2023 Ford Explorer vs 2023 Kia Telluride

The great thing about having an SUV that you can call yours is the fact that it accommodates your personal lifestyle. Ford and Kia are a couple of car manufacturers that are known to offer a wide range of options to help you find the perfect ride that speaks to your character. That’s why Essential Ford of Stuart will be giving you a closer look at the new 2023 Ford Explorer and the 2023 Kia Telluride! When you’re ready to shop, you can browse our new inventory online.  

2023 FORD EXPLORER VS 2023 KIA TELLURIDE

When it comes to the power of choice, you may be surprised to learn that Ford provides you with more options in the Explorer than Kia does for the Telluride. Yes, Kia is known for offering a wide range of colors, but Ford offers a varied selection of powertrains as well as many options for interior features in the Explorer.


Performance

It’s easy to find an Explorer that caters to your lifestyle with the availability of 3 distinct powertrains. The standard is a 2.3L EcoBoost engine supporting up to 300 horsepower which is a great way for those who are content with getting the base model to still receive more than the average SUV. But if you need something that can handle a bit more grit, the upgraded 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine can give you up to 400 horsepower for the task. There’s even something for the fuel-conscious driver in the form of a 3.3L V6 hybrid engine complete with regenerative braking and excellent mileage at 27 in-city and 28 highway miles per gallon. Additional driving features include a 10-speed automatic transmission, a terrain management system, side-wind stabilization, and a 5,600-pound towing capacity.

While the Explorer offers an entire array of powertrain options, the Telluride simply has a 3.8L V6 with 291 horsepower for all trim levels. By only giving you a single standard engine with average specs, anyone looking for more power or greater mileage will ultimately feel left out. The best fuel rating that the Telluride can manage is 20 in-city and 26 highway, and the lesser 8-speed transmission doesn’t feel nearly as smooth in comparison. On top of it all, the only notable features to improve your driving experience are an available self-leveling rear suspension and of course available all-wheel drive.

Safety & Features

Ford vehicles are naturally built to be more durable than your average car, and the Explorer is no exception. But other than a tougher body, the Explorer also protects you from various dangers with the help of standard safety and driver-assist features like the Blind Spot Information System, Pre-Collision Assist, Lane-Keeping System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, and Rear View Camera. Another amazing perk when you go with the Explorer is the ability to further customize your arsenal with available Active Park Assist 2.0, a 360-degree camera with a split-view display, and Post-Collision Braking with Rear Parking Sensors. We love how drivers can get their essentials standard while those who want more are able to do so.

Again, Kia doesn’t give you many additional ways to customize your ride even when it comes to the safety feature aspect of the new Telluride. It comes standard with Forward-Collision Warning and Automated Emergency Braking, Lane-Departure Warning, Lane-Keeping Assist, and Blind-Spot Monitoring. You can technically upgrade to automated high beams or a 360-degree camera system, but what vehicle doesn’t offer those anymore?


Interior

The cabin area is where Explorer owners can really get creative with a long list of available features to choose from. This allows you to pick and choose what you wish to prioritize for a truly custom ride that fits your lifestyle, driving habits, and of course, your own personality. Available features for the 2023 Ford Explorer include:

• A 10.2-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen
• Multicontour seats with Active Motion massage capability
• PowerFold third-row seating
• A 12-speaker B&O sound system including a subwoofer
• A twin-panel moonroof
• A cargo management system

 

Despite having many color options, the Kia Telluride is actually very basic when you evaluate the interior features. It has driver seat memory settings, Wi-Fi support, heated and ventilated seating, and Nappa leather accents. But even the color options aren’t a valid selling point for the Telluride since the Explorer offers 7 distinct paint jobs that all look amazing when paired with ambient lighting. You could upgrade to the available 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system for the Telluride, but the Bose audio system in the Explorer is more dynamic, especially with the subwoofer integration.


Bottom Line

If you’re looking to express yourself with a vehicle that reflects your character and accommodates your driving habits, you’ll have a better chance of finding your perfect ride with the 2023 Ford Explorer which offers countless options for a unique powertrain and overall design. The Kia Telluride may appear trendy and exciting on the surface, but when you take a moment to examine the specifics, it’s just another average car.

Take the 2023 Ford Explorer for a Test Drive!

To see what 2023 Ford Explorers we already have in stock, you’re welcome to stop by Essential Ford of Stuart anytime or call our friendly and helpful staff at (727) 287-0955! For a quick look through our stock, you can also shop our new inventory online.