Head-to-head
2026 Ford Explorer vs 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 90.2 to 51.8, 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
F2026 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…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Ford Explorer
Clear winThe Ford Explorer wins clearly, 90.2 to 51.8, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range.
Tech & comfort2026 Ford Explorer leads by 87.7
Safety2026 Ford Explorer leads by 27.3
Fuel & range2026 Ford Explorer leads by 3.9
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Exploreroverall 90.2 | 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokeeoverall 51.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | no data | no data |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 96.1 |
| Safetyw 4 | 75.6 | 48.3 |
| Space & cargow 2 | no data | no data |
| Performancew 2 | no data | no data |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 12.3 |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 90.2 | 51.8 |
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.
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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 |
| 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 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic hybrid |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.4 in |
| Overall height | — | 70.8 in |
| Overall length | — | 194 in |
| Overall width | — | 84.6 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 |
| Rear suspension type | Independent | Multi-link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | Electric rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 19 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
98 features · differences first, then sharedSafety34 differ · 38 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 | — |
| 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 highway driving) | — | opt |
| Active Lane Management | — | std |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver Knee | std | — |
| All-speed Traction Control | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Automatic Emergency Braking | std | std |
| Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection | std | 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 front passenger display | — | opt |
| 5G Modem | std | — |
| 911 Assist® | std | — |
| Audio – AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Capable, Six (6) Speakers, Speed-Compensated Volume, SiriusXM® with 360L | std | — |
| 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 | — |
| Rear-facing Fam Cam (rear passenger camera) | — | opt |
| 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 | — |
Seating5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated seats | — | std |
| Optional 60/40 second-row bench seat (Grand Cherokee L) | — | opt |
| 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 | — |
Interior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| 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 | — |
Exterior12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch wheels (new 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
Powertrain10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Jeep Grand CherokeeLaredo 2WD |
|---|---|---|
| 4x4 / 4WD system (optional) | — | opt |
| 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 Engine (293 hp, 260 lb-ft) | — | std |
| Battery Saver | std | — |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | std | — |
| Electronic Limited Slip Differential (rear, 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 | — |
| Max. Gross Trailer Weight 6,200 lbs. | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Explorer
Safety Signal35 F
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls14 · 2 critical
Owner complaints33 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutElectrical System (9), Unspecified (9), Engine (6)
Top recalls
- criticalEngine And Engine Cooling26V532000 · 6 vehicles
- criticalEngine25V828000 · 6 vehicles
- highEngine And Engine Cooling26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles
- highSeats26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles
- highEngine And Engine Cooling26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- highVisibility26V202000 · 55 vehicles
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Safety Signal55 F
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls6 · 1 critical
Owner complaints34 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutEngine (24), Power Train (11), Unspecified (5)
Park-outside advisory — open NHTSA recall with a consumer advisory.
Top recalls
- criticalElectrical System25V741000 · 320,068 vehicles
- highTires26V559000 · 201,976 vehicles
- highVisibility26V529000 · 81 vehicles
- highElectrical System25V576000 · 91,787 vehicles
- minorBack Over Prevention26V531000 · 844,027 vehicles
- minorAir Bags26V328000 · 419,035 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 | $2,600 | $2,700 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
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, 90.2 to 51.8, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Explorer scores 90.2 and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 51.8. 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, 14 recalls. 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 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 differences between the 2026 Ford Explorer and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
This page puts 51 specifications and 98 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.