The SUV segment is booming, and as a result, many of the new cars on the market right now are SUVs. Car shoppers who want an SUV have their work cut out for them, as it can be challenging to know which SUVs are the right one for them. That’s where car critics come in, and here’s a look at the highest rated SUVs of 2023 according to Edmunds.

Here’s how various SUVs stacked up

Edmunds created a list of the best SUVs. Overall, luxury SUVs came out on top. There were many good non-luxury SUVs, such as the Kia Sorento or the Volkswagen Taos, but they received an overall score that was a few points below the highest rated SUVs.

Currently, there is a four-way tie for second place. All four SUVs had an overall score of 8.4 out of 10, and three were luxury SUVs. 

Those three luxury SUVs were the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, the Lamborghini Urus, and the Lincoln Navigator. The other SUV that was part of that four-way tie was the Kia Telluride, and it’s currently the highest-rated non-luxury SUV on the market. 

The highest rated SUV right now was a luxury SUV, and it was the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Edmunds gave it an overall score of 8.6 out of 10. It won’t be cheap, as it starts at about $83,000. However, folks who can afford it will likely enjoy their time with the GLS. 

Why the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has the highest overall score

Like many great cars, the GLS scored highly because it performed well in most areas, and it had few flaws to speak of. Mercedes-Benz gave the SUV a redesign in the 2020 model year, and that redesign updated many aspects about the car.

However, since that redesign, drivers and car critics have disliked the luxury SUV’s interior controls. This is still the case for the 2023 model year of the SUV.

Other than that flaw though, the GLS excels in most other areas. It’s a full-size luxury SUV, and it has three rows of seats that can seat up to seven people.

All those seats are comfortable and spacious, and adults should have no problems sitting in the third row. The German luxury automaker also gave the car plenty of tech and safety features, so passengers should feel safe, too.

For the 2023 model year, Mercedes-Benz made a panoramic sunroof a standard feature for the SUV. Since it’s such a large SUV, it also has a good amount of cargo capacity.

It tops out at 84.7 cu. ft. with all rear seats folded down. And, of course, it’s a Mercedes so it’s fun to drive. It starts with a 362-hp six-cylinder engine; owners can swap that out for a 603-hp V8.

A lot of great SUVs trailed behind the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

The GLE trailed its larger sibling by a few points, and it’s a great SUV that’s more affordable than the GLS. It’s a midsize luxury SUV that starts at about $59,000.

It’s similar to its sibling in the sense that it’s a very luxurious and high-tech SUV that’s also fun to drive. Since it’s a midsize SUV, though it’s smaller and it only seats five. 

The Urus, on the other hand, is an ultra-expensive and high-performance luxury SUV that starts at over $220,000. The Navigator is cheaper but still a $79,000 full-size luxury SUV. The Telluride is a midsize SUV with three rows of seats, and it starts at about $37,000. Overall, the Telluride has a lot of value for its price.