Those wanting to purchase a midsize 2023 SUV are hardly left wanting for choice with a bevy of options available. In fact, the market for either two- or three-row midsized SUVs is so flooded with selections from every mainstream manufacturer, it can be difficult to narrow down the top players. Plenty of models provide respectable performance, practicality, creature comforts, connectivity, and safety features, so standing out from the crowd is a tall order for any model in the class.
Still, there are SUVs that stand head-and-shoulders above their rivals for overall competency and value. As such, TopSpeed has whittled through the fluff to deliver you the top 2023 mid-size SUVs available today. These models vary in overall size, seating capacity, performance, and price, but our list includes models that will fit the needs of all prospective buyers who need a family hauler, commuter, off-road trek-er, or daily driver.
10 2023 Subaru Ascent: MSRP $35,120
The 2023 Ascent doesn’t, well, ascend to the top of our list, but the Ascent is still an overall attractive option in the midsize SUV segment that continues Subaru’s all-terrain prowess with standard all-wheel drive and an attractive starting price of $35,120. The Ascent can haul up to eight passengers as standard with available second-row captain’s chairs offering seating for up to seven. It’s powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque with a max tow rating of 5,000 pounds.
All models are equipped with a continuously variable transmission. The Subaru’s cabin isn’t as upmarket as some rivals, but it does feature amenities like a 11.6-inch touchscreen, an available 360-degree camera, and Cabin Connect, an interior speaker system for easier communication between passengers. Third-row space also falls behind some competitors, but the Ascent still manages 18 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats. Subaru's biggest SUV makes it onto our list in part due to the Ascent being refreshed for 2023 with some new styling cues and better standard equipment.
9 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee: MSRP $42,830
Many midsize SUVs have gone away from the sport utility roots of prowess off the beaten path, but the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee sticks with tradition and offers the all-terrain capability for the whole family, and its the best midsize SUV for towing with a rating of up to 6,200 pounds. Several models include an electronically locking limited-slip differential, with the rough-and-tumble Trailhawk model equipped with an adjustable air suspension and disconnecting sway bar for tackling the great outdoors.
For that added capability, the Jeep commands a higher starting price, $42,830, than most of the entries on this list, and those willing to dish out more dough for upper trims receive a handsome and upscale cabin and appointments. The Grand Cherokee does not have an available third-row option limiting seating to five passengers, but the cargo hold behind the rear seats is a massive 37.7 cubic feet. The Grand Cherokee comes standard with a 3.6-liter V-6 dishing out 293 horsepower, though a 375-horsepower plug-in hybrid “4xe” powertrain is also available and is the quickest (and most fuel-efficient) of the bunch with a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds.
8 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe: MSRP $30,085
For those who don’t need the larger dimensions, third-row seating, or towing capacity of the three-row Palisade, Hyundai’s smaller-but-still-midsize Santa Fe is a compelling choice with seating for five and 36 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear row. There’s also seemingly a Santa Fe for almost all buyers with 10 trims and four powertrains available, though its towing capacity is limited to 3,500 pounds. We recently tested the top-spec Calligraphy trim. The standard powertrain is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder offering 191 horsepower with an optional 277-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter engine and both pair with an eight-speed automatic.
Meanwhile, the Santa Fe Hybrid is equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and dual electric motors for a combined 226 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive while the plug-in-hybrid uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter with a single electric motor for a combined output of 260 horsepower. Inside, the Santa Fe’s cabin is spacious for passengers in both rows with creature comforts like a head-up display, heated rear seats, dual 12.3-inch displays, and plenty of standard driver’s aids and safety features. The Hyundai also delivers a composed and smooth ride and a solid build quality for its price point starting at just $30,085.
7 2023 Ford Explorer: MSRP $38,355
The Ford Explorer has been in production since 1991, and the three-row SUV continues to be a top player in the midsize class. The Explorer, which starts at $38,355, is among the most powerful non-luxury midsize SUVs on sale with three powertrain options — a 2.3-liter inline-four, 3.0-liter turbo V-6, and V-6 hybrid — offering between 300 to 410 horsepower, up to 415 pound-feet of torque, and a max tow rating of 5,600 pounds.
The Explorer seats up to seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs, and though rear passenger space trails some rivals, its 18.2 cubic feet of storage behind the second row is still accommodating. Those behind the first row can enjoy a rear-seat entertainment system, while a 10.1-inch tablet-like display is available along with a 12-speaker premium sound system and automatically sliding second-row seats for easy ingress/egress to the rear.
6 2023 Chevrolet Traverse: MSRP $35,915
The 2023 Traverse may not outshine its competition in all categories, but with its rich feature set, it remains a solid overall choice among three-row midsize SUVs, especially for those who put a premium on practicality. The Traverse offers a class-leading 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear row, and it will haul up to eight with bench seats or seven passengers with second-row captain’s chairs.
