Price
Winner: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
Starting out with a base price of $49,000, the Chevrolet Tahoe wins this category for being about $1,600 below the GMC Yukon’s starting price of $50,600. Taking that into consideration, both the Yukon and the Tahoe offer slightly different features and additional packages, so you can look into a customization of amenities that makes sense to you.
Reliability
Winner: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe boasts one of the best predicted reliability ratings in the class. The GMC Yukon, on the other hand, earns a predicted reliability rating that is well below average.
Both vehicles offer three-year/36,000-mile limited warranties paired with a five-year/60,000 powertrain warranty.
Seat Comfort
Winner: Tie
Both the Yukon and Tahoe seat eight passengers on unremarkable cloth upholstery, and both offer a ninth seat on an available front-row bench that is optional in both models. Both offer LATCH child seat connectors, and both are spacious in the front two rows and cramped in the third row in the standard models. The upgrades are similar for both vehicles as well, with both SUVs offering available leather seats.
However, the Tahoe features a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat and six-way adjustable passenger seat. The Tahoe only has three LATCH connectors, while the Yukon has LATCH connectors in each of its second-row seats along with tether-only connectors for each third-row seat.
Cargo Space
Winner: Tie
Both the Tahoe and the Yukon offer exactly 15.3 cubic feet of storage space in the trunk, which can expand to 51.7 cubic feet with the second row folded down, and again to 94.7 cubic feet with two rows folded down. Although exactly the same, these numbers are low compared to other large SUVs. The Yukon model does offer a convenient hands-free power liftgate as an available option, as well as the long-wheelbase Yukon XL option.
Drivers prioritizing cargo space may want to check out the Ford Expedition or the Chevrolet Suburban (the Tahoe’s extended-wheelbase model), which have some of the most room for gear in the class.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2020 GMC Yukon
All said and done, both SUVs offer quality cabins with nice materials, but the 2020 GMC Yukon’s interior quality is more high-end than the Tahoe’s.
The 2020 GMC Yukon features high-end materials in its interior, which has eye-catching style and efficiently-arranged controls. Cloth upholstery is standard, but you can upgrade to leather upholstery.
The 2020 Chevy Tahoe uses unfortunate hard plastics in its cabin, detracting from its overall appeal. Cloth upholstery is standard, but drivers can choose to enhance them to upgraded leather upholstery.
Interior Features
Winner: 2020 GMC Yukon
Although the Tahoe is reasonably equipped in terms of interior features, the Yukon simply has more tech – and more of it comes standard, particularly considering the sound systems.
In the Tahoe, drivers will see the user-friendly Chevrolet Infotainment System that features an 8-inch touch screen, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a six-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and HD radio. It can be equipped with up to seven USB ports, and available features include navigation, a rear-seat DVD player, a 9- or 10-speaker Bose audio system, and wireless device charging.
In the Tahoe, available back seat upgrades include power-release and folding second-row bucket seats, and a power-folding third row.
The Yukon also features an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and HD radio, but it also comes standard with a nine-speaker Bose sound system, seven USB ports, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Other interior features include remote start, remote keyless entry, a tri-zone automatic climate control, and a household-style power outlet.
Additionally, Yukon drivers can choose to add a head-up display, sunroof, rear-seat entertainment system, rear-seat DVD system, navigation, wireless device charging, and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound stereo system. As for the rear seats, drivers can choose an available upgrade in the Yukon to add power-folding second- and third-row seats, as well as power-retractable steps for easier entrances and exits into the vehicle.
Acceleration
Winner: Tie
Both the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon feature the same powertrain options, which haven’t been upgraded this year. Both have a standard powertrain with 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8 engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissions. Both offer a second powertrain choice, which is a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission in both, providing a quick throttle response and fast acceleration.
Fuel Economy
Winner: Tie
These two SUVs are evenly matched in fuel economy. Both the 2020 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon have somewhat above-average gas mileage for large SUVs, both averaging about 14-15 mpg in the city and 21-23 mpg on the highway according to the EPA, depending on what trim you choose. The numbers for the rear-wheel-drive models are slightly higher than the four-wheel-drive options on both.
Ride and Handling
Winner: Tie
Both the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon handle confidently under most circumstances, although small spaces are a bit of a challenge for these big SUVs. Both have truck-like handling, come standard with rear-wheel drive, and have four-wheel drive as an option.
