GMC Yukon vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was a striking presence on the road, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, which lent it a traditional SUV aesthetic. Its tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and upright profile were reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof and unique hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, featuring laser-etched knurling in the slots, while the wheel centre caps were protected by an acrylic glass covering. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture, shared with the Wagoneer, allowed for independent suspension and incorporated lightweight materials like an aluminum hood and doors.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared some styling cues with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen and a two-spoke steering wheel. Yet, it elevated the experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade Palermo leather. The interior boasted aluminum and American Walnut wood trim, with seat controls placed high on the doors, reminiscent of Mercedes. The Grand Wagoneer also featured a "Grand Wagoneer" inscription on the dashboard, ensuring passengers never forgot the luxury they were experiencing.

The 2022 GMC Yukon, on the other hand, was a chrome lover's dream, especially evident in the Denali trim, which featured a front dominated by a vast, multi-dimensional chrome grille. This design choice gave the Yukon a unique and commanding presence, further accentuated by GMC's signature C-shaped headlights. The Denali's 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels contrasted beautifully with the dark Redwood Metallic paint. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim offered its own distinct look with a dark grille, skid plate, and horizontal red recovery hooks.

Inside, the Yukon provided a spacious and tastefully crafted cabin with standard seating for eight, or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The Denali trim offered four exclusive interior designs, with our test vehicle showcasing the Teak/Light Shale colour combo. The AT4 trim featured a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum details. The Yukon excelled in comfort across all three rows, with the Denali offering heated and cooled front seats. The redesign improved third-row legroom significantly, making it a more comfortable space for passengers.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a robust 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in approximately six seconds, despite its hefty 2,900-kilogram weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also boasted the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, which was height-adjustable for various driving conditions.

The Grand Wagoneer offered impressive off-road capabilities, with a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres and the ability to ford up to 60 centimetres of water. However, its size limited its off-road prowess, and it lacked Jeep's "Trail Rated" badge. On the road, the Grand Wagoneer provided a quiet cabin and a smooth ride, thanks to its air suspension. However, at higher speeds, the ride became bouncy, and the steering felt imprecise, making it best suited for a more leisurely driving style.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered a choice of three engines, including a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The turbodiesel engine, known as the "Baby Duramax," provided excellent fuel efficiency and a range of over 1,000 kilometres on a tank. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Yukon featured rear-wheel drive as standard on the SLE and SLT trims, while four-wheel drive was standard on the AT4 and Denali. The AT4 trim offered a two-speed transfer case for better off-road control, with an approach angle of nearly 32 degrees. The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 3,810 kilograms, with the 5.3-litre engine and Max Trailering Package. The Denali trim, equipped with the 6.2-litre V8, had a tow rating of 3,629 kilograms. The Yukon's independent rear suspension improved handling and ride quality, although some bouncing was still noticeable on rough surfaces.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain's chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 775 litres of cargo space with all three rows in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, cargo space dropped to 2,667 litres, less than some rivals. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight.

The Grand Wagoneer came with a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. However, forward visibility was somewhat limited by the hood, although the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2022 GMC Yukon, with its three-row configuration, offered ample space for passengers and cargo. The redesign improved third-row legroom by over 25 centimetres, making it more comfortable for passengers. Cargo space behind the third row increased to 722 litres, thanks to a longer wheelbase and independent rear suspension. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easier access to the third row. The Denali trim featured a power-sliding centre console with hidden storage, adding convenience for storing personal items.

The Yukon also offered power-retractable, illuminated assist steps, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle. The pushbutton transmission controls, located to the left of the infotainment touchscreen, required some acclimation but became intuitive with use.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had their own 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which featured an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came equipped with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information centre, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. The Denali trim featured a 15-inch multi-colour head-up display, the largest in its class, offering driving speed, speed limit, and safety information. The Yukon's 10.2-inch touchscreen housed the standard GMC infotainment system with Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose 14-speaker audio system. The Denali Ultimate Package included a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens, compatible with various media formats.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with a suite of standard safety features, including a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2022 GMC Yukon featured GMC's Pro Safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus package added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Safety Alert Seat and adjustable rear camera mirror enhanced safety further. The Yukon received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.