GMC Yukon vs Toyota bZ

The 2022 GMC Yukon was a chrome lover's dream, with even the base SLE model featuring enough shiny accents to give it a premium appearance. As one moved up the trim levels to the Denali, the chrome became even more pronounced, with the front of the Denali almost entirely constructed of chrome. The oversized, multi-dimensional grille resembled an industrial-sized cheese grater, yet it worked to give the vehicle a unique and 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. 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 the Teak/Light Shale color combo providing a premium look with contrasting colors, unique stitching, and natural wood details.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, available in XLE and Limited trims, offered a more modern and streamlined design. The restyled bZ looked better with body-color trim, moving away from the black overfender trim that was off-putting to some buyers. Inside, the new dashboard and center console were cleaner and imparted a higher sense of quality. The XLE's fabric seats featured a distinctive and upscale pattern, while the center touchscreen grew to 14 inches, integrating climate control with the display. However, the digital driver display was mounted far away, making it challenging to read. Despite this, the bZ's interior was comfortable, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard across all trims. The Limited trim added ventilated front seats for added comfort.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered a choice of three engines, including a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, standard on all trims except the Denali. The Denali and AT4 trims featured a 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, affectionately known as the "Baby Duramax," was also available, delivering 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This diesel engine provided excellent fuel economy, allowing the Yukon to travel up to 648 miles on a tank. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with most versions offering standard rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive. The AT4 trim was exclusively available with 4WD, featuring a two-speed transfer case for better control on challenging terrain. The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and the Max Trailering Package. The Denali trim, equipped with the 6.2-liter V8, had an 8,200-pound tow rating. The Yukon's independent rear suspension provided better handling and a smoother ride, although some bouncing was noted over rutted pavement.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive, with two battery sizes. The XLE with FWD and a 57.7-kWh battery provided 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 236 miles. The optional 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 hp and range to 314 miles. Dual-motor models produced 338 hp, with the XLE AWD offering 288 miles of range. The bZ could be recharged using a DC fast charger, taking about 30 minutes to go from 10% to 80%. A 240-volt Level 2 home charger required seven hours for a full charge with the larger battery. The bZ's performance was agreeable around town, with instant torque providing quick acceleration. However, the FWD model struggled on winding roads, with the Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires causing the nose to push wide in curves. The bZ was a comfortable cruiser on the highway, but the ride could be choppy on undulating pavement.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered ample passenger space across its three rows, with the recent redesign increasing third-row legroom by more than 10 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. The Denali trim featured a power-sliding center console with hidden storage, and power-retractable assist steps made entry and exit easier. The pushbutton transmission controls were a modern touch, located to the left of the infotainment touchscreen.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, offered easy entry and exit with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Both front seats featured standard height adjustment, with eight-way power adjustment in the XLE and Limited trims. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Limited trim adding ventilated front seats. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but offered ample storage with a large bin under the center armrest and a sizable tray beneath the center console. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed plenty of legroom, although foot space was tight. The bZ provided 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the power rear liftgate, with an underfloor storage well for extra room. Folding the back seats down increased cargo space to 56.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came equipped with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. A 15-inch multi-color head-up display was standard on the Denali trim, offering driving speed, safety aids, and off-road inclinometer information. The 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system featured Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose 14-speaker audio system. The Denali Ultimate Package included a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with SiriusXM satellite radio and five connected service plans. The Drive Connect powered the native navigation system and Intelligent Assistant voice assistant. However, the lack of a home screen and low-contrast colors made the system challenging to use at times.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard 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, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Safety Alert Seat and rear camera mirror enhanced safety further. 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 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs for added safety. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park Assist. The bZ received Good ratings for front-crash avoidance from the IIHS, but Poor ratings for headlights and Acceptable ratings for frontal-impact crash tests.