Compare the2026 GMC YukonVS 2025 Lexus GX

Both the Yukon and GX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Yukon has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Yukon has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The GX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Yukon Ultimate helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the GMC Yukon’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Lexus GX.

Both the Yukon and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Yukon is safer than the Lexus GX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 7 times as many GMC dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

The Yukon’s standard 5.3 V8 produces 6 more horsepower (355 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6. The Yukon’s optional 6.2 V8 produces 71 more horsepower (420 vs. 349) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 479) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the GMC Yukon 6.2 V8 is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the Yukon gets better mileage than the GX:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon V8’s fuel efficiency. The GX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Yukon’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Yukon uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 6.2 V8 engine for maximum performance). The GX requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Yukon has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (24 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Yukon has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Yukon’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

For better traction, the Yukon has larger standard tires than the GX (275/60R20 vs. 265/55R20). The Yukon Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (285/40R24 vs. 265/55R20).

The Yukon’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX Overtrail’s standard 70 series tires. The Yukon Denali’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the GX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX Overtrail. The Yukon Denali’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the GX.

The Yukon has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Yukon AT4/Denali has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the GX (120.9 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GX.

The Yukon Denali 4x4 handles at .73 G’s, while the GX Overtrail+ pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Ultimate Air Ride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX Overtrail (10 vs. 9.8 inches), allowing the Yukon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Yukon uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Yukon offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GX can only carry up to 7.

The Yukon’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

The Yukon’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX Overtrail.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Yukon’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GX doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Yukon 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Yukon can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Yukon has a much higher standard payload capacity than the GX (1510 vs. 1235 lbs.).

The Yukon’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the GX.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Yukon’s available exterior PIN entry system. The GX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Yukon’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Yukon has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GX.

Both the Yukon and the GX offer available massaging front seats. The Yukon Denali Ultimate also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the GX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Yukon has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the GX.

The Yukon’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Yukon is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon third among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The GMC Yukon outsold the Lexus GX by almost three to one during 2024.