Which midsize SUV has the advantage, the 2023 Ford Edge or the 2023 Ford Explorer? This year has been full of new cars that have improved on past models across the board, and the midsize SUV market is no different. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but between these two Ford makes, we will explain our definitive winner to help you make the best choice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The miles per gallon is identical in the Explorer and the Edge and the number of trips to the gas station won’t be anything to worry about with either car.
- The size and engine of the Explorer allows for more capability and function than the standard Edge.
- More passengers can fit in Explorer than the Edge, but the Edge offers more space because of it.
WHICH SUV IS MORE COMFORTABLE?
The Edge and the Explorer are very similar in this category. The interior quality of each is well-balanced between functionality and coziness. Further they are easy to keep clean from having lots of passengers on board. While the Edge offers more room in the back for passengers, the Explorer offers more head and legroom for the driver and driver passenger.
This is simply because the Explorer is a 7-seat passenger vehicle while the Edge is only five. Maybe five is precisely what you need, so the extra space comes at a welcome improvement over the Explorer. But with the Explorer seating seven while still providing 152 cubic feet of passenger volume, it’s hard to go wrong with its extra capacity.
THE SUPERIOR POWER OF THE 2023 FORD EXPLORER
Many drivers of the Edge describe the car to be “just right” for them. It has the right space, seating, power train, and it is all around a strong car that is safe and gets the job done. Make no mistake, the Edge is what most people need.
But 2023 offers some welcome improvements that take the Explorer to the next level of utility, by being “just right” and then some, just in case. Simply put, it’s the more powerful vehicle giving it functionality the Edge doesn’t have.
The 2023 Ford Explorer comes with three powertrain options:
- 300-hp, 2.3-liter, I-4 Engine (Gasoline Fuel)
- 318-hp, 3.3-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine (Gas/Electric Hybrid)
- 400-hp, 3.0-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine (Gasoline Fuel)
The Edge comes with only two engine choices, and no option for a hybrid.
- 250-hp, 2.0-liter, 4 Cylinder Engine (Gasoline Fuel)
- 335-hp, 2.7-liter, V6 Cylinder Engine (Gasoline Fuel)
The base engine of the Explorer surpasses the Edge, and only improves as it increases in its engine tiers. With that potential, the maximum towing capacity of the Explorer reaches 5,600 pounds compared to the 3,500 pounds of the Edge, The Explorer also sports the more advanced four-wheel drive system, and in some versions a rear wheel drive. The Edge has an all-wheel drive system across the board making it not as prepared for rough terrain and off-roading like the Explore is.
SAFETY FEATURES
You can’t go wrong with either vehicle in regards to keeping you and your passengers safe. The prime distinction here is that with the Explorer, you have more trim levels than the Edge which in return offers more choices for safety features you may or may not deem necessary. For example, both cars come with your standard forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. But the ever impressive 360 camera isn’t available as an option with the Edge, while on the Explorer it is with certain trims. The Edge does have driver attention monitoring as a standard feature, while the Explorer doesn’t have that option in any trim, so if that is something you’d prefer for yourself or even a teen driver the Edge is a good choice.
WHICH SUV IS THE BEST?
Hands down, if we were forced to recommend which of these new Fords you would be most thrilled to drive off the lot with, we’d have to say it depends. The Explorer is the cheaper of the two vehicles, but all it does is add extra functionality while never losing the power of its originally designed purpose. However, the Edge is a wonderfully competent around town driver that has the added benefit of being spacious and comfortable. The added capabilities of what the Explorer has to offer with the addition of what the Edge can already do, makes this SUV battle a tie. Come in to test drive them both to help you make your final decision.