At Keystone Ford, we understand the necessity of saving time in research. We also understand how important it is that you find the best suited vehicle for your needs. We are located in Chambersburg, PA and are happy to help with all of your car buying needs. Here is a comparison of two popular full-sized SUVs—the 2020 Ford Expedition Max and the 2020 GMC Yukon XL.
Price / Fuel Efficiency
Both of these large SUVs start within $1,000 of each other at around a respectable $55,000. The Expedition Max can seat up to eight people, whereas the Yukon XL can seat up to nine. The Yukon XL can get up to 15 mpg City / 22 mpg Highway compared to the slightly higher 17 mpg City / 23 mpg Highway the Expedition Max can achieve.
Capability
The Yukon XL comes standard with a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine which gets up to 355 horsepower and 383 lb. ft. torque. It also has an available 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 which produces up to 420 horsepower and 460 lb. ft. torque. When properly equipped, the Yukon XL is able to tow up to 8,300 lbs. The Denali trim of the Yukon XL comes with a 10-speed transmission, however all other trims come standard with a 6-speed transmission.
The Expedition Max takes the capability of the SUV segment to a whole new level of awesome. The Expedition Max only has one engine across the board, however there is an available power upgrade to the standard 3.5L EcoBoost® for the Platinum trim to further boost your power output. This power upgrade combines direct injection for maximizing power and twin air-to-air intercooled turbochargers distributing a surge of on-demand power. Without the power upgrade the engine already produces an impressive 375 horsepower and 470lb. ft. torque, and with the power upgrade you can get up to 400 horsepower and 480 lb. ft. torque. Regardless of which direction you go, the vehicle comes with a 10-speed transmission.
Not only does the Expedition Max take the win for power output, it also gives the Yukon XL a run for its money when it comes to towing capacity as well. The Expedition Max has an available Heavy-Duty Trailer Package which includes features such as Pro Trailer Backup Assist™, a 3.73 Electronic Limited-Slip Differential, an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller, Two-Speed Automatic 4WD with Neutral Towing Capability, and a Heavy-Duty Radiator. Because of this incredible available package, the Expedition Max has a best-in-class tow rating of up to 9,300 lbs. There is no question you can tow anything and everything you want with the Expedition Max and its Heavy-Duty Trailer Package.
Infotainment
In this day and age, infotainment and connectivity make all the difference. Both vehicles have features such as Wi-Fi Hotspot capability, upgraded sound system options, available Entertainment Systems and more available power points than you can count on one hand. However, the Expedition Max outdoes the Yukon XL in almost all of these features.
Compared to the available 10-speaker Bose® Sound System in the Yukon XL, the available 12-speaker B&O Sound System available in the Expedition Max takes the cake for the most over-the-top, completely immersive sound experience.
The Expedition also offers a Dual Headrest Rear Seat Entertainment System, whereas the Yukon’s available Entertainment System is a single center-mounted screen.
Although both vehicles offer Wireless Charging Capability, you don’t have the opportunity to upgrade to that feature until the highest trim option in the Yukon. The Expedition, on the other hand, has that option available to the lowest trim and comes standard on each trim after that.
Comfort / Convenience
Features such as Power Deployable Running Boards, Hands-Free Foot-Activated Liftgate, Sunroof, and Tri-Zone Electronic Automatic Climate Control are offered in both vehicles. However, there are some differences in what trim level is necessary in order to have the ability to upgrade.
The Expedition Max has standard Power Deployable Running Boards on all but the base trim option, however you are still able to upgrade to include them on the base XLT trim option. This, however, is only an upgradable option on the highest trim of the Yukon XL.
Once again, the Expedition has available Hands-Free Foot-Activated Liftgate on the Base XLT trim and includes this feature on all other trims. This feature is not on option until the top two trims of the Yukon.
The Yukon has an available single panel sunroof, however it isn’t standard on any of the trims. The Expedition, on the other hand, not only has an available sunroof that comes standard on the top two trims, but it is also an enhanced larger Panoramic Vista Roof® compared to the single panel sunroof offered in the Yukon.
Lastly, the Yukon has available power second and third row seats, whereas those features come standard on the Expedition.
Safety
Both vehicles offer some high-tech safety features including a Lane-Keeping System, standard Reverse Sensing System, and standard Rear-View Camera with Backup Grid Lines.
Along with those features, both vehicles also offer Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, and Trailer Tow Monitoring technology is added to this feature in the Expedition Max. The Expedition Max and Yukon XL also have available Adaptive Cruise control, however, this option doesn’t come standard on any of the Yukon trims, whereas it does come standard on the top two Expedition trims. This feature is also not an upgrade option for the lower Yukon trims, whereas it is an option in all Expedition trims where it doesn’t already come standard. The Expedition also comes standard with Auto-High Beam Headlamps, compared to the Yukon, which only includes this as a standard feature on the upper trim options.
Conclusion
It’s clear that the Expedition Max comes more equipped from the get-go and offers more options in all its trims compared to the Yukon XL. It also gets better gas mileage, produces more power and comes more capable for off-road adventures in comparison to its competitor. It’s almost a no-brainer to decide on which one would make a better adventure vehicle for you and your family. Come down to Keystone Ford today, and get started making new memories on the road in your new Expedition Max.