The Jeep Grand Cherokee has
consistently ranked among the best midsize SUVs on the market - its
versatile design and rugged styling
being one of the main reasons for
that. The Ford Explorer doesn't look bad, either. The 3-row Grand Cherokee comes in at 204.9 x 77.5 x 71.5 inches while the Explorer comes in at 198.8 x 78.9 x 69.5. The additional size of the Grand Cherokee L gives you a more comfortable third row.
Let's look at what's under the hood of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Grand Cherokee's base trim comes
with a V6 Pentastar engine that's strong enough for most tasks with a
total output of nearly 300-horsepower but the drivers that want more
power can get the new 2.0L Hurricane 4-Cylinder Turbo. This will give you better gas mileage and plenty of power with 375 hp and 23 combined MPG. The Ford Explorer comes standard with a 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine that puts out 300-horsepower. Optional engines include a 400-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine.
Both the Jeep Grand
Cherokee and the Ford Explorer are SUVs for the whole family. The Jeep Grand
Cherokee wide-opening doors and spacious design enable everyone to
easily climb aboard and because of the Grand Cherokee's extra legroom in
the front, it remains a solid choice for tall drivers. It has two rows
of seats vs three for the Explorer but that's not a disadvantage because Ford Explorer third seat is cramped and while children will not have too many problems fitting back there, trying to cram a couple of adults in will prove to be problematic. There simply is not enough leg space for most adults to feel truly comfortable and relaxed.
The Ford Explorer hassimilarcargo space (18.2 ft³) compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee
(17.2 ft³) as well as with the rear seats down (85.3 ft³ vs 84.6 ft³). So, as far as cargo goes, no matter which SUV you choose, you're good.
One
of the main reasons people buy a new vehicle is that it has the latest
safety features so they would safe on the road. For that reason, let's look at how the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Explorer
stack up.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes loaded with more standard
features, including safety innovations like blind-spot monitoring which
helps with lane changes. The rear cross-traffic alert feature makes
backing up much easier. In addition, ParkSense Rear Park Assist now
comes standard as well. Advanced driving aids like forward collision
warning and lane-keep assist are also available so you really get to choose the types of features you want to include.
The
new Ford Explorer has a lot of to offer in the safety department as well with a few of them being the Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert, and Lane-Keeping System that alerts the driver about vehicles that aren't visible in the side mirrors.
The new Ford Explorer has plenty of infotainment features. It's voice control responds appropriately to
commands; WiFi hot spot is standard - owners get unlimited data, and
connecting through a wireless device is easy. Also, Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto come standard on all Ford Explorer trims.
The
Jeep Grand Cherokee has plenty to offer, too. Every driver can now enjoy
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mobile integration. It's also easy to
stream music and access smartphone apps, the UConnect inteface is simple
and easy to navigate. Also, a larger 10.1-inch touch screen is
standard as an option to Jeep Grand Cherokee buyers.
Now, let's get to
what's on everyone's mind - price. Jeep Grand Cherokee is more affordable but that isn't the only reason why it's the better choice.
The new Jeep Grand
Cherokee is a multipurpose SUV that the entire family can enjoy. It both
delivers the driving excitement of a muscle car, and can pull heavy
loads like a pickup truck. Plus you get a Jeep - a brand
worth bragging about.
