2022 GMC Yukon vs 2022 Volvo XC90

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company underwent a significant transformation, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015. The 2016 model marked the debut of the current XC90, Volvo's flagship SUV, built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and sleek profile, with a body that seemed ready to launch forward. Its long roofline and pronounced wheel arches emphasized athleticism, while the snub nose and upright grille paid homage to the classic 245 wagon. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a tailored wool blend upholstery, with the latter being a sustainable option.

The 2022 GMC Yukon, even in its base SLE model, showcased a premium look with ample chrome accents. The Denali trim took this to another level, with a front dominated by a vast, multi-dimensional chrome grille resembling an industrial-sized cheese grater. The Denali's 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels contrasted beautifully with the dark Redwood Metallic paint. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim featured unique front styling, including a dark grille, skid plate, and horizontal red recovery hooks.

Inside, the Yukon offered a spacious 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 color combo. The AT4 trim had a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum details. The Denali's interior was luxurious, with contrasting colors, unique stitching, and natural wood details, while the AT4's interior had a custom look with embroidered head restraints.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains. The T5 models featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 models combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, achieving a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The T5 FWD models achieved an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T5 AWD models were rated at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD models had a rating of 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 models achieved a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended-range variant had a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to full took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2). The XC90 handled superbly, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered three engine choices, including a 3.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine. The standard engine on all trims except the Denali was a 5.3-liter V8, producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Denali trim featured a 6.2-liter V8, delivering 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The turbodiesel engine, available on all trims except the AT4, produced 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Most versions had standard rear-wheel drive (RWD), with four-wheel drive (4WD) as an option. The AT4 trim was 4WD only.

The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and the available Max Trailering Package. Our test vehicle, a Yukon Denali with the 6.2-liter V8, had an 8,200-pound tow rating. The Denali trim also featured independent rear suspension, providing better handling and a smoother ride. However, our test vehicle exhibited some bouncing over rutted pavement under acceleration. The optional air ride adaptive suspension improved ride quality, especially on highways, and allowed for increased ground clearance while off-roading.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for children but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 provided 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a cool sanctuary from the weather.

The 2022 GMC Yukon addressed previous issues with third-row space, increasing legroom by more than 10 inches to 34.9 inches. Cargo space behind the third row also increased to 25.5 cubic feet. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easier access to the third row. Our test vehicle featured power-folding second-row buckets and power fold-flat third-row seats. The Denali trim included a power-sliding center console with additional storage space and a hidden storage drawer. The power-retractable, illuminated assist steps made it easier to get in and out of the vehicle, though they could be challenging to avoid in the rain. The pushbutton transmission controls took some getting used to but became second nature with practice.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which offered tablet-like functionality with familiar gestures. However, the system in our test car was glitchy and slow to respond. The system worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen was positioned close to the driver's line of sight, minimizing distraction. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy customization and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available. The vehicle included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2022 GMC Yukon featured a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. The Denali trim included a 15-inch multi-color head-up display, the largest in its class, providing driving speed, speed limit, audio information, and safety aids. The 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless phone charging, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test vehicle had a Bose 14-speaker audio system, which provided adequate sound quality. 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 Volvo XC90 continued the brand's commitment to safety, featuring blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. The Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came with GMC's Pro Safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, following distance indicator, 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. Our test vehicle featured a Safety Alert Seat and an adjustable rear camera mirror. The Yukon received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not yet tested the current-generation Yukon.