Compare the2026 Ford ExplorerVS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

With its standard Pre-Collision Assist, the Ford Explorer is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	-34 MPH	-28 MPH

The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Explorer and Grand Cherokee have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Explorer and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	84 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/188 lbs.	482/259 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/281 lbs.	400/347 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Explorer is much safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	140	252
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	180/360 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	180/360 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	382/382 pounds	495/607 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	87
Abdominal Force	161 lbs.	192 lbs.
Hip Force	224 lbs.	235 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	164
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	288	458
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Explorer is 2.8% to 4.4% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee.

The Ford Explorer achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2026 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, pedestrian crash prevention testing, and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention testing. The Grand Cherokee is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

There are over 19 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 67 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 13 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (300 vs. 293) and 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 76 more horsepower (400 vs. 324) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 332) than the Grand Cherokee’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Explorer turbo 4 cyl.	Explorer turbo V6	Grand Cherokee Laredo	Grand Cherokee turbo 4 cyl.
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	5.3 sec	7.3 sec	7.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	13.9 sec	15.5 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.1 MPH	99.9 MPH	89.8 MPH	89.3 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee:

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee.

For better stopping power the Explorer ST’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Grand Cherokee:

	Explorer ST	Grand Cherokee
Front Rotors	14.3 inches	13.9 inches

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	142 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Grand Cherokee (119.1 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Grand Cherokee.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Explorer offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The Explorer has 43.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (150.3 vs. 107).

The Explorer has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee.

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
Third Seat Folded	46 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	37.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	85.8 cubic feet	70.8 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Explorer easier. The Explorer’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.1 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

The Explorer’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in every dimension:

	Explorer	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.8”/49.8”/84.1”	n.a./41”/73.8”
Min Width	48.1”	43”
Height	33.7”	32”

The Explorer’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Explorer’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Explorer Platinum’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Jeep Grand Cherokee by 6% during 2025.