The Tahoe and the Yukon can be a bulky, bumpy ride over rough roads, but both offer an optional Magnetic Ride Control suspension system to help smooth that out.
Safety
Winner: Tie
Both the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon received identical crash safety scores from the National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration, earning four out of five stars on the overall safety rating. Both earned five out of five stars in the side crash test, four on the frontal crash test, and three in the rollover evaluation. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn’t completed crash tests on these vehicles.
As for safety features, the Tahoe comes standard with rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and the Teen Driver system, which allows you to set speed and audio limits for secondary drivers and monitor their performance. The Yukon similarly offers a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and the Teen Driver system.
Available safety features in the Tahoe include a safety alert seat, forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, auto high-beams, a head-up display, front parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
As for the Yukon, the list of available features is once again similar, including a safety alert seat, low-speed forward automatic braking, automatic high-beams, a head-up display, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Towing
Winner: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
Although both SUVs can boast solid towing capacity, the Chevy Tahoe comes out ahead in this category with its 8,600-pound towing capacity while the GMC Yukon has a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds, when both are properly equipped. Drivers who prioritize towing may want to consider the more powerful V8 engine available in the high-end Yukon Denali and Tahoe Premier models.
The Tahoe’s standard model includes a trailer sway control, 2-inch receiver, and a trailer hitch platform. Optional towing options on the Tahoe include a two-speed active transfer case, higher rear axle ratio, integrated trailer brake control, and an air-leveling suspension option.
The Winner Is…
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
The 2020 Chevy Tahoe earns a slight advantage over the GMC Yukon in certain key categories important to many drivers, especially price and reliability. The Tahoe’s win in the towing category by 100 pounds is useful, but not hugely.
The 2020 GMC Yukon is not far behind, tying it up in many categories. The Yukon offers the better interior quality and features overall between the two, and is still a great choice for drivers who prioritize the cabin.
However, the Yukon and the Tahoe tied in cargo space, seat comfort, acceleration, fuel economy, ride and handling, as well as safety features and scores, highlighting how similar these SUVs truly are. When you’re ready to shop, visit our current deals pages to find out if there is a special financing or lease deal being offered in your area that could push the scale one way or the other for you.
Other Vehicles to Consider
If you like the Tahoe and the Yukon, you might want to also check out the 2020 Ford Expedition, 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, 2020 Nissan Armada, and 2020 Toyota Sequoia.
The Ford Expedition and the Chevy Suburban are known to offer some of the most cargo space in the class. The Nissan Armada is one of the least expensive large SUVs, and the Toyota Sequoia offers a powerful V8 engine and a good predicted reliability rating.
You can check out our full rankings of large SUVs and learn more about what each offers in our full reviews.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you’re still on the fence and want to research more details, visit our full reviews of the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon to read more in-depth about each large SUV. You can also check out our SUV rankings to see how these two stack up to the competition.
When you know what you want and are ready for your next new vehicle, visit our Best Price Program. Whether you are buying or leasing, shoppers who use the program save an average of more than$3,000 off their new vehicle.
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe vs. 2020 GMC Yukon
- Price: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
- Reliability: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
- Seat Comfort: Tie
- Cargo Space:Tie
- Interior Quality: 2020 GMC Yukon
- Interior Features: 2020 GMC Yukon
- Acceleration: Tie
- Fuel Economy: Tie
- Ride and Handling: Tie
- Safety: Tie
- Towing: 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
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Which General Motors SUV Is Best?
Drivers in the market for a large SUV are probably well aware the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe and the 2020 GMC Yukon stack up closely. Sharing the same powertrain, base platform, and offering similar features, sometimes it can be hard to decide which vehicle is best for your priorities.
In our ranking of large SUVs, the Chevy Tahoe is ranked No. 2, while the 2020 GMC Yukon ranks No. 6.
Our review breaks down these rankings one category at a time, closely detailing each SUV’s features in every category from powertrains, handling, and reliability to seat comfort, cargo space, and interior features. Although the GMC Yukon has a better interior quality and features, the Chevy Tahoe pulls ahead in price, reliability, and towing.
This article will help you get a better idea of which of these large SUVs matches up with your preferred priorities. Remember the scores on our site are always being updated by our experts as new reviews come available, so the scores cited in this slideshow might not match the scores in the reviews.