Best Large SUVs For 2023

Americans love big SUVs and it isnât hard to see why. Full-size utes advertise that youâre livinâ large just by their sheer size, but theyâre also kings of the âutilityâ factor in âSport Utility Vehicles.â They offer van-like room for people and cargo,towing capacity and very often genuine off-road capability. Their brawn is in part due to their construction: nearly all are body-on-frame designs, with SUV wagon shapes sitting atop stout truck frames The downside to full-size SUVsâ huge frames and acres of sheetmetal is weight, which means mediocre-at-best fuel economy and sometimes ponderous handling. Many midsize and smaller SUVs, where efficiency and ride comfort are higher priorities, use unibody construction, integrating both body and chassis into a single (much lighter) unit. Not a single vehicle on this list weighs less than 5,400 pounds Still, fuel economy standards have meant improvements to how much fuel these big bruisers use. GMâs full-size SUVs offer diesel engines offering as much as 24 mpg combined, Fordâs Expedition uses a twin-turbo V6 and the 2023 Toyota Sequoia comes only as a hybrid. Most SUVs this big got around 15 mpg combined in 2008, but today the average is closer to 18, and itâs mostly older V8s that keep it low. Except for the Nissan Armada, every model on this list now offers a powerplant that can manage 19 or 20 mpg combined Large SUVs are people (not just kid) hauling, toy-pulling and cargo-carrying superstars. And many are loaded with modern tech (think surround-view cameras and air suspensions) that helps eliminate the burden of their hulking size, especially when driving around town or navigating tight parking lots. These mainstream brand vehicles also often offer luxury appointments that put them close to their luxury-brand counterparts in look and feel. These are the best large SUVs available for 2023, and our list contains a mixture of 2022 and 2023 models - 2023 Jeep Wagoneer The New King Of The Full-Size SUVs - 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe Big, Bold And Better Than Ever - 2022 Ford Expedition An Excellent All-Arounder, With Decent Economy And Plenty Of Towing Power - 2022 Chevrolet Suburban The Ace Of Space, But A Little Shy On Towing Capacity - 2022 GMC Yukon Livinâ Large Like A Junior Edition Escalade - 2023 Toyota Sequoia The First Hybrid-Only Large SUV - 2023 Nissan Armada An Aging Machine, But A Good Value Buy Price Starting From$60,995 via CarsDirect Why We Picked It After a 29-year hiatus, the Jeep Wagoneer nameplate returned in 2022 on a brand-new full-size SUV. The Wagoneer, which Jeep says is a sub-brand, also has a luxury sibling, the Grand Wagoneer, but both of these new machines are seriously capable. With lots of room inside, including nearly best-in-class space for cargo and a very roomy third row, the Wagoneer was a winner on utility alone, but it also boasted real off-road ability (we tested it) and up to 10,000 pounds of towing capacity when properly configured. Both attributes are best in class But the 2022 Wagoneer had two weaknessesâit came only as a fuel-hungry, 89-octane swilling V8 with fuel economy well below its GM and Ford competition and it didnât offer a stretched version as they do. This year Jeep has rectified both shortcomings. There is now a stretched Wagoneer L variant that compares exceedingly well to the Chevy Suburban and Ford Expedition Max on cargo and passenger space, and Jeep has fitted parent company Stellantisâ new âHurricaneâ family of turbocharged six-cylinder engines that can return up to 20 mpg in combined driving Though not as posh as the Grand version, the Wagoneer is also a tech-rich, premium-feeling machine The interior material substrates and design feel more natural than the Yukon and Expedition, and the interior feels nearly as luxurious as the Cadillac Escalade. If the Suburban is Bass Pro and the Escalade John Varvatos, the Wagoneer is Barbour. The Wagoneer earns the top spot on our list because of its capability and comfort levels, but they do come at a cost. Model for model, the Wagoneer is the most expensive vehicle on the list Pros & Cons - Powerful new six-cylinder engine delivers improved fuel economy, impressive performance - Off-road capability superior to most other SUVs this large - Comfortable, high-end feeling interior, with massive cargo space and a huge third row - Sheer size and width can be hard to manageâit really does fill up every lane - High price relative to other mainstream-brand large SUVs - Even with that new engine, itâs still fuel-hungry, particularly as a V8 Price Starting From$52,000 via CarsDirect Why We Picked It Fully redesigned in 2021, the Chevy Tahoe made major technical improvements to its familiar recipe, namely ditching truck-sourced leaf springs for a fully independent rear suspension and adding a thrifty new turbodiesel six-cylinder engine option. The new rear suspension freed up a whole lot more space in the back for people and cargo, and the Tahoe is still the class leader on cargo and third-row room, at least among the non-stretched versions of vehicles in this class. The suspension also makes the