2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid SUV

Explorer Hybrid is offered in two trims only. Seating close to senior gasoline trims, the Limited is the entry-level Explorer Hybrid, while the Limited is the top spec. Powered by a 318-horsepower 3.3L V6 engine. Automatic high beam headlights, forward collision mitigation, ambient interior lighting, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, second-row sunshades, front parking sensors, 20-inch alloy wheels, added exterior chrome trims, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping system, rain-sensing windshield wipers and much more to offer.

Optional package includes –

Technology Package

• The 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system 
• 14-speaker audio system 

Premium Technology Package –

• Technology package plus massaging front seats 

We Recommend 

Platinum is the best option from our perspective. Being the top spec of Explorer, it has a great jump in feature offerings. Power folding third-row seats, navigation system, diamond pattern leather upholstery, exclusive wood interior trim, adaptive headlights, larger 21-inch alloy wheels with a polished finish, and much more to count. Just like any other Explorer, several driver-assistive features like adaptive cruise control, blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, and front parking sensors greets the jump in price with respect.

Release Date 

The 2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid is released and is available for sale in the nearest dealerships.

An electric motor amalgamating with a 3.3L V6 engine provides strength to this family hauler. It gives rise to 318 horsepower and 322-pound feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, Ford has given the hybrid with an RWD system by default, keeping 4WD as an option to upgrade. This modded vehicle can achieve a 0-60 mph mark in between 6 seconds. Running at a speed of 95 mph, this carries over the quarter-mile run in 14-15 seconds. Because this is a hybrid vehicle, it feels more balanced and composed. Steering is delegating decent feedback and barely feels a lag in between. Transmission shifts are creamy, but not up to the mark as some rivals have to offer them. It is not aggressively fast as the ST model, but shoppers would feel that upgrade of 18 horsepower, over the ordinary Explorer. City driving is pleasing and entertaining and it handles bumps very politely. Steering it on the highways is surprisingly exciting. It handles the turns smoothly. The first gear ratio that climbs up to 4.79:1 falls to 1.52:1 till the sixth and eighth gear ratio is melted in 0.85:1. It takes a bit of 4.8 seconds to get back to its reverse.

The appetite for horsepower and torque increases with the price tag. The Kia Sorento is the most affordable six-seater hybrid vehicle to bring home in 2023. Ford Explorer hybrid exhibits the highest price and suitably shows the highest power. It is also the fastest seven-seater hybrid vehicle. Kia sends an AWD system, while the Ford Explorer equips RWD, and Toyota Highlander shows FWD. Toyota Highlander Hybrid is more expensive and renders power more than Kia Sorento Hybrid. Also, Toyota sends a continuously variable transmission, while a 10-speed automatic is given with the Ford Explorer hybrid and a 6-speed automatic is offered on Kia Sorento Hybrid.

2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid Ride and Handling 

Ride quality brings a composed and smooth functioning experience. The seats are quite affluent and standard heating and ventilation function helps in diverse climate conditions. Seating on the front and second-row seats are helpful on long drives, but third row seats are only for the kids to play. Around the corners, it contains a bit of body roll, but it is manageable. Others carry more refinement. The well-engineered chassis glides effortlessly and improves ride and handling expressions. An optional independent suspension system helps each wheel on the same axle to move vertically when reacting to a bump on road. Strut suspensions on the front stabilize vehicle movement and enhance control while turning, braking, and even accelerating on abstract roads. Multi-link on the rear wheels helps the wheel to bend more. While turning, the Explorer hybrid makes the same turning radius as the normal one. Ford sends seven driving modes. The Normal is a daily driving mode with a good mixture of comfort and efficiency. The Eco mode belongs to saving more fuel by decreasing the performance. Deep Snow/Sand is suited best for sandy surfaces. The Slippery mode works on snow-covered roads by providing traction to tires. Sport is the aggressive driving mode that sharpens steering, and throttle response for spirited performance. The tow/haul mode sends maximum torque and helps pull the object with ease. Trail mode is designed for off-roading. It adapts to muddy or uneven roads. Standard 21-inch wheels go with tires of proportion P275/45WR21.

2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid Braking System

Brakes given with the Explorer are median in its class. They are responsive and offer acceptable feedback required for the stoppage of this six-seater hybrid SUV. Standard forward collision mitigation warns of a speculated crash and applies brakes in certain scenarios. When a trailer begins to sway, trailer sway dampening adjusts the vehicle brakes to help reduce trailer movement. Evasive steering assist enhances the forward collision mitigation system with a steering-based collision avoidance mechanism.

