The Ford Explorer has been one of the leading family-friendly three-row SUVs since its introduction in the 1990s, though the new-ish Hybrid model fails to strike the same chord. It faces off against the likes of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

What’s New for the 2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid

The Ford Explorer Hybrid was introduced for the 2020 model year and has seen few changes since then. For 2023, Ford makes some tweaks to the features menu, though it’s otherwise the same as the previous model year's. Though the Explorer is a decent three-row SUV, the Hybrid model is both expensive and inefficient compared to its peers.

Design

The Explorer Hybrid fits right in with the crowd, which means it doesn’t visually stand out from the base Explorer except for some badging. It comes in numerous variations on white, gray, and black, plus some basics like red and blue. Ford includes 20-inch alloy wheels with the Limited model and 21-inch wheels with the Platinum.

Powertrain

The Explorer Hybrid features a 3.3-liter V6 engine combined with an electric motor and battery for total output of 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission comes standard, though buyers can choose between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). Fuel economy ratings are low for the class, coming in at 27 mpg city, 28 highway, and 27 combined with RWD and 23 city, 26 highway, and 25 combined with AWD.

Interior

The Ford Explorer Hybrid can be configured to seat six or seven passengers, with a choice of second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Standard features include leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a hands-free power lift gate. Options include a center console between the second-row buckets, premium leather with diamond quilting, power-folding third-row seats, and massaging front seats. A twin-panel moonroof is also optional.

Technology

The Explorer Hybrid comes standard with keyless entry, push-button start, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Available upgrades include a 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and an upgraded Bang & Olufsen stereo with 14 speakers.

Safety

Ford equips the 2023 Explorer Hybrid with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, which bundles adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, active parking assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded this generation of the Explorer Hybrid a Top Safety Pick+ rating. It hasn’t yet been fully tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the model did receive a full five stars in that organization’s side crash testing and four stars in rollover testing.

Pricing

As of this writing, the 2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid is priced at $53,070 for the base Limited model, with another $2,000 for 4WD. The top-tier Explorer Platinum Hybrid starts at $53,820 and again, 4WD costs $2,000. Other notable options include a twin-panel moonroof for $1,695 and a trailering package for $545. The Ford Explorer Hybrid is available now.