Tahoe a better handling vehicle than many competitors and certainly any previous Tahoe Not content to rest on that record of SUV dominance, Chevy gave LT and higher trims of the Tahoe a major tech update for 2022, with a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a major infotainment upgrade to a Google-native system thatâs among the easiest to use in the class. Chevy has also expanded the availability of the bigger 6.2-liter V8, which can now be had on the RST, Z71 and Premier models, but itâs fuel-sipping 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six that really makes the Tahoe shine, with 24 mpg combined and 8,200 pounds of towing capacity On the downside? The Tahoeâs maximum 8,400-pound tow rating is now a little low for the class, the optional 6.2-liter V8 performs well butdown premium gas to the tune of 16 mpg combined and the âaffordableâ base-model LS is so so spartan it could be an extra in the movie 300. But the Tahoe does have some other virtues, including best-in-class optional towing assistance features. These issues aside, thereâs lots to like here, and the Tahoe is a must-drive for anybody in the market for an SUV this size Pros & Cons - Best in class passenger and cargo space for its size - Three solid powertrain choices, each with lots of brawn - 24 mpg combined fuel economy from turbodiesel six - Base model too basic, so the real starting point for most buyers will be over $60,000 - Optional V8 a gas guzzler - Many desirable features cost extra, including towing-assist gear Also Featured In Price Starting From$51,650 Why We Picked It The big Ford Expedition has always been a close relative of Fordâs best-selling F-150 pickup, and it continues to share many of that truckâs hauling talents. Though now dethroned by the Jeep Wagoneer and Toyota Sequoia in overall towing capacity, it still offers a towering 9,300-pound rating. With a design dating back to 2018, Ford also gave the Expedition a big injection of style, tech and capability for 2022 A new Timberline model promises enhanced off-road ability, the styling has been tweaked and thereâs a new, more-powerful Stealth model for urban SUV fans of on-road performance. The interior got a new dashboard featuring a standard 12-inch infotainment display and an optional, portrait-style 15.5-inch unit borrowed from the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. Other improvements include several new active-safety features that are bundled into Fordâs Co-Pilot360 suite, including road edge detection, intersection assist, reverse automatic emergency braking and evasive steering assist The Expedition no longer offers a V8, but instead makes do with a responsive twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, with up to 440 horsepower in the Timberline version or when equipped with the Stealth package. Though itâs mid-pack in fuel economy, even the heavier Timberline is still rated at 17 mpg combined. Ford also offers a stretched version, the Expedition Max, which compares well to the Chevrolet Suburban and Jeep Wagoneer L, falling between both in towing capacity but behind them in cargo and passenger room Pros & Cons - Huge interior, if not quite as much room as GM and Jeep - Big towing power without terrible fuel economy - Lots of standard safety gear and many available configurations - Hefty price tag for a non-luxury SUV - Some configurations cost more than a Lincoln Navigator - Land yacht size translates to land yacht driving feel Price Starting From$54,700 via CarsDirect Why We Picked It While many competitors include their stretched SUVs in the same lineup as their standard-size ones (Expedition Max, Yukon XL), the Chevrolet Suburban gets a different name than its regular-sized counterpart, the Tahoe. Under the skin though, the big âBurb is just a lengthened Tahoe. It benefits from the same technical changes that came with both modelsâ 2021 redesign, namely the independent rear suspension, big gains in interior space and the thrifty turbodiesel option The extra room freed up by that suspension means that the 2022 Suburban offers more room for people and gear than any of its ancestors, and it handles much better too, though this is still a really huge vehicle, so donât expect a sports car. This year brings new infotainment software, added active-safety features and wider availability of the powerful 6.2-liter V8, shared with Cadillacâs Escalade The highs include van-like cargo room (up to 144.7 cubic-feet, the best in class by quite a bit), limousine-like passenger room, up to 8,300 pounds of towing brawn and up to 23 mpg combined from the turbodiesel. The addition of more safety features improves the value proposition, but the Suburban still gets very pricey when you add options and its towing capacity is a little lower than the Expedition Maxâs or Wagoneer Lâs. Like the Tahoe, the base-model LS is also basic indeed Pros & Cons - If you want more cargo space than this, youâll have to get a full-sized van - Excellent fuel mileage and towing performance from optional diesel - Probably the best on-road handler of the truly large SUVs - Base model pretty basic, not cheap in higher trims - Interior materials on top models not quite in sync with the price - Many desirable features cost extra Also Featured In /httpswww.forbes.com/wheels/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022_GMC_Yukon_Gallery1.png) /httpswww.forbes.com/wheels/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022_GMC_Yukon_Gallery1.png) Price Starting From$54,000 via CarsDirect Why We Picked It Like Chevyâs Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Yukon was redesigned in 2021 with major improvements in handling, interior space and fuel efficiency, though that last upgrade depends on you purchasing the optional turbodiesel inline six-cylinder engine. Unlike the Chevy versions of this same platform, the Yukon wears uncontroversially handsome styling and has a more upmarket bent. Itâs meant to occupy the space between the entry-level Tahoe and the nearly six-figure Cadillac Escalade While not quite as luxurious as the latter, itâs nicer inside than the Chevrolets and comes in an equally wide variety of trims. There are also two versions, the regular-sized Yukon and the stretched Yukon XL, which is equivalent to the Suburban and also competes with the Wagoneer L and Expedition Max. The Yukon can tow up to 8,400 pounds and comes with one of two punchy V8s or the frugal and strong diesel Unfortunately, the diesel isnât available on all models and some of the Yukonâs highest-end trims feel a little less special than their price and marketing suggest. But opt for a lower trim or the off-road-themed AT4 and you get a very satisfying, and hugely roomy, SUV for much less outlay than the top-drawer Denali Pros & Cons - Capacious and comfortable passenger capacity in all three rows, class-leading cargo space - Nicely appointed interior on higher trims, with a minimum of cheap plastic - A good performer and handler, and good looking too - Potent, but thirsty gas engines, diesel not available on AT4 - Top trims more expensive than they feel - Big third row, but cumbersome to access Also Featured In Price Starting From$58,300 Why We Picked It The 2023 Toyota Sequoia is all-new from the ground up, and not a moment too soon. The previous model dated all the way back to 2008 and was at the bottom of the pack in fuel economy and many other areas. Not anymore. The old V8 is gone, replaced by a standard hybrid layout, featuring a twin-turbo V6 and electric motors for a quantum leap in fuel economy. The previous Sequoia struggled to hit 14 mpg combined with four-wheel drive, while the new one can deliver 20. It also boasts a big increase in towing capacity, with up to a 9,520-pound rating, up from 7,400 pounds in 2022 Toyota also gave the Sequoia a totally new (and quite stylish) look, one in keeping with the Toyota Tundra pickup it shares its platform and frame with. But the Sequoiaâs wagon body actually looks much better than the Tundraâs pickup shape, and its one of the most stylish entries in this class. Itâs all-new inside too, with a modern interior dominated bright new infotainment screens up to 14 inches wide and backed by the automakerâs newest infotainment and digital assistant software. As before, Toyota also ladles on a huge amount of standard active-safety gear Where the Sequoia still lags, however, is in passenger and cargo space. This is a big vehicle, but it has the least overall cargo space in the class and one of the smallest holds behind the third row when itâs in use. That way back seat is also much smaller than the ones in the Sequoiaâs domestic-brand competitors. Still, thereâs much to like about this reinvented full-sizer, particularly its combination of good fuel economy and big towing numbers Pros & Cons - Standard hybrid drivetrain dramatically improves fuel economy - Major increases in towing capacity and off-road capability - Compelling new design inside and out, and lots of modern technology features - Far short of class leaders on cargo space - Relatively modest third-row accommodations - No stretched version like domestic competitors Also Featured In Price Starting From$52,095 via CarsDirect Why We Picked It Based on the global-market Nissan Patrol, the Armadaâs basic design is now 13 years old and its age is reflected in its overall score. However, this big SUVâs pricing makes it a bargain if you can live with its shortcomings. The Armada costs as much as $9,000 less than comparable models from Chevrolet and Jeep, and for that much many buyers can overlook some shortcomings. The Armada also does lots of things well, including offering 8,500 pounds of standard towing capacity and a powerful V8 Nissan also gave the Armada a big update in 2021, with much-improved in-vehicle technology and connectivity offerings (including a standard 12.3-inch central touchscreen) and updated styling inside and out. The 400 horsepower V8, stout frame and 9.3 inches of ground clearance makes for a good off-road companion and the Nissan is a capable people mover too. Where it falls down? Itâs got less cargo space than the domestic SUVs (but, curiously, more than the new Sequoia), gets worst-in-class gas mileage and has a distinctly mid-size third row But Nissan does build in a