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Not long ago, driving a three-row SUV meant resigning oneself to a life of atrocious fuel economy. However, technology and engineering advancements now mean that third-row SUVs like the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid are catching up with some of the most efficient vehicles on the road. It’s a tight race at the top of the segment – but the Highlander Hybrid narrowly misses the most efficient third-row SUV spot to a Korean rival. 

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the second most efficient third-row SUV 

The front end of the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which ranks second among the most efficient third-row SUVs of 2023.
2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | Toyota

According to U.S. News and World Report, the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is today’s second most efficient three-row SUV. 

U.S. News and World Report compiled a complete list of the most efficient new SUVs and crossovers of 2023. The list focuses only on models with internal combustion engines or traditional hybrid systems. Electric SUVs and plug-in hybrid SUVs are not included in the rankings.

Missing out on the top spot doesn’t mean the Highlander Hybrid is inefficient, though. U.S. News and World Report says the three-row Toyota crossover can manage up to 36 mpg combined. That’s quite a feat for such a large SUV. 

That efficient performance comes from a powertrain using a four-cylinder internal combustion engine and two electric motors. With 243 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque on tap, the Highlander Hybrid also has good power. 

While the 2023 Highlander Hybrid is impressive, it still narrowly misses the top spot among efficient third-row SUVs. 

What’s the most efficient midsize SUV?

A red 2023 Kia Sorento sits amid a green forest. It's the most efficient none-electric, non-plug-in midsize SUV of 2023.
2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

The most efficient third-row SUV of 2023, according to U.S. News and World Report, is the Kia Sorento Hybrid. 

Per the report, the 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid can achieve up to 37 mpg combined – just slightly ahead of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. 

The Sorento Hybrid has a couple of notable advantages over other efficient third-row SUVs. For one, it has a turbocharger for extra thrust when needed. It also has a traditional six-speed automatic transmission instead of the sleepy CVTs in other hybrid SUVs. 

Here are the top ten most efficient SUVs of 2023 according to U.S. News and World Report:

  1. Kia Sportage Hybrid
  2. Lexus UX Hybrid
  3. Honda CR-V Hybrid
  4. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  5. Lexus NX Hybrid
  6. Toyota Venza
  7. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
  8. Kia Sorento Hybrid
  9. Toyota Highlander Hybrid
  10. Lexus RX350h

Is the 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid better than the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?

The 2023 Sorento offers slightly better-combined fuel efficiency than the Highlander Hybrid – but the Toyota may offer a better overall package. 

While the performance difference between the two models is marginal, the cargo capacity difference is significant. The 2023 Sorento Hybrid offers 75.5 cubic feet of cargo space with its rear seats folded down. That’s not bad – but it trails behind the Highlander Hybrid’s 84.3 cubic feet of total cargo capacity. 

Picking the Highlander Hybrid is a reasonable tradeoff between efficiency and utility. You gain much more in passenger and cargo space by giving up one mpg of efficiency. 

Ultimately, determining the better of the two efficient third-row SUVs depends on the individual priorities of each driver. 

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words,  “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.