Again with the comparison, but the Escalade and Yukon Denali I tested have the exact same 6.2-liter V-8, yet they felt worlds apart. Sure, the Escalade is tuned to turn out 403 horsepower versus the Denali's 383 hp, but at that end of the spectrum — and in this large of a vehicle — it shouldn't have made such a big difference. The Escalade and its six-speed transmission felt powerful, where the Denali was often straining to get to speed. And this was with four passengers and luggage, and with the A/C on constantly.

Braking in the Escalade offered the same tried and true delivery, but was kicked up a notch. Whether GM just made the Escalade slightly better or is holding the Yukon Denali back I don't know, but if you can afford the roughly $10,000 difference there's no question which vehicle provides the better experience for drivers.