Compare the2025 Toyota SequoiaVS 2025 GMC Yukon XL

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Sequoia have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Yukon XL doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Toyota Sequoia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sequoia has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Sequoia has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Sequoia and the Yukon XL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available four-wheel drive.

The Sequoia’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Yukon XL’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sequoia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Yukon XL.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Sequoia has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Yukon XL.

The battery on the Sequoia is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Sequoia’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Yukon XL’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sequoia’s reliability 28 points higher than the Yukon XL.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sequoia second among large suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Yukon XL isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 7th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 20th.

The Sequoia’s 3.4 turbo V6 hybrid produces 82 more horsepower (437 vs. 355) and 200 lbs.-ft. more torque (583 vs. 383) than the Yukon XL’s standard 5.3 V8. The Sequoia’s 3.4 turbo V6 hybrid produces 17 more horsepower (437 vs. 420) and 123 lbs.-ft. more torque (583 vs. 460) than the Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Sequoia gets better mileage than the Yukon XL:

Regenerative brakes improve the Sequoia’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Sequoia has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Yukon XL. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

For better maneuverability, the Sequoia’s turning circle is tighter than the Yukon XL’s:

For greater off-road capability the Sequoia SR5 has a 1.09 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate Air Ride (8.4 vs. 7.31 inches), allowing the Sequoia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sequoia TRD Pro’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Yukon XL AT4 (9.1 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Sequoia is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the Yukon XL, making the Sequoia easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sequoia has 1.1 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more third row hip room than the Yukon XL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sequoia’s middle and third row seats recline. The Yukon XL’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Sequoia’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Yukon XL’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Sequoia’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Yukon XL’s (9120 vs. 7500 pounds).

The Sequoia has a higher standard payload capacity than the Yukon XL (1555 vs. 1360 lbs.).

The Sequoia has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Yukon XL (1730 vs. 1430 lbs.).

The Sequoia’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Yukon XL’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Sequoia the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Yukon XL can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sequoia to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Sequoia Limited/TRD Pro/1794/Platinum/Capstone has standard front air conditioned seats and the Sequoia Platinum/1794/Capstone also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Yukon XL doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.