Jeep Wagoneer vs GMC Yukon Denali

So, you’re in the market for a capable, full-size sport-utility vehicle, and you’ve winnowed your choices down to the Jeep Wagoneer and GMC’s Yukon Denali. What to do, what to do …. It’s a fair question since these two rigs pair nicely against each other. With that said, let us look at these two beasts: the Jeep Wagoneer versus the GMC Yukon Denali.

2022 Jeep Wagoneer

The Wagoneer, an all-new full-size Jeep for the 2022 model year, is widely viewed as a bargain Grand Wagoneer, which is very much a compliment. However, the new Wagoneer is just fine in its own right, what with all the features and luxe it offers. Rivals include Cadillac’s Escalade, the Lincoln Navigator, and yes, the GMC Yukon Denali, which we focus on here.

Based on the Ram 1500, the Wagoneer has three rows and can comfortably seat eight. The base model is propelled by a 5.7-liter 8-cylinder gas engine that produces 392 horses and a notable 404 pound-feet of torque. Its towing capacity of 10,000 pounds is especially commendable.

The ride’s interior is solidly upscale and features plenteous leather and other high-end touchpoints, plus an available 12-inch reconfigurable Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. As for the drive, the Jeep gets off the mark briskly and shifts very butter-like. In all, the adjectives “smooth” and “quiet” readily come to mind. Off-road, the Wagoneer more than upholds the brand’s rep, aided by a variety of traction control settings.

In all, with the new Wagoneer, you get formidable engines, roomy second and third rows, and exquisite towing ability.

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2022 GMC Yukon Denali

No slouch, Yukon’s Denali is a premium vehicle that offers an array of powerplants, including a 420-horsepower V8 that’s new for this year.  The big and beefy SUV also offers lots of cargo hold, 2WD and 4WD configurations, plus adult-friendly rear seating.

If you want, you can get the Yukon with rear-wheel-drive only, and the 5.3-liter V8 is the standard powerplant on most trims. Yes, GMC’s engines offer relatively better fuel economy, but the Yukon’s towing rating lags Wagoneer’s.

The Denali trim offers as standard two captain’s chairs in the second row, lowering the potential passenger count to seven. The Denali also comes with a special dashboard design that features wood trim plus standout front seats. Drive-wise, the Denali offers a standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive air suspension that keeps body roll at bay.

Yukon highlights include an affordable base RWD trim, relatively good fuel economy, and a selection of engines.

A Glance at Stats

Let’s look at some basic statistics for the Wagoneer and Yukon:

The Jeep Wagoneer starts at $58,995, while the Yukon’s base sticker is $54,000. Jeep seats seven or eight, Yukon – between seven and nine. On the powerplant front, Wagoneer gets a 5.7-liter or 6.4-liter V8, versus a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel, 5.3-liter V8, or 6.2-liter V8 for the Yukon.

Then you have a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds for the Wagoneer and as much as 8,400 pounds for the GMC. The Jeep has horsepower choices of 392 and 471, verses 355, 420, and 277 for Yukon. Pound-feet of torque numbers are 404 and 455 for the Wagoneer, and 383 and 460 for the GMC. The Wagoneer gets an eight-speed transmission; the Yukon’s tranny is a 10-speed. Jeep’s drivetrain is four-wheel drive; the Yukon offers rear-wheel and four-wheel options.

Further, Jeep’s curb weight is 2,808 kg, versus 2,515 kg for the Yukon. The wheelbase comes out to 3,124 mm for the Wagoneer; 3,071 mm for the GMC. Widths are 2,124 for the Jeep as opposed to 2,057 for the Yukon. Height-wise, it’s 1,921 mm versus 1,943 mm. Front-row headroom is 1,049 for the Jeep Wagoneer and 1,074 for the GMC Yukon.

The Verdict

When it comes to Jeep Wagoneer vs. GMC Yukon Denali, it’s admittedly close. However, the Yukon’s rear seating and cargo space are not as laudable as Jeep’s. Despite the wider variety of engines that Yukon offers, along with more competitive pricing, we simply must go with the Wagoneer for its towing capacity, interior space, and sublime off-road chops.