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If you're looking for a three-row SUV, the market has many options for you to pick from. Three-row SUVs are excellent for families who need to ferry around combinations of passengers and luggage, and you'll find options in the midsize and full-size segments. Two solid contenders from the midsize segment are the 2023 Toyota Highlander and the 2023 Ford Explorer.
The 2023 Highlander is based on the fourth-generation variant, which debuted in 2019 and has received yearly updates. The most significant upgrade for 2023 is a new powertrain. Meanwhile, the 2023 Explorer is based on 2020’s sixth generation iteration of Ford’s popular mid-sizer.
If you'd like to discover which is ahead in the best three-row SUV segment, let’s put the 2023 Highlander vs. Explorer. We’ll compare the SUVs in terms of performance, interior, and safety specifications. And if you want to have first-hand experience with what the new Highlander offers, call up the sales team of Thomasville Toyota in Thomasville, GA.
The 2023 Highlander and the 2023 Explorer offer spacious cabins with up to three rows of seating. They've also got identically sized trunks, which can be expanded by folding down the third and second rows, respectively. Both models offer an optional Captain Chair arrangement for the second row, which sees two plush individual seats instead of a bench.
Once you've spent some time in both cabins, you'll appreciate the build quality of the 2023 Highlander. The interior materials, finishes, and switchgear feel sturdy, and you can be assured of their functionality even a decade later. Both vehicles come with features such as power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats, multi-zone climate control, and rear entertainment systems on some trim levels.
In terms of infotainment, the two SUVs come with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ as standard fitment. Buyers receive an 8-inch touch screen on lower trims. Higher trims on the 2023 Highlander receive a 12.3-inch touch screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. This is far nicer than the largest screen on the 2023 Explorer, which tops out at 10.1 inches. However, the Explorer counters with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system upgrade, while the Highlander offers an 11-speaker JBL system. A Wi-Fi hotspot is standard on both SUVs. The Highlander also adds Amazon Alexa integration across the range.
The most significant powertrain change on the 2023 Highlander is its new engine. Gone is the old 3.5-liter V6, and in its place is a downsized 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. The new engine churns out 265 horsepower, which is less than the V6. But it counters with more torque, producing 310 pound-feet. All the torque is accessible at just 1,700 rpm, making the 2023 Highlander extremely pleasing to drive in the city. Buyers can choose between a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel-drive system.
There's also the 2023 Highlander Hybrid, with its 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine plus electric motor system serving up 243 horsepower. A CVT gearbox handles transmission duties. Buyers can also choose between a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel-drive system.
The 2023 Explorer offers a choice of three engines, with the base engine being a 2.3-liter Ecoboost turbo 4-cylinder that develops 300 horsepower. Then, there's a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 with 400 horsepower and the Explorer Hybrid with 318 horsepower. A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard across the range. Buyers can pick between a rear-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive system.
The 2023 Highlander and the 2023 Explorer come with airbags, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection. Both SUVs also have blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The 2023 Highlander offers the added benefit of Toyota Safety Sense.
The verdict is in on this Highlander vs. Explorer comparison, and the winner is the 2023 Toyota Highlander. It seamlessly combines practicality, reliability, power, and efficiency into one competitive package. But don't just take our word for it. Simply swing by Thomasville Toyota in Thomasville, GA, and test drive a 2023 Highlander. Then, you'll see for yourself. Once convinced, we'll help you get the new Highlander on your driveway.
