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2024 Kia Soul ReviewBest Full-Size SUVs of 2023
Full-size SUVs ensure you’ll always have enough vehicle for the job, whether that’s hauling kids or lumber. We rank the best full-size SUV of 2023.
Family Haulers
When you’ve got a soccer team’s worth of kids to ferry to and fro, a boat to schlep to the lake and back, and an apartment’s worth of furniture and sundries to get to your kid’s college dorm, this is why we have full-size SUVs. With an emphasis on the Utility in Sport Utility Vehicle, full-size SUVs set out to be the do-it-all vehicle of the masses. That they happen to also be massive is both a help and hindrance. You’ll get all the room you could ever want, but you’ll also pay at the pump as a result. Thankfully, carmakers have been slowing introducing more efficient powertrain options to help compensate for the natural downsides of these titanic vehicles. Sky high tow ratings, the hottest in new infotainment technology, and cosseting interior spaces make these SUVs equally great on long summer road trips and your weekly grocery run with the kids. Below we rank the best full-size SUVs, seeking that perfect balance of comfort and capability that typifies the segment.
6. Toyota Sequoia
The Breakdown
Excellent powertrain
Comfortable ride
Sincere off-road skills
Dull handling
Third row is tight
Wind noise concerns
An extra engine choice would be great
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.0/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$59,795 - $78,395
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
22 City / 26 Hwy (MPG)
The 2023 Toyota Sequoia received a major refresh for its new third generation that brought with it a slew of improvements over the prior year’s version. A new powertrain, nicer interior, and a generous standard safety suite are balanced out by a tight third row and unwieldy handling. The Sequoia’s sole engine is a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 with a hybrid assist. That’s good for a stout 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, plus an impressive 22 city / 26 highway mpg. Towing comes in at 9,520 lbs. The Sequoia’s newness is especially appreciated in its revamped interior. Design is function forward, material quality is high, and fit and finish are excellent. A major weakness, however, is the relative lack of space in the third row and cargo area compared to rivals. Toyota wisely balances hard button controls to supplement their small-ish infotainment touchscreen. The Toyota Sequoia starts at $59,795 with the base SR5 trim and comes well-equipped, including a generous array of standard driver assist features. The off-road focused TRD Pro is the Sequoia’s most expensive at $78,395 and comes equipped with items like 33-inch off-road tires and a front skip plate. The Capstone trim is the Sequoia’s fanciest and comes with swanky offerings like wood interior trim and a heads-up display. Overall, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia has made vast strides over last year’s model, and yet it remains an okay option in a highly competitive segment.
5. Chevrolet Suburban
The Breakdown
Spacious interior
Great infotainment systems
Fun 6.2-liter engine
Cheapish interior quality
Lacking important safety equipment
Expensive upper trims
Does the Suburban family proud
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.1/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$58,795 - $78,945
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
21 City / 27 Hwy (MPG)
The Chevrolet Suburban is the oldest nameplate on our list and the SUV’s longevity is a testament to its ability to satisfy buyers’ needs. The Suburban does regular SUV things with aplomb. Towing large things and hauling large groups of people are what it excels at. While it doesn’t wow like some of the competition, the Suburban’s still a solid choice. The base engine is a serviceable 5.3L V8 with 355 horsepower. A six-cylinder diesel offers the Suburban’s best gas mileage at 23 combined. For a peppier response, there’s a 6.2L V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Towing maxes out at 8,300 lbs, but only with the 5.3L V8. The Suburban’s greatest strength is its capaciousness. Its cavernous cabin has loads of room all the way back to the third row, and plenty of cargo space as well. Material quality and finish are good but less impressive than other options, even from GM. An intuitive infotainment system comes with a less than great Bose stereo upgrade. The Suburban starts at $58,795 with the 5.3L V8. Driver assistance tech is less generous than rivals but does offer lane keep assist and parking sensors. The RST, at $66,895, is where you can access the larger 6.2L V8. The top trim High Country ($78,945) comes with high tech features like a digital rearview camera, pedestrian detection, and GM SuperCruise semi-autonomous driving system. The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban is a satisfying all-rounder of an SUV. Even so, there are others with better towing and nicer interiors.
4. Chevrolet Tahoe
The Breakdown
Great engines
Spacious interior
Athletic chassis
Cheapish feeling switchgear
Expensive top trims
Lackluster safety tech
We’d love more warranty coverage
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.2/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$55,995 - $76,195
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
21 City / 28 Hwy (MPG)
For whom the Suburban is a bit too much SUV, Chevrolet offers the slightly smaller but similar Tahoe. A smaller third row is balanced out with good space in the first two, and the same selection of powertrains better complements the more svelte stature of the Tahoe. The 5.3L V8 (355 horsepower) and the larger 6.2L V8 (420 horsepower) are here again. The same 3.0L diesel makes marginally better fuel economy (again thanks to the Tahoe’s smaller size) at 25 combined mpg. The Tahoe’s size also allows it to handle better than the Suburban, making it a good choice for those who are turned off by the ponderousness of big SUVs. Though smaller than the Suburban, the Tahoe is still a spacious vehicle (122.9 cu-ft of maximum cargo capacity). But like its larger sibling, its interior quality is middling, neither impressive nor offensive. The optional 12.6-in infotainment touchscreen isn’t just big, the operating system is crisp, responsive, and user friendly. The base LS starts at $55,995 and comes well-equipped with features like tri-zone climate control and automatic high beams. The off-road oriented Z71 starts at $66,395 and offers all-terrain tires, recovery hooks, and standard four-wheel drive. The top trim High Country starts at $76,195 and comes loaded with everything from a 360-degree camera to heated and ventilated front seats. Like the Suburban, the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe is a good all-around SUV with above average handling.
