In this edition of the Five-Point Comparo, we look at how two American SUVs with big engines stack up against each other. The contenders? 2019 GMC Yukon and 2019 Dodge Durango both offer three-row seating, a choice of torquey powertrains, and most importantly, impressive road presence. Which one's your cup of tea? Well, let us help you arrive at a decision.

Design

General Motors first introduced the GMC Yukon in 1991. Now in its fourth generation, the SUV is as American as before. Five doors, three rows of seats, imposing dimensions, and a no-nonsense design are the GMC Yukon's hallmarks. The Yukon is both longer and wider than the Dodge Durango, seating up to eight people in comfort.
On the other hand, the 2019 Dodge Durango chooses a bolder design. Launched in 1997, the three-row SUV is in its third generation, and has come a long way when it comes to design. The signature Dodge grille, sculpted bonnet, pronounced wheel arches, and muscular rear three-quarters impart this American SUV a rugged, commanding aura. The Durango is taller than the 2019 GMC Yukon and seats seven passengers.
2019 GMC Yukon Denali
 

You really cannot go wrong with either of the choices in this comparo. The 2019 GMC Yukon features eight airbags as standard, rear parking sensors with camera, ABS, adaptive cruise control, traction control, hill start assist, and a host of other electronic safety and driver aids. These include, but are not limited to blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking, and so on.
Not to be left behind, Dodge has packed the base SXT trim of the Durango with 10 airbags, rear parking camera with sensors, ABS, traction control, TPMS, cruise control, hill start assist, along with electronic roll mitigation, blind spot monitoring, electronic stability control, and a nifty feature called Rain Brake Support. This system removes water from the brake pads by applying a small amount of pressure to the calipers.

For 2019, GMC has equipped the Yukon with an 8-inch touchscreen GMC Infotainment System. It features a customizable home screen, voice command, Bluetooth connectivity, available navigation, and smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Dodge Durango's cabin is a great place to be in.
A Premium Bose Surround Sound System provides an immersive music experience, with GMC offering an optional rear-seat Blu-Ray entertainment system with a 9-inch screen. Audio, phone, and navigation functions can be controlled via the steering-mounted controls.
The 2019 Dodge Durango features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, voice command, Bluetooth telephony, and steering-mounted controls. One-upping the Yukon, you get two 9-inch rear passenger screens in the Dodge Durango. What's more, this brawny SUV also has seats with memory functions for up to two different configurations.

Performance

The entry-level 2019 GMC Yukon SLE trim boasts of a 5.3-litre V8 that sends power to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is good for 355hp and 519Nm, sending the big SUV to 100kph in 7.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 200kph.
Although the Dodge Durango ships with an entry-level 3.6-litre V6 that makes 290hp and 353Nm, the trim most comparable to the Yukon is the Durango R/T which generates 360hp and 520Nm. Power is fed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The specs see the SUV darting to the ton in 7.5 seconds and top out at 220kph.

The entry-level GMC Yukon SLE is priced at AED 191,600 while the bells-and-whistles GMC Yukon XL Denali costs AED 322,100. The official dealer for GMC in UAE is Al Ghandi Automobiles
Check out the latest GMC Yukon prices and specifications in the UAE.
While the entry-level 2019 Dodge Durango SXT comes in at AED 156,000, the variant closest to the Yukon SLE is the Durango R/T AWD, costing AED 240,000. The top-end SRT trim costs AED 300,000. Dodge Chrysler Autos handles all Dodge sales in the Abu Dhabi, while Trading Enterprises is the official dealer for Dubai and the rest of the Emirates.
Check out the latest Dodge Durango prices and specifications in the UAE.
Purposeful stance with robust build. The 2019 GMC Yukon also comes with a luxury 'Denali' trim.

The GMC Yukon is undeniably a stellar product in that it offers so much for so little money. Technology, safety, performance, capability - the big American SUV has it all. Insert the Denali into the picture, and you have a proper luxury high-body limousine. Ferrying up to eight people in style at triple-digit speeds is definitely its forte.
With the Durango, however, Dodge has played a masterstroke. Sure, the SUV is shorter in length and narrower than the GMC, but it is taller and has a bigger, more powerful engine in its comparable trim. The Dodge Durango SRT is a straight-up muscle car in SUV clothing. But the SXT trim helps Dodge play two segments at once with one car.
 
The Dodge Durango has got muscle, there is no doubt it.
So the final question is: Do you want a rugged, simplistic, large SUV that can sit at triple-digit speeds with a full-load all day long, or do you want an SUV that looks mean, sounds mean, and basically has a muscle car engine under its hood?