The Chevy Tahoe and the GMC Yukon have had different nameplates, but they share several features. The Tahoe replaced the Blazer in 1995, and it assumed the styling and performance of the Yukon.
These two full-size SUVs share the hard body parts. If you look at the front fenders and other parts behind the fenders, the two SUVs are identical. However, they differ in some soft parts such as the grille, the headlights, bumpers, and accent pieces. The Tahoe’s headlights have a wing-like styling, and its grille looks like that of a truck with separate lower and upper parts. The structure of the grilles on the two SUVs is the same with only minor variations in sheen and color.
Affordability
The Chevy Tahoe is available in three trim levels; LS, LT, and Premier. On the other hand, the Yukon comes in four trim levels, including the SLE, SLT Standard, SLT, and Denali. The price range for the Tahoe models is lower than that of the Yukon. J.D Power estimated the 2019 Tahoe to cost between $32,625 and $84,150. The same site estimated the 2019 GMC Yukon to cost between $38,434 and $81,990.
The base models of the two SUVs have the same features and perform almost the same. The Denali, which is a luxurious trim of the GMC Yukon, brings all the difference and raises the price of the Yukon.
The models share a 5.3L V8 engine that generates 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. This engine pairs with a six-speed automatic transmission with power going to the rear wheels, and there is an optional four-wheel drive for all models. You can opt for the available 6.2L V8 engine that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The optional engine pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. There is a four-wheel drive option for this engine.
Safety
For safety, the Yukon and the Tahoe also share several features. The base models have safety features such as:
- Rear parking sensors
- Daytime running lights
- Cruise control rain-sensing front wipers
- Rearview camera
- Teen driver settings
The Yukon adds the front parking sensors to make it safer. Moving up the trims, the Tahoe LT and the Yukon SLT Standard Edition again share safety features. Some of the safety features offered on top of what the base models offer include:
- Auto-dimming rearview mirrors
- Low-speed automatic emergency braking
- Lane-keep assist
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Forward-collision alert
- Lane-departure warning
- Safety alert rear seat
Both the base models and the Yukon SLT Standard Edition and Tahoe LT have other standard safety features, such as stability control, front-impact airbags, side-impact airbags, and anti-lock brakes. They also have overhead airbags and pretensioners to keep you safe.
The Tahoe Premier and the Yukon SLT have some safety features in common. These include:
- Lane-change alert
- Blind-zone monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic monitoring
The Denali is the most powerful and the most luxurious of all the Yukon trims. It doesn’t have any special safety features besides those offered in the SLT. The model focuses on luxury.
Comfort
For a long time, the Denali trim offered by GMC has been the main difference between the Yukon and the Tahoe. Denali focuses on power and luxury. All other trim levels for the two SUVs are almost identical in the comfort features they offer.
Inside, the Yukon and the Tahoe have identical features except for a few variations in their steering wheels. The Tahoe sports an 8-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi among other features. These same features are in the Yukon, but the Yukon adds more comfort features such as a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a nine-speaker Bose audio system, and SiriusXM.
The Denali has a range of luxury features that even the top-of-the-range Tahoe Premier cannot match. However, you can add the features in the Denali in the form of packages. Some of the interior features in the Denali include:
- Bose active noise cancellation
- Mastique Ash wood-grain trim
- Custom 8-inch driver information center
- Head-up display
Both these SUVs have enough interior space to keep you comfortable. Front passengers will enjoy 42.8 inches of headroom and 45.3 inches of legroom. The second row offers 38.7 inches of headroom and 39 inches of legroom. The third-row passengers only have 38.1 inches of headroom and 24.8 inches of legroom. Both models are comfortable regardless of where you sit.
Durability
The styling and the components of the Yukon and the Tahoe are all the same. As such, the two SUVs will have the same durability. The durability of the SUVs will depend on how well the owners maintain them.
About 3.2% of all used GMC Yukon vehicles sold in 2019 had driven for about 200,000 miles, and all the GMC Yukon XL used vehicles sold in 2019, 0.2% had driven for longer than 300,000 miles. The Chevrolet Tahoe is also long-lasing with 4.1% of all used Tahoe models sold in 2019 having driven for more than 200,000 miles. This means that, with good care, the Tahoe and the Yukon can last you more than 300,000 miles.
Utility
You can take the Chevy Tahoe and the GMC Yukon off-road, thanks to the available four-wheel drive. The base engine and the available engines are powerful enough to handle rugged terrain, and the ground clearance is just enough to accommodate driving on rough roads.
You can also tow with either of these vehicles. The 2019 Chevy Tahoe can tow between 8,100 pounds and 8,400 pounds. With the 6.2-liter engine and four-wheel drive, you can tow only up to 8,100, but the towing capacity increases with the 5.3-liter two-wheel drive engine configuration.
The GMC Yukon also has a great towing capacity of between 8,100 and 8,500 pounds. The Denali tows the lowest while the base engine with a two-wheel drive tows the highest. The two models have standard features such as trailer sway control, trailer hitch platform, and a hill start assist.
If you want to bring some cargo in either of the SUVs, you have 15.3 cubic feet behind the third-row seat. With the third row folded down, you have 51.7 cubic feet of cargo space. You can fold the second- and third-row seats down to have up to 94.7 cubic feet of cargo space. There are roof rack side rails for more cargo when you take your SUV on an adventure.
Passengers will enjoy the black assist steps and other comfort and convenience features once inside the SUV. The driver will also find it comfortable to drive, thanks to the tilt steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted controls, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Which is Better?
If you take the Denali out of the picture, the other models are almost identical. Whichever you go for is a matter of preference. However, the Chevy Tahoe is a little less pricey, which may make it a great choice for lovers of Chevrolet. These two models are two of the three largest SUVs on American roads, and they are both good for off-road and on-road driving.