3. GMC Yukon
The Breakdown
Pretty Frosted Pine paint
Laser-etched Denali topo maps!
So much cabin comfort
Eye-watering Ultimate price
Needs a bigger screen
Existence of the Tahoe
Staggering in all metrics
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.5/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$59,295 - $96,450
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
15 City / 20 Hwy (MPG)
The 2023 GMC Yukon is the fanciest of GM’s trio of full-size SUVs. Loaded with features and sumptuously appointed, the Yukon is also spendy, especially if you’re really after those extra bells and whistles. Like the Tahoe and Suburban, the Yukon gets its motivation from either a base 5.3L V8 with 355 horsepower or a larger 6.2L V8 with 420 horsepower. No diesel in this case, which you’re stuck with less than stellar fuel economy. Handling is impressive for such a large vehicle, but the Yukon’s dimensions alone will mean taking care when maneuvering in tight places. Magnetic Ride Control and an adaptive air suspension system are available on the top trim Denali Ultimate. The GMC Yukon’s cabin is quite roomy, even all the way back into the third row (35 inches of legroom!). Cargo stretches to a full 123 cu-ft with all the rear seats down (or 144.7 cu-ft in the Yukon XL). The interior material quality impresses and nears luxury levels in the top Denali trims. Infotainment is intuitive, though some rivals offer larger screens. But 12.6-inch rear seat entertainment screens are available on the Denali Ultimate. Standard safety and driver assist features are aplenty, but GM’s Super Cruise is relegated to the top trim (noticing a pattern?). The GMC Yukon starts at $59,295 and comes standard with features like a 12-inch digital gauge cluster and rain-sensing wipers. All the way to the top with the Denali Ultimate and you’ll pay $95,450, but you get everything from 22-inch wheels and exclusive Alpine Umber leather upholstery to that rear seat entertainment system. The 2023 GMC does not fail to impress with its extensive list of amenities and features nor its cozy cabin or comfortable ride, just be ready to pay for it, all of it.
2. Ford Expedition
The Breakdown
Cavernous cabin
Plenty of power
Strong infotainment offerings
Good luck parking it
A pig at the pumps
Why no hybrid?
A well-rounded 3-ton beast
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.6/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$57,665 - $83,105
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
17 City / 23 Hwy (MPG)
The 2023 Ford Expedition stakes out its spot on this list based largely on its well-roundedness. Good power and towing, impressive tech, and a high degree of configurability make the Expedition a better than average large SUV. Eschewing the V8, Ford has graced the Expedition with a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 making 380 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not enough oomph for you, there’s the Timberland off-road trim which tunes that same engine to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. Towing maxes out at a healthy 9,300 lbs. The Expedition features a spacious cabin, though room in the third row is more limited than in the competing Suburban. The second and third rows fold down for a flat load floor, and if 105 cu-ft isn’t enough for you there’s the Expedition MAX with 121.5 cu-ft of total cargo capacity. A standard 12.2-inch infotainment touchscreen can be upgraded to a massive 15.5-inch vertical screen. The software housed therein is easy to navigate and responsive. Ford’s Co-Pilot360, their suite of advanced safety tech, comes standard and offers features like blind spot monitoring and forward collision mitigation. Blue Cruise, Ford’s semi-autonomous driving system, is available on the Platinum trim. Speaking of trims, the Expedition starts out at $57,665 with the XL offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, running boards, and a power driver’s seat. The off-road oriented Timberland trim starts at $73,940 and grants access to the upgraded 440-horsepower engine, skid plate, and four-wheel drive. The top trim Platinum starts at $83,105 and comes loaded with items like massaging front seats and hands-free Blue Cruise capability. The 2023 Ford Expedition stands out not for excelling in one area but for doing so many things well. A comfortable cabin, stout towing, and scads of the latest automotive tech make the Expedition a solid choice.
1. Jeep Wagoneer
The Breakdown
Spacious interior
Comfortable ride
Great technology
Quite pricey
Not nimble
Drinks gas like it’s going out of style
The nicest Jeep model at a price
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.7/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$60,995 - $73,220
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
17 City / 24 Hwy (MPG)
The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer takes what’s good about the above SUVs and goes a step further. The Wagoneer features a new, more efficient engine, decent handling, a spacious and well-appointed cabin, and class-leading towing capabilities. All at a reasonable price (given the average in this segment of giants). Its only weakness is that size and the poor fuel economy that comes with it. The base engine remains the 5.7L V8 with a healthy 392 horsepower. A new 3.0L twin-turbo V6 is there for improved efficiency and more power at 420 hp. If you’re looking to tow anything big, the Wagoneer offers class-leading numbers at a max of 10,000 lbs. The Wagoneer also features the best interior of any non-luxury vehicle in this segment. The ride is smooth and quiet, material quality impresses, and the design balances form and function effortlessly. Space is more than ample, but for maximum cargo capacity, look to the extended length Wagoneer L and its 130.9 cu-ft. The Wagoneer’s infotainment is another segment best with a logical, easy to use interface and crisp graphics. There are even options for a front passenger side infotainment screen and rear seat entertainment for the kids. Driver assist features are also plentiful and include items like lane departure warnings, blind spot monitoring, and additional options for adaptive cruise control and lane following. The Wagoneer has only three trims to choose from, but this means each is chock full of features. The Series 1, starting at $60,995, runs the 5.7L V8, has leather upholstery, a hands-free liftgate, and a heated steering wheel among its many amenities. The top trim Series III starts at $73,220 and comes with that passenger infotainment screen as well as options for a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, power running boards, and parking assist. The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer hauls people in style, offers class-topping towing capability, and next level creature comforts. And it does all of this at a reasonable price compared to the competition.
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