The midsize SUV segment is a very popular segment, as midsize SUVs can provide a lot of great features and specs for their price. While the midsize SUV segment is competitive, there is a clear winner. Here’s a look at the best midsize SUV right now, according to Kelley Blue Book.

SUVs have surged in popularity as automakers abandon sedans 

Although sedans are still popular, they aren’t as popular as they used to be, primarily because of SUVs. They are more popular than sedans for several reasons. The leading advantage SUVs have over sedans is in terms of capabilities. SUVs are larger and typically have more powerful engines than sedans, which gives SUVs some inherent advantages. 

The average SUV can tow more cargo than the average sedan. It also has the advantage in cargo space and spacious seats.

On top of that, SUVs tend to be safer than sedans. This is mainly due to physics. Since SUVs are larger, they tend to have more protection from crashes than sedans. Plus, some SUV models are very affordable and cost less than some sedans. Due to how much value SUVs have, it’s no surprise that it’s become such a popular segment. 

The 2023 Kia Telluride is the best midsize SUV

Kelley Blue Book wrote that the best midsize SUV right now is the Telluride, which is simply great in many areas. The Telluride starts at $39,500, which gives it one of the best values on the market. The Telluride is a three-row SUV as standard, and it’s such a great SUV that Kelley Blue Book also wrote that it’s the best third-row SUV.

Kia gave the Telluride a 3.8-liter V6 as standard, and it gets 291 hp. This engine is Kia’s only engine option, providing more than enough power for most drivers. It’s also decently efficient, as it gets 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on highways for 23 mpg combined. However, the best part about the Telluride has to be its interior.

Since it has three rows of seats, the Kia SUV can seat up to eight people. Furthermore, the third-row seats aren’t cramped, and adults can sit comfortably. Plus, the car maxes out at 87 cu-ft of cargo capacity, which is suitable for the segment. The Telluride is also packed with features, and Kia gave it some upgrades for the 2023 model year. The standard touchscreen is now a 12.3-inch one, and the optional head-up display is 10 inches. 

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid is a great option

The second-best option in the midsize SUV segment is the Hyundai Santa Fe. Technically speaking, the plug-in hybrid, or PHEV, version of the Santa Fe is in second place, but the regular Santa Fe is in third place. The Santa Fe is a two-row SUV, so it doesn’t compete with the Telluride in terms of seating capacity or cargo room. 

That being said, the Santa Fe PHEV does have one advantage over the Telluride, and it’s the fact that it’s a hybrid. Its battery allows it to travel 31 miles in battery-only mode and gets 76 MPGe overall. The Santa Fe PHEV starts at $40,000, while the regular Santa Fe starts at $28,000. Both are also well-equipped and relatively spacious. For example, it comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display.