Head-to-head
2026 Ford Explorer vs 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 93 to 49.6, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range.
F
2026 Ford Explorer
The 2026 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer RWD, is EPA-rated at 24 …
vs
D2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas large SUV with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Grand Ch…
More Ford Explorer head-to-heads More Jeep Grand Cherokee head-to-heads Every Explorer vs Grand Cherokee model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Ford Explorer
Clear winThe Ford Explorer wins clearly, 93 to 49.6, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range.
Tech & comfort 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 96.5
Safety 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 33.2
Fuel & range 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 3.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Exploreroverall 93 | 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokeeoverall 49.6 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 96.3 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 82.4 | 49.2 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 93 | 49.6 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 3 of 7 categories compared
Jeep Grand Cherokee: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Ford Explorer: base trim Active Base RWD · Jeep Grand Cherokee: base trim Laredo 2WD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Ford Explorer wins
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 9.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (28.5 points against 1 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (44 against 59 filed with NHTSA).
Where the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 64 against 53).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,604 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, 60-degree V-type, liquid-cooled |
| Fuel injection system | — | Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 293 hp |
| Torque | — | 260 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 26 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.58 | 3.45:1 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.4 in |
| Overall height | — | 70.8 in |
| Overall length | — | 194 in |
| Overall width | — | 77.5 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 117 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 70.8 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 37.7 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 145 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 39.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 39.4 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 41.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 38.2 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 4,238 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,238 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 6,050 lbs |
| Payload capacity | — | 1,280 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent | Multi-link independent front suspension, coil springs, gas-charged, twin-tube coilover shock absorbers, all-aluminum arms and knuckles |
| Rear suspension type | Independent | Multi-link rear suspension, coil spring, twin tube shocks, all-aluminum arms and knuckles |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | Electric rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 38 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 354 mm |
| Front brake type | — | vented disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | Drum-in-hat |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 350 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | vented disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | Painted cast aluminum |
| Wheel width | — | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P255/65R18 | 245/70R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.9 gal | 23 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Ford Connectivity Package | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 84 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 59.2 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 58 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
99 features · differences first, then sharedSafety39 differ · 41 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering | std | — |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Braking | std | — |
| Airbags – All Rows: Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front | std | — |
| Airbags – First Row: Front-seat Side | std | — |
| Evasive Steering Assist | std | — |
| Lane-Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Alert / Driver Alert | std | — |
| Lane-Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Assist | std | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| Active Driving Assist (hands-free, optional) | — | opt |
| Active Lane Management | — | std |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver Knee | std | — |
| All-speed Traction Control | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | std | — |
| Automatic Emergency Braking | — | std |
| Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection | — | std |
| BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Exit Warning and Trailer Coverage | std | — |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Curve Control | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (base ADAS suite) | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intersection Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on Second and Third Row Outboard Seating Positions | std | — |
| Parking Brake Type: Drum-in-hat | — | std |
| Perimeter Alarm | std | — |
| Personal Safety System™ (driver and front passenger – dual-stage front airbags, belt pretensioners, energy-management retractors, belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module, Front-Passenger Sensing System) | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking | std | — |
| Rear Park Assist | — | std |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | std | — |
| Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Side-Wind Stabilization | std | — |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | std | — |
| Speed Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS) | std | — |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | std | std |
| Four-wheel Antilock Brakes | std | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford App – Remotely lock and unlock vehicle | std | — |
| Unlimited Wi-Fi Hotspot (via Ford Connectivity Package) | std | — |
| Ford App – Locate parked vehicle | std | — |
| 10.25-inch passenger infotainment display (optional, class-exclusive) | — | opt |
| 5G Modem | std | — |
| 911 Assist® | std | — |
| Audio – AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Capable, Six (6) Speakers, Speed-Compensated Volume, SiriusXM® with 360L | std | — |
| Fam Cam rear-facing camera (optional) | — | opt |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-year Included) | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (One-time purchase – 7 years) (91D) | opt | — |
| Ford Digital Experience – 13.2" Color LCD Touchscreen in IP Center-Stack with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Wireless Compatibility | std | — |
| Ford Power-Up Software Update Capability | std | — |
| SiriusXM with 360L (3-year plan) (94B) | opt | — |
| Steering Wheel with Mounted Features – Audio Controls | std | — |
| USB Ports, First Row and Second Row (Ford Digital Experience standard); Third Row USB included on 200A+ | std | — |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Door Intelligent Access (Lock/Unlock) with Push-Button Start | std | — |
| Manual Liftgate | std | — |
| Powerpoints (12V) – three (3) | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-Zone Electronic Temperature Control | std | — |
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Seats – Second Row 35/30/35 Bench with E-Z Entry and Armrests (17U) | opt | — |
| Second Row Captain's Chairs with E-Z Entry and Armrests | std | — |
| Unique Cloth Seating | std | — |
Interior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Compass | std | — |
| Instrument Panel Cluster – 12.3" Color LCD Productivity Screen | std | — |
| Rotary Gear Shift Dial | std | — |
| Day/Night Rearview Mirror – Manually Adjustable | std | — |
| Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger) | std | — |
| Steering Column – Manual Tilt/Telescoping | std | — |
| Floor Mats – Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | std | — |
| Overhead Console with Sunglasses Storage | std | — |
| Trip Computer | std | — |
Exterior14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| 17-inch Painted cast aluminum wheels in Fine Silver (Laredo) | — | std |
| 18-inch wheels (new, standard on base Laredo) | — | std |
| 18" Spare Wheel and Jack Kit (76U) | opt | — |
| Active Grille Shutters | std | — |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) | std | — |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Courtesy Delay / Wiper-Activated | std | — |
| LED Taillamps | std | — |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Heated Glass | std | — |
| Seven-slot grille (updated design) | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | std | — |
| Privacy Glass – Second Row, Third Row and Liftgate | std | — |
| Rear-Window Defroster and Washer | std | — |
| Rear Spoiler – Body-Color | std | — |
Powertrain9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6-Liter Pentastar V-6 Engine (293 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 260 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm) | — | std |
| Battery Saver | std | — |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | std | — |
| Electronic Limited Slip Differential (rear axle, optional) | — | opt |
| Engine – 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | std | — |
| Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor® | std | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes | std | — |
| TorqueFlite 8HP70 8-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| Transmission – 10-Speed Automatic | std | — |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Front and Rear Suspension | std | — |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | std | — |
| Trailer Towing: Max 6,200 lbs (2WD/4WD, axle ratio 3.45) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Explorer
Safety Signal 53 F
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 15 · 3 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 44 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (11), Unspecified (11), Visibility/Wiper (7)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V581000 · 7 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V532000 · 6 vehicles
- high Seats 26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V205000 · 278 vehicles
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Safety Signal 64 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 6 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 59 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Engine (42), Power Train (20), Electrical System (10)
Park-outside advisory — open NHTSA recall with a consumer advisory.
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 25V741000 · 320,068 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V328000 · 419,035 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V576000 · 91,787 vehicles
- moderate Tires 26V559000 · 201,975 vehicles
- moderate Visibility 26V529000 · 81 vehicles
- minor Back Over Prevention 26V531000 · 844,028 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 12 trims | — 11 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | PHEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Explorer RWD | Grand Cherokee 4xe |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 24 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,800 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 93 to 49.6, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Explorer scores 93 and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 49.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
2026 Ford Explorer: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 15 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 6 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Ford Explorer and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Where the 2026 Ford Explorer wins: it lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 9, lists more comfort and tech equipment (28.5 points against 1 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and has drawn fewer owner complaints (44 against 59 filed with NHTSA). Where the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 64 against 53). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.