2022 GMC Yukon vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

Few shoppers would have accused the 2021 Toyota Highlander of being boring. Unlike many midsize SUVs, it stood out with wide headlights, a long hood, and a trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights gave it an assertive presence. A new addition for 2021 was the XSE trim, which included a restyled front end, suspension tuning, and 20-inch wheels with black accents, making it sportier in appearance but not necessarily in performance. The Limited trim of the Highlander, which sat just below the Platinum trim, showcased chrome roof rails and accents, exuding a luxurious feel. The interior featured tan leather seats and dark brown trim, with wood details adding to the upscale vibe, even if they weren’t genuine wood.

If you liked chrome, the 2022 GMC Yukon seemed like the perfect choice. Even the base SLE model had plenty of shiny accents, whereas the Denali trim took chrome to another level with a vast, industrial-sized cheese-grater grille. The 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels of our test vehicle stood out against its dark Redwood Metallic paint, while the AT4 trim went for a distinct look with a dark grille, skid plate, and red recovery hooks. Inside, the Yukon boasted spaciousness with standard seating for eight and optional second-row captain's chairs. While cloth seats were standard on the SLE trims, higher trims featured perforated leather. The Denali had four exclusive interior designs, including a Teak/Light Shale combination with natural wood details. The AT4 trim offered a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander, featuring a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The Highlander’s powertrain was adequate for merging onto highways but not meant for drag racing. The suspension emphasized comfort but resulted in a bit of lumbering through corners, typical for a three-row crossover. The XSE trim provided higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar for those seeking a slightly sportier feel without compromising the family-oriented nature of the vehicle.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered three engine options: a standard 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque for all trims except the Denali; a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque standard on the Denali and available on the AT4; and a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Yukon featured independents rear suspension, which improved handling and ride quality. The Denali trim provided a smooth and composed ride, though there was some bounce on rough pavement. The off-road-focused AT4 trim included a unique front styling for a nearly 32-degree approach angle and a front skid plate. The Yukon’s maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and the Max Trailering Package, while our Denali test vehicle, equipped with the 6.2-liter engine, had an 8,200-pound tow rating.

In the 2021 Toyota Highlander, a set of shelves ahead of the front seats provided ample storage for large cell phones, with a small pass-through for charging cords. A wireless charging pad was standard on trims above the LE. The second row offered plenty of legroom, with seats that could move forward and backward to adjust space for the third row, which could accommodate adults with some compromise. The Highlander had 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 GMC Yukon significantly improved third-row space, increasing legroom by over 10 inches to 34.9 inches. Cargo space behind the third row was 25.5 cubic feet, attributed to the longer wheelbase and additional length. The second-row seats folded flat, and our test vehicle featured power-folding second-row buckets and power-fold-flat third-row seats for added convenience. The power-sliding center console revealed additional storage and a hidden drawer for valuables. The Denali Ultimate Package included power-retractable illuminated assist steps, making entry and exit easier.

In the 2021 Toyota Highlander, lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the Limited trim and above offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Although only the top-tier Platinum trim had this as standard, the larger screen was bright, crisp, and responsive. Navigation was an optional feature that sometimes struggled with points of interest, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard. The JBL audio system was adequate, providing decent sound quality.

The 2022 GMC Yukon had a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center in front of the primary gauges, controlled via the steering wheel. The Denali trim featured a 15-inch head-up display, the largest in its class, projecting driving speed, speed limit, audio, safety aids, and off-road inclinometer information. A 10.2-inch touchscreen atop the center stack included Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, wireless phone charging, and an available WiFi hotspot. The 14-speaker Bose audio system was somewhat underwhelming. The rear-seat media system, included in the Denali Ultimate Package, featured dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens compatible with various media formats but required additional adapters for phone and tablet connections.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+). This suite included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. It received five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 GMC Yukon featured the Pro Safety suite, which included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, following distance indicator, and automatic high beams. The Pro Safety Plus package, available on the SLE and standard on higher trims, added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Denali trim offered additional safety features like a Safety Alert Seat and an adjustable rear camera mirror. The Yukon received an overall rating of four out of five stars from NHTSA, with consistent ratings across both RWD and 4WD variants. It had not been tested by IIHS at the time of writing.