2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

Some drivers choose an SUV for the sole purpose of taking it on all kinds of exciting adventures. If you’re looking for a new SUV that can act as a useful companion for all of your camping trips or visits to the beach, Ford and Hyundai may have exactly what you need. Today, the friendly staff at Essential Ford of Stuart will be taking a close look at the 2023 Ford Explorer and the 2023 Hyundai Palisade to help you find your next family-friendly sport utility vehicle. For more Ford vehicles near you, take a look at our new inventory online! 

2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

An SUV worthy of camping trips should be able to do more than just roll over a few rocks and branches. Intuitive driving technology can make driving through any terrain a breeze, and of course, safety is always the first priority. It also doesn’t hurt to have great entertainment value, especially during longer trips. We can safely say that the 2023 Ford Explorer easily covers these bases, leaving the Palisade in the dust.



Performance

Whether you like to traverse through the forest or take a straight shot all the way to grandma’s house, there’s an engine to suit your needs when it comes to the new 2023 Ford Explorer. There are three different engine types with the standard being a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 engine capable of 300 horsepower which is already more than adequate for any trip. There is a more powerful 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine supporting 400 horsepower and is enhanced with Auto Start-Stop Technology. For a more fuel-conscious option, there is another 3.3L V6 Hybrid engine available for better mileage. All powertrains run on a 10-speed automatic transmission setup. Driving technologies for the Explorer include side-wind stabilization for driving in high winds, SelectShift for switching over to all-wheel drive on the fly, and a Terrain Management System with 7 total drive modes including Normal, Trail, Deep Snow/Sand, Slippery, Sport, Tow/Haul, and Eco.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade only comes with one engine type, and it’s less impressive than all the Explorer has to offer. It consists of a 3.8L V6 engine capping out at 291 horsepower, and it’s only an 8-speed auto. You can upgrade to the HTRAC All-Wheel Drive option, but that’s about all there is when it comes to dynamic driving technology.

Safety & Features

Safety features between the Ford Explorer and Hyundai Palisade are actually very similar. They each come with their own standard package, with the Explorer having Ford Co-Pilot360 and the Palisade coming with Hyundai SmartSense. They both have auto high beams, blind spot assistance, collision avoidance, advanced cruise control, and a lane-keeping system. One thing that’s unique to the Explorer, however, is the Active Park Assist 2.0 package which includes a 360-degree camera with a split-view display and Post-Collision Braking with rear parking sensors. While many vehicles mainly focus on collision avoidance, it’s interesting to see a safety feature designed to activate after an accident as they are still likely to happen despite the level of preventive measures present.



Interior

The quality of the interior cabin is a big deal, especially when you’re going to be occupying the space for a prolonged period of time. Thankfully, the new Ford Explorer has all kinds of accommodations in place to help you feel at home while on the road. And with 7 seats, you can bring an entire party with you! The front row will be especially glad to have multi-contour seats designed to prevent fatigue paired with Active Motion which provides you with an array of upper and lower back massage settings. Power-folding seats for the third row make expanding your cargo space a breeze, and the available cargo management system provides even more sections to store more goods with extra pockets and underfloor storage. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen is set to portrait mode which makes sense for those who hold their tablets vertically when looking up information.

You’ll find a 12.3-inch infotainment screen in the Palisade, but many people would prefer the unique orientation of the Explorer’s portrait screen. The Palisade is able to support a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system which may seem impressive, but the Explorer is still ahead in that department as well with the ability to upgrade to a 14-speaker B&O sound system. Both SUVs have a twin-panel moonroof and wireless charging pads.


Bottom Line

The Hyundai Palisade is a decent SUV, but we prefer the 2023 Ford Explorer for taking on nearly any type of road trip with an amazing arrangement of safety features and interior technology. Every drive is a fun one for everyone involved when it comes to the Explorer!



Take the 2023 Ford Explorer for a Test Drive!

Come down to Essential Ford of Stuart any time and our friendly staff will gladly show you around! We encourage you to bring the whole family so you can find your ideal SUV together. Feel free to call us at (727) 287-0955 with any questions you may have, or browse our new inventory online!