Are Full-Sized SUVs Going Extinct? Not These 6 With New Tech for 2023

The new crop of full-sized SUVs is getting new tech to keep them current. What new tech can you expect in a 2023 SUV?

by Dan Mayfield

Published on October 7, 2022 2:58 pm

3 min read

It’s hard for many of us to justify a full-sized SUV. They’re big, heavy, beastly things that tow so much weight and have so much capability that you need a commercial driver’s license to reach their potential. But, they are as popular as ever and with new innovations, manufacturers are making sure their dinosaur-sized SUVs don’t become extinct. What new technologies are the best-selling full-sized SUVs getting?

What is a full-sized SUV?

A gray 2022 Chevy Suburban parked in front of a mountain. — 2022 Chevy Suburban | Chevrolet

There are only a few full-sized SUVs on the market today, and they’re all based on full-sized trucks. Each of these SUVs holds seven or eight passengers comfortably, has a powerful engine whether that’s a turbocharged V6 or a honking V8, and can hold more than a week’s worth of luggage in the back. Sure, they drink a lot of gas, but even that is changing as manufacturers add new features.

According to the car sales tracking company Car Sales Base, during the first half of 2022, dealers sold more than 200,000 full-sized SUVs. Interestingly, the top six are all American SUVs from Chevy, GMC, Ford, Cadillac and Jeep. These are the top full-sized SUVs sold today:

Chevy Tahoe keeps its best-selling crown

The Chevrolet Tahoe may be the best-selling full-sized SUV, but for 2023 the Tahoe will get some new features to keep it current. This year, Chevy is promising that Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver technology, will be an option on the Premier and High Country versions of the Tahoe. Sure, it’s getting some new colors and accessories, but at its core, the Tahoe remains one of the most capable full-sized SUVs.

The Tahoe got a major update for 2021. The Tahoe holds 122.9 cubic feet of cargo when the seats are folded.

The Yukon is like a luxury Tahoe

2022 GMC Yukon AT4 off road — 2022 GMC Yukon AT4 | GMC

The 2023 Yukon and the Tahoe share the same bones, but the Tahoe adds luxury touches that make it a more expensive, but nicer, SUV. Just like the Tahoe, the top-line Denali Ultimate trim will soon have Super Cruise available, and it gets a few other updates.

New For 2023, it will also get a new enhanced automatic parking assist feature standard on the Denali Ultimate and optional on the Denali. GM’s parking assistance software helps you find a parking space when you’re traveling slower than 18 mph. Once it finds a space, the system will beep and automatically steer itself into the spot.

The Ford Expedition added an off-road Timberline version

A Ford Expedition Timberline in the dirt. — Ford Expedition Timberline | Ford

While Chevy and GMC lean on tech and utility, Ford is leaning into the off-road world and more features to keep the Expedition fresh. The Expedition got a refresh for 2022 and now has a giant 15.5-inch touchscreen, a new SYNC system, and the fantastic multi-contour massaging seats are standard on the Platinum edition. But the big news for 2022 (the 2023 specs haven’t been released), is the off-road Timberline package that adds a factory lift, skid plates, and more to this full-sized SUV.

It doesn’t hold as much as a longer Suburban, but the Expedition can hold up to 105 cubic feet of cargo.

Chevy Suburban is the biggest

The best large SUVs include the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban — The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban | Chevrolet

The Suburban soldiers on as the biggest Chevy SUV you can buy. It’s basically the same as a Tahoe, except it’s 15 inches longer. Much like the Tahoe, it saw a major update in 2021, and, like the Tahoe, top trims this year can get Super Cruise. It can hold a tremendous 144.7 cubic feet of cargo and tow up to 8,300 pounds.

The Escalade brings special luxury touches

A 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series parked along the horizon. What's new with it? — 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series | Cadillac

The 2023 Escalade shares a lot with the Tahoe and Yukon. But, where the Tahoe shows off its truck bones, the Escalade shows off its luxury touches with chrome, leather, and booming stereos. Like the Tahoe, Super Cruise will be available on the premium Escalades, but unlike the Tahoe, you can get a console refrigerator/freezer, as well as giant screens that offer more than 38 inches of display area.

For 2022, the 682-horsepower Escalade V is great, but it’s also $150,000 SUV.

The Jeep Wagoneer is the newcomer to the list

Red Wagoneer SUV climbing a rocky outcropping in the woods, trees visible in the background. — 2023 Wagoneer

The Jeep Wagoneer was all new for 2022 and joined the longer Grand Wagoneer (which was launched for 2021) as the top dog in the Jeep lineup. The Wagoneer offers several types of four-wheel drive systems, a mid-century modern interior, and a luxury interior on the top trims that offers up to 75 inches of total screen area. Also, you can order a premium McIntosh stereo system in the Wagoneer, which is one of the best factory sound systems available, according to AutoBlog.

It can hold up to 117 cubic feet of cargo with the seats folded.

Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.