GMC Yukon vs Subaru Ascent

The 2022 Subaru Ascent, particularly in its new Onyx Edition trim, embraced the trend of blacking out shiny exterior trim, offering a sporty appearance that was previously absent. This edition featured blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. The interior was wrapped in water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather, available only in a grey two-tone scheme with light grey stitching, which was a refreshing alternative to the typical black interior. However, the StarTex material had a tendency to trap sweat, making ventilated seats a desirable feature, though they were only available on the Ascent Premier. The Onyx Edition's styling was subjective, but it undeniably added a sporty flair to the SUV.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Yukon, especially in its Denali trim, was a celebration of chrome, giving it a premium look. The Denali's front was dominated by a vast, multi-dimensional chrome grille, flanked by GMC's signature C-shaped headlights, creating a commanding presence. The Denali's 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels, part of the optional Ultimate package, stood out against the dark Redwood Metallic paint. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim had its own unique styling 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 second-row captain's chairs. The Denali trim boasted four exclusive interior designs, with our test vehicle featuring the Teak/Light Shale colour combo, adding layers and textures for a premium look.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Ascent's fuel consumption was rated at 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres combined, with our testing averaging 11.5 L/100 km. The engine's flat-four or boxer layout contributed to a lower centre of gravity, enhancing handling. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, providing brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent's towing capacity was up to 2,270 kilograms (5,000 pounds), and it included Subaru’s X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 22 centimetres of ground clearance for off-roading capability. The Ascent felt nimble and maneuverable in urban settings, though sudden braking could be overly responsive. On highways, the lane-keeping and lane-centring assistance technologies could feel uncertain, but turning them off improved driving satisfaction.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered a choice of three engines, including a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Yukon had a maximum towing capacity of 3,810 kilograms (8,400 pounds) with the 5.3-litre engine and the Max Trailering Package. The Denali trim, with its 6.2-litre V8, had a tow rating of 3,629 kilograms (8,000 pounds). The Yukon's independent rear suspension improved handling and ride quality, though some bouncing was noted over rutted pavement. The optional air ride adaptive suspension provided a smooth, quiet ride on highways and improved ground clearance for off-roading.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent offered a comfortable driving position and was equipped for winter weather with features like heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. The second-row seats were easy to access, and captain’s chairs were available on most trims. The Ascent provided 458 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,193 litres behind the second row, and a maximum of 2,061 litres with both rows folded. A shallow storage area under the cargo floor was also available.

The 2022 GMC Yukon, with its redesign, improved third-row legroom by more than 25 centimetres to 886 mm, without sacrificing cargo volume. The Yukon offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the third row. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easy access to the third row. The Denali trim featured a power-sliding centre console with additional storage space. The Yukon also had power-retractable, illuminated assist steps and pushbutton transmission controls, enhancing convenience and ease of use.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a CD player. The Touring trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services. The system's voice recognition technology needed improvement, and the Onyx Edition's standard stereo speakers lacked sonic quality. The Premier trim offered additional features like a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2022 GMC Yukon featured a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information centre, a 15-inch multi-colour head-up display, and a 10.2-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless phone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Denali trim had a Bose 14-speaker audio system, though the sound quality was not as rich as expected. The Denali Ultimate Package included a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. It came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, which included adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology. However, EyeSight's performance was affected by direct sunlight, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights and reverse automatic braking.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came with GMC's Pro Safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and more. The Pro Safety Plus package added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. 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. The IIHS had not tested the current-generation Yukon.