2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV vs GMC Yukon XL

The 2021 Escalade ESV is a three-row luxury SUV that seats up to eight with the second-row bench seat (optional captain’s chairs drop seating to seven). The ESV extends 8 inches and lowers its floor for an additional 10.1 inches of third-row legroom. It also boasts 41.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 94.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum cargo capacity of 142.8 cubic feet. It has increased its luxury, with standard full leather seating, heated front and rear outboard seats and optional massaging front seats, and a leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and upper door panels, as well as 12-way power driver and front-passenger heated seats with lumbar function. It comes in five trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum. You will add an additional $3,000 to Escalade’s pricing on all trims upgrading to the ESV. Escalade’s prices start at $76,195 for the base Luxury trim and range to $100,595 for the Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims. Another $3,000 can be added for four-wheel-drive.

This next generation Yukon XL offers premium quality, a distinctive design, and a unique AT4 exterior styling with rugged capability. The redesigned Yukon XL has one of the most upscale interiors in the large SUV class, with more metal accents and a different dashboard layout in its Denali trim level. It seats up to nine people or seven with optional second-row bucket seats in its three rows, and it provides plenty of head- and legroom to ride comfortably. The Yukon XL provides 41.5 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats, expands to 93.8 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down and 144.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. Cloth upholstery and power-adjustable front seats come standard. Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel are available. LED headlamps and taillamps with GMC signature C-shape design, featuring daytime running lamps and LED fog lamps are standard on all trims. The Denali and AT4 trim come standard with outside heated, power-folding adjustable mirrors, and it is available on the SLT. The Yukon XL trims start at $50,700 for the SLE trim, $57,800 for the SLT trim, $64,800 for the AT4 trim, and $68,400 for the Denali. Optional packages are available for additional pricing.

There are plenty of driver-assistance features that come standard in all trims of the Escalade ESV. The standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, HD surround vision, front pedestrian braking, rear pedestrian alert, a safety alert seat, and front and rear parking sensors. All trims come standard with a dash-spanning three-curved OLED, displaying a 7.2-inch digital control panel, a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 16.9-inch touch screen infotainment system. All lay on top of one another to create almost 38-inches of combined digital housing. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and a AKG Studio 19-speaker sound system is standard. A rear-seat entertainment system and adaptive cruise control are available, as well as a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference surround-sound stereo and two 12.6-inch touch screens.

The 2021 GMC Yukon XL offers standard advanced safety features, plus additional add-on packages for more advanced features. Standard features include forward collision mitigation, rearview camera, rear seat reminder, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, front and rear parking sensors, and keyless entry and ignition. An available Technology package that includes rear cross-traffic alert system, surround-view camera system, and a head-up display is an option on the AT4 and Denali trims. The AT4 also adds hill descent control. All Yukon XL models come with a large infotainment display and GMC’s latest IntelliLink interface. It is standard with a 10.2-inch touch screen, wireless Android and Apple CarPlay, six speakers, satellite radio, HD radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, six USB ports, and Bluetooth.

All Escalade ESVs come standard with a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, or an optional turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. The diesel will give you better fuel efficiency and towing power. A Performance Package is available on higher trims and includes Electronic Limited -Slip Differential, Magnetic Ride Control and Trailering Integration package. You will get an estimated 15/20 mpg city/highway with the rear-wheel drive and 14/19 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive. Models with the diesel engine deliver 20/26 mpg city/highway. The Escalade can tow between 7,400 and 8,200 pounds.

The Yukon XL has a powerful performance for just about every driving situation in its base engine but can deliver even more acceleration with its available larger engine. Both engines are now paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Yukon SLE, SLT, and AT4 feature a 5.3-liter engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The Yukon Denali features a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A new 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo diesel engine with 277-horsepower will join this lineup later in this model year. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is optional on all trims except on the AT4, where it is standard. It delivers a cushioned ride over any road surface and is composed on winding roads but for off-roading, look to the AT4 trim, which comes with a two-speed transfer case and skid plates. The Yukon can tow up to 8,400 pounds, and has an estimated 16/20 mpg in the city and on the highway.