The 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate promises to be the kind of full-size SUV that could take down a luxury SUV like the Cadillac Escalade. It’s a super-nice SUV with high-end features and the kind of quality materials that make it appealing to those who might be willing to spend a lot to get exactly the kind of SUV that they want. Yet will it be nice enough to take down the Cadillac Escalade, a mainstay of the luxury full-size SUV segment? Let’s look at how the 2024 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate vs the Cadillac Escalade is likely to play out.

The 2024 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate promises to be supremely nice

The 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate will be a nice SUV with a lot of luxury features. It has a dark chrome understated exterior. This will be a welcome look for those who prefer their luxury to be refined and not in-your-face. It will also have 22-inch, seven-spoke wheels. The engine is a 6.2-liter V8. This is matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. You can also upgrade to a 3.0-liter diesel engine.

On the inside, there’s a 16-way power front seat for both the driver and the passengers – and those seats have massaging functions, too. In addition, there are speakers in the headrests, which almost sounds too comfortable to stay awake in. The dashboard has Mount Denali carved into the Paldao wood and aluminum trim.

The Denali Ultimate will also have a premium 10.2-inch infotainment screen, a 12-inch digital driver information center, and a 15-inch head-up display.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade is one of the nicest full-size SUVs

The 2022 Escalade comes with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that can make 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine available that makes 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both of these engine choices are matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The base model of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade is the Luxury. It comes with 22-inch wheels, simulated leather upholstery, and a 16.9-inch infotainment screen that stretches across the dashboard. It also has a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster. In addition, the Escalade offers keyless entry and ignition with remote start and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging comes in the 2022 Escalade, as does a hands-free liftgate and 19-speaker sound system.

The Denali Ultimate vs the Cadillac Escalade: which will be more expensive?

Right now there’s no official pricing on the 2024 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate. Yet Car and Driver estimates that its price will begin somewhere around $92,000. That’s based on the pricing of the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate, which costs $20,000 over the regular Denali. On the other hand, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade price starts at $76,295, though it can easily go over $100,000.

Will the 2024 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate be able to top the Cadillac Escalade‘s sales? It’s possible, considering the two cousin SUVs have completely different images. While the Escalade is seen as a luxury vehicle – and a bit of a showy one, at that – the Yukon Denali Ultimate is the kind of understated SUV that just might appeal to a broader audience. Whether Cadillac steps up its game to compete with its GMC relative remains to be seen, but it will certainly make things interesting in the luxury car segment.