2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Kia Telluride
2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Kia Telluride
The Ford Explorer is a mainstay of full-size SUVs, a true truck-platform vehicle that offers outstanding power and performance. Kia's closest competitor is the Telluride. Let's see whether the 2023 Ford Explorer or the 2023 Kia Telluride wins out in a direct head-to-head comparison.
Engine Power and Performance
The Ford Explorer offers four engines against the single engine for the Telluride. Even Ford's base engine, a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, produces 300 horsepower as opposed to the Telluride's 291 horsepower V-6 engine. It only gets better from there with Ford. Three additional engines are available, a 3.3-liter V-6 hybrid at 318 horsepower, a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 at 365 horsepower, and the massive 3.0-liter performance V-6 at 400 horsepower.
Towing, Hauling, and Going off Road
The Ford Explorer shines in towing, hauling, and off-roading. When properly equipped, it boasts a maximum towing capacity of 5,600 pounds, which exceeds the Telluride's 5,500-pound maximum. This is due to the Explorer's standard rear-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive, as opposed to the Telluride's front-wheel drive with available all-wheel-drive platform. While both offer off-road-oriented trims, Ford is famed for its ability to tackle the trails.
Comfort and Technology
Both the Ford Explorer and the Kia Telluride offer an outstanding suite of technology and comfort features. These include plenty of space for passengers, standard smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and standard driver aid features like frontal crash mitigation with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alerts. In terms of comfort and technology, it's a tie.
In the end, for sheer power, performance, and capability, the 2023 Ford Explorer wins this challenge.