The load of the V6 engine and price, showcases the curb weight of Ford's Explorer Hybrid SUV. With the least money, the Kia Sorento Hybrid is the least-weighted hybrid SUV to buy in 2023. Toyota Highlander brings additional weight than Kia Sorento but remains behind the most weighted six-seater hybrid SUV, the Ford Explorer. The largest brake calipers on the table are suited to the front wheels of Explorer to boost the stamina to handle the power of a V6 engine effectively. On the rear wheels, Toyota sends additionally bigger brake rotors. Even with the least-sized brakes, the Sorento manages to stop faster than Explorer, obviously thanks to its least curb weight. Keeping the curb weight and rotors size in mind, a literate assumption says the Highlander stops average in segment.

There is no doubt that hybrid SUVs gain more mileage numbers than the ones running only on gasoline powertrains. Counted in the myriad powertrains and drivetrains of the Ford Explorer, this Hybrid model begets better estimates over any other vehicle. It provides a combined mpg of 27, earning 27 in the cities and an extra pony 28 on the highways. On a complete fuelling of a fuel tank of 18 gallons, the combined range emerges as 486 miles similar to that of the city miles. Whereas on the highways, it begets 504 miles of range.

The more power the engine is, the lesser the mileage numbers are. 2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid mpg numbers are the lowest in the comparison, as it fetches the most powerful engine of all the remaining hybrid SUVs. the Turbocharged engine on Sorento Hybrid, maintains the same mpg in the city, but stays behind with two mpg on the highways and combined. Toyota Highlander is the most efficient seven-seater hybrid vehicle for under $50k. Ford Explorer's fuel capacity exceeds all the vehicles, but its miles of range stay way ahead of the remaining two.

An authoritative spacious interior brings smiles to several faces. Endured with leather upholstery, the prosperous seat holds several adjusting functions and adjustments A premium-feeling cabin presents a bit of ruggedness focusing main of the dashboard layout. Being a large vehicle, it widens the door amazingly large and greets passengers with all its heart. Even taller people do not complain about anything when boating in and out of it. Rear door panels offer an upscaled material than previous trims of Explorer. It sends a nice stitched armrest, window controls, and some storage space to carry bottles. Designed with the same intentions, the front door panels cover additional switches to bring the front-row seats into function. The seats are heated and ventilated by default, whereas, it costs extra to bring massaging on the front seats. The third row is only built for the kids to enjoy, not for adults. A straight-finished dashboard is made of hard-touching materials. Four large AC vents catch attention first. Out of which two are placed clung behind the center infotainment touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering column bestows power tilt and telescopic function and is heated by default. It gains several controls for volume control and cruise control. The center console containing a nice padded armrest provides more space to carry additional things. Two cupholders, rotary knob for the touchscreen, hidden storage compartment, and wireless charging pad. 

Third-row seats on the Ford Explorer Hybrid gain the highest legroom from the remaining two vehicles. Not to forget the fact, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a seven-seater hybrid SUV, remaining two are six-seater. When all seats are at their places. Ford Explorer cargo space is the leading on the table. Behind the second-row seats, Toyota Highlander grinds more cargo area than both Sorento and Explorer. Kia Sorento has the least of everything. 

Extracts of the interior –

• 8-way driver seat 
• 6-way passenger seat
• Power tilt and telescopic heated steering column 
• Power rear windows 
• Front and rear cupholder 
• Voce-activated dual-zone automatic air conditioning
• Locking glove box
• Leather seats
• Daynight auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Cargo space lights 

How Intuitive is the 2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid Infotainment System?

An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is the working sector of the infotainment inside the cabin. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. based on the Sync infotainment system, the LCD screen is communicative and sends good touch haptics. It is attractive, but not as fulfilling as some others have offered with their vehicle of the same caste. It can also be controlled through a rotary knob mounted on the center console. Standard 12-speaker Bang and Olufson audio system sounds pretty generously and Ford brings an option to upgrade to a 14-speaker premium system. Other controls are placed nicely and the driver does not need to extend their hands much more to operate those.