And unlike many of its rivals, adults won’t have to be completely pinched to ride in the third row. All Traverse models, which start at $35,915, are powered by a 310-horsepower V-6 engine that pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and can haul up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. On the road, the Traverse delivers a quiet and comfortable ride with features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, power liftgate, and an available 10-speaker Bose sound system.
5 2023 Nissan Pathfinder: MSRP $36,535
Nissan has a reputation for being a value-oriented choice in the segments in which it competes, and the Pathfinder is a prime example of that. Though it's $36,535 asking price is on par which much of the entries on this list, the top-of-the-range Pathfinder tops out at under $50,000 and comes well-equipped with a suite of safety features and creature comforts like a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, wireless charging, and semi-aniline leather upholstery. The Pathfinder comes with three rows and seating for up to eight as standard, though second-row captain’s chairs are available for up to seven seats.
Nissan’s smaller three-row SUV (the Armada is in the full-sized segment) is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 cranking out 284 horsepower and paired with a traditional nine-speed automatic. The off-road-spec Rock Creek trim ups the power to 295 horses and includes a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and standard all-wheel drive. Max towing is an impressive 6,000 pounds, and while the Pathfinder offers less cargo space than its rivals, 17 cubic feet behind the rear row, it comes with convenient cabin storage spaces.
4 2023 Toyota Highlander: MSRP $37,775
Like many of its Toyota stablemates, the three-row Highlander is a well-composed overall choice with plenty of trims and powertrains available, generous standard features, and real-world practicality and comfort. The Highlander can accommodate seven or eight passengers with 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. It’s available with either a 2.4-liter four-cylinder offering 265 horsepower (which replaces the previously standard V-6 engine) and either front or all-wheel drive and a max tow rating of 5,000 pounds.
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain is also offered with dual electric motors for a combined output of 243 horsepower paired with a CVT. In addition to a suite of standard driver’s aids, the Highlander can be had with dual 12.3-inch displays, a power-operated liftgate, wireless charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot with an intuitive dashboard setup for drivers. The Highlander isn’t the quickest or most nimble midsize SUV, but it provides the kind of comfort and agreeable dynamics expected of a family hauler.
3 2023 Honda Pilot: MSRP $37,295
The three-row Honda Pilot has been completely updated for 2023, and it’s now as compelling as ever with an updated powertrain, stylish new looks, and the same overall pragmaticism as the previous iteration. The Pilot is still, er, piloted by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine offering 285 horsepower with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, and it can seat up to eight passengers or seven with available second-row captain’s chairs with a spacious 19 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats.
Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available, which ups the Honda’s max tow rating to 5,000 pounds. The Pilot delivers a comfortable drive, and it is well-equipped throughout its range, with mid-range models offering niceties like leather seats, a power liftgate, and wireless charging. A new rugged Trailsport trim is also available with an offroad kit like a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, a tuned all-wheel-drive system, and skid plates.
2 2023 Hyundai Palisade: MSRP $37,235
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade doesn’t take the top spot on our list, but as the corporate cousin of our No. 1 pick (spoiler alert), the Kia Telluride, it barely misses topping the chart with very little separating the two fantastic three-row, midsized SUVs. The Palisade is powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 offering a respectable 291 horsepower and 5,000-pound towing capacity. In our road test, we were impressed with Palisade’s performance as it had an athleticism that beguiles its footprint and is slightly improved over the Telluride.
It is available in either seven- or eight-passenger seating arrangements with reasonable third-row passenger space and a generous 18 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats. And it’s not just spacious — the Palisade’s cabin feels far more upmarket than its pricing would suggest. There’s also a seemingly mile-long list of standard features like a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, seven USB ports, ample safety features, and driver’s aids that include Hyundai’s unique Blind Spot View Monitor.
1 2023 Kia Telluride: MSRP $37,255
The Kia Telluride has become the darling of the midsize SUV segment that’s been lauded by both automotive experts and consumers alike since its introduction — and for good reason. When it comes to delivering the best overall value in the class, the Telluride shines with a reasonable price starting at $37,255. The three-row Kia can seat either seven or eight passengers with a whopping 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and no matter the model, its cabin feels notably more upscale than many of its rivals. Opt for a higher trim and it feels downright luxurious with features like a head-up display, ventilated rear seats, and Nappa leather seats.
Like the Palisade, it’s powered by a 291-horsepower V-6 capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds, and it is slightly more efficient at 20 combined mpg versus the 19 combined offered by the Hyundai. In our road test of the Telluride, we found that it edges its corporate cousin with its more spacious cargo area, better fuel economy, and higher ride height and ground clearance for all-terrain treks. And, subjectively, it’s easy to appreciate its rugged looks. Overall, the Telluride sits at the top of the midsize SUV class with its proficiency in all categories and attractive pricing.