comprehensive suite of standard active-safety gear and many tech features, and despite its fundamental age the interior doesnât feel dated. Though off the pace dynamically and a thirsty machine to feed at the pump, the price is very friendly Pros & Cons - Meaningfully less expensive than many alternatives - Powerful V8 engine with a standard 8,500-pound tow rating - Loads of tech features and driver-assist gear - Terrible fuel economy - Lots of body roll on-road handling - Less cargo and passenger space than domestic rivals Also Featured In ## Forbes Wheels: How Do We Rate Cars? **Methodology ** These SUVs were selected for two main criteria: 1) the ranking by Forbes Wheels staff, 2) their status a popular-brand, relatively affordable machines. We rank the best large luxury SUVs separately, even though some of the SUVs on this list can top out above $80,000 This list contains a mixture of 2022 and 2023 model year vehicles. Our rating methodology expanded from five to seven categories for 2022 and remains unchanged for 2023 **For 2022, our ratings categories are - Performance - Fuel Economy - Safety - Infotainment - Comfort & Room - Cargo Space & Storage - Style & Design **Overall: 100 points** Performance (15 points)The Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicleâs handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and other qualitative performance measures such as horsepower, torque, zero-to-60 time and top speed. Towing capability for trucks and SUVs also is considered. Performance of the vehicles is compared against the identified competitive set. While driving, reviewers look for attributes relative to the expectations set by the manufacturer and by consumer expectations Fuel Economy (15 points)The Fuel Economy score is based on the combined mpg estimate for the entire model lineup and how that figure measures against the identified competitive set. The mpg estimates are based on EPA data or the manufacturer if no EPA data is available. Hybrid and plug-in electric variants within a lineup that significantly lower their overall average will not be included in the comparison unless the competitive set also has hybrid or PHEV variants. Scoring for pure electric vehicles will be based on kilowatts consumed per 100 miles and the comparative mile per gallon equivalent, or MPGe Safety (15 points)The Safety score is based on crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Vehicles not yet rated by either agency receive zero points. Also included in the safety rating are points awarded for certain advanced driver-assistance safety features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. There are nine safety features Forbes Wheels considers mandatory for the standard offering: forward emergency automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or one of its higher-level variants, lane keeping assistance or lane centering. Vehicles must have at least four of these in their standard offering to receive points. Vehicles that offer a Level 2 self-driving system (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane centering) are eligible for a bonus point. Infotainment (15 points)The Infotainment score is based on points awarded for certain features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. Forbes Wheels identifies certain features that are growing in popularity and therefore have been adopted by both premium and mainstream automakers. Some of these features include a minimum 7-inch touchscreen (or premium vehicles that use a rotary knob, touchpad or other mechanism to control a non-touchscreen display), wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a customizable, digital driver information display or instrument panel and at least 2 USB ports. Additional points are awarded for popular features that havenât been widely adopted in mainstream vehicles such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging capabilities. Comfort & Room (15 points)The Comfort & Room score is based on points awarded for the reviewerâs assessment of the vehicleâs comfort, ergonomics and overall interior feel as well as effective use of space. Points also are awarded for the measurement oflegroom and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer segment-best legroom in either rear seat or optional third row are eligible for a bonus point Cargo Space & Storage (15 points)The Cargo Space & Storage score is based on points awarded for the reviewerâs assessment of the vehicleâs large and small cargo spaces (as well as small-item storage) and how well they serve their purpose and effective use of space. Reviewers also consider innovative storage solutions and flexible loading features. Points also are awarded for the cargo space measurements for the rear cargo hold or trunk and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best cargo or trunk space are eligible for a bonus point. Styling (10 points)The Styling score is a subjective assessment of a vehicleâs overall styling and design, inside and out. Reviewers also consider the configuration of the interior and how well the design plays into the function. Build quality also is a consideration.