Synopsis of the infotainment system–

• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• 12-speaker Bang and Olufson sound system 
• Optional 14-speaker premium sound system 
• HD Radio 
• Speed-compensated volume controls
• Streaming audio 
• Integrated roof antenna 
• Internal memory 
• Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity 

The exterior designs are impressive. A bulky-looking SUV holds a strong place among its rivals. It maintains a good level of proportions and feels like have taken inspiration from the Land Rover cars. A little boxy but at the same time, the quite refined and resolute design brings appealing aesthetics to match the current trends of SUV front thick hood containing a V6 engine fitted along an electric motor. Bonnet covers linings over it. An all-blacked-out grille wears a crown of huge lettering of Explorer written. Big LED headlights merge with the grille. The front bumper covering powerful components strives to send air into the engine bay. Daytime running lamps above that. Elegant-looking side profile reminiscent of Land Rover Range Rover Discovery when gazing at the separation held after second-row windows. Black outside rearview mirrors, body-colored door handles, and black accented window trims with black bordering brings the look complementing with Red clearcoat paint. Offered in ten exterior colors, we like the all-black pallet to suit the black windows. Standard 21-inch wheels with tires of P275/45WR21. The rear portion consolidates a power liftgate rear cargo access. A thick chrome sheet with Explorer written embossed in it, LED brake lights, a Ford logo, a visible exhaust tip, and a rearview camera.

Ford Explorer ground clearance is the highest. In every dimension, this hybrid SUV beats both the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Kia Sorento Hybrid SUVs. These extra dimensions not just justify the hike in price but also send a good amount of passenger and cargo space. Costing a bit lesser than Ford, the Highlander brings almost equal ground clearance, while the Kia Sorento has the lowest ones. Kia Sorento shows the lowest curb weight. Just like the price, the towing capacity of the Ford Explorer Hybrid exceeds training two.

Summary of the exterior design–

• 21-inch wheels 
• Compact spare tire mounted under the cargo area 
• Clearcoat paint 
• Body-colored front and rear bumper 
• Deep tinted glass 
• Speed sensitive rain detecting variable intermittent wipers 
• Metal lock
• Power liftgate rear cargo access 
• Auto on-off aero composite LED headlamps
• Daytime running lights

Ford charity has several standard driver-assistive and safety features keeping a strong look at the safety of drivers and passengers. Standard Blindspot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert warns if a vehicle is in your blind spot during lane alteration or while taking the vehicle into reverse. Lane departure mitigation warns of a lane departure when the signal is not used and automatically steers to retain the lane position. The front parking sensor alerts you to an obstacle that may not be visible in front of the vehicle when parking. The adaptive cruise control maintains a prominent distance between the Explorer and the vehicle moving in front of it. 

Salient features of the safety system–

• Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
• Standard blind spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert
• Standard land departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Dual front with head protection chamber side-mounted airbags 
• Front, second, and third-row head airbags 
• Airbag occupancy sensors 
• Stability control 
• ABS and driveline traction control 
• Child seat anchor 
• Rear door child safety locks

2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 

Highlander is offered at a lower rate and accordingly, it brings less power. With a gap of extra thousand dollars, the Explorer brings a V6 engine and a huge upgrade in power and torque numbers. Both carry equal driver-assistive features. Toyota sends complimentary maintenance for two years of 25000 miles, which is seen absent in Ford. Though Ford has more interior space, and cargo concealed area.

2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid vs. 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid 

Kia offers the least price and suits the same power and performance figures. Ford is expensive and has a lot of power. In terms of efficiency, the Kia Sorento beats the Explorer. Also, it fetches an AWD system, while Explorer covers an RWD by default. Kia sends a bigger touchscreen that suits very well with its distinctive and cool-looking interior layout. Ford sends several standard driver aids and safety features to satisfy shoppers. 

It is the best hybrid vehicle available in the market in our thought if one is solely looking for a V6 engine and can compensate it for lower fuel efficiency. A large-sized interior, good touchscreen infotainment, relaxing seats, several standard driver-assistive features, average warranty coverage, sprinting acceleration, and the segment-leading cargo carrying capacity are some of the best values the Explorer has to offer. Low mileage numbers, no complimentary schedule; maintenance, and bigger price are also some of the downsides of buying the Explorer. Want a decently priced hybrid SUV for seven people, Toyota sends Highlander Hybrid with all its reliable features, warranty, and maintenance. Just looking for an entry-level Hybrid family SUV, the Kia Sorento brings huge mileage numbers.