most versions and four-wheel drive as an option. The AT4 trim was only available with 4WD.

The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and the Max Trailering Package. Our test vehicle, a Yukon Denali, had the 6.2-liter V8 and an 8,200-pound tow rating. The independent rear suspension provided better handling and a smoother ride, especially for third-row passengers. However, our test vehicle exhibited some bouncing over rutted pavement under acceleration. The optional air ride adaptive suspension improved ride quality and off-road capability by raising the vehicle two inches for better ground clearance.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide had a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option on the High Tide. Our test vehicle also had the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. The EPA estimated fuel economy for the Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6 at 21 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 16.8 mpg over a week and 435 miles of driving.

Driving a Jeep Wrangler was a unique and immersive experience, with a rough-and-tumble driving feel and a seemingly unquenchable thirst for fuel. The Wrangler's steering was sloppy and vague, the ride was rough, and the brakes were touchy. However, these traits were part of the Wrangler's charm, making it a beloved off-roader. The Wrangler's open-top and removable doors allowed drivers to experience the environment fully, making it a vehicle for those seeking adventure and a connection with nature.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered ample first- and second-row passenger space, with significant improvements in third-row legroom, increasing from 24.8 inches to 34.9 inches. Cargo space behind the third row also increased from 15.3 cubic feet to 25.5 cubic feet. The redesign included a nearly five-inch wheelbase stretch and six inches of additional length, along with an independent rear suspension for a lower floor and more usable space. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easier access to the third row. Our test vehicle had power-folding second-row buckets and power fold-flat third-row seats.

A unique feature of our Denali test vehicle was the power-sliding center console, which revealed additional storage space and a hidden storage drawer. The power-retractable, illuminated assist steps made it easier to get in and out of the vehicle, though they could be challenging to keep clean in wet conditions. The pushbutton transmission controls, located to the left of the infotainment touchscreen, took some getting used to but became second nature with practice.

Getting into and out of the 2022 Jeep Wrangler was challenging, especially with the High Tide's raised suspension. The manual height adjuster for the driver's seat required regular re-adjustment due to its location. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery and a mix of plastic and rubber interior materials. The driving position was close to the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield, requiring some acclimation.

Visibility was a mixed bag, with excellent views in some areas and compromised views in others. The High Tide's 35-inch spare tire blocked part of the rear view, but the reversing camera and Safety Group features helped. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry and exit difficulties, but once inside, they found agreeable accommodations with air conditioning vents, cupholders, and large grab handles. Storage options were limited, with netting on the lower door panels, a small tray on the dashboard, and small but deep center console and glove compartments. The tailgate, with the heavy 35-inch wheel, required careful handling when opening on hills or when parallel parked. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions controlled via the steering wheel. The Denali trim featured a 15-inch multi-color head-up display, the largest in its class, providing driving speed, speed limit, audio information, and safety aids. The 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless phone charging, and an available WiFi hotspot.

Our test vehicle had a Bose 14-speaker audio system, which provided adequate sound quality but didn't live up to our expectations. The Denali Ultimate Package included a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens, compatible with various media formats. However, a lightning to HDMI adapter was necessary for accessing audio or video files on phones or tablets.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on the Sport S trim, had a 7-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The optional Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system offered upgrades such as satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, bundled with an Alpine premium sound system. Our test vehicle included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, and single-zone automatic climate control with a new air filtration system. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Every 2022 GMC Yukon came with GMC's Pro Safety suite of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, following distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus package, available on SLE and standard on SLT and above, added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. Our test vehicle also featured a Safety Alert Seat and an adjustable rear camera mirror. The NHTSA gave the Yukon an overall rating of four out of five stars, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not tested the current-generation Yukon as of this writing.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group. The Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Advanced Safety Group included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Wrangler received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA. The IIHS gave the Wrangler a Marginal rating for the left front small overlap crash-test evaluation and the new side-impact test. Headlight performance was rated Poor for standard headlights and Marginal for LED upgrades.