Ford Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

Choosing the right model for your adventures around Glen Allen, Ashland, and Rockville, Virginia, is much easier after doing some research. Richmond Ford West put together an informative comparison pitting the Ford Explorer vs. the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Both models come highly acclaimed, but which one fits to the contours of your lifestyle better?

The next sections will go over key attributes in both the Explorer and Grand Cherokee, including the interior dimensions (passenger and cargo space), driver-assisting technologies, and infotainment interface.

Which Is Bigger: Ford Explorer or Jeep Grand Cherokee?

When we begin to peer inside the cabins of the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, we see that the Explorer is significantly bigger, with a particular emphasis placed on the combination of passenger and cargo room.

Front legroom in the Explorer, for example, measures 43 inches. Second-row legroom is also generous, checking in at 39 inches. In total, the passenger volume tops out at a generous 152.7 cubic feet.

As for cargo space in the Ford Explorer, three dimensions stick out. Behind the third-row seats, you'll enjoy 18.2 cubic feet of cargo area. Behind the second-row seats, that number climbs to 47.9 cubic feet. If you fold both the second and third rows flat, the number balloons to 87.8 cubic feet.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, is a tight fit. The seating capacity is limited to five passengers compared to seven in the Explorer. The legroom is also diminutive, measuring 40.3 inches up front and 38.6 inches in the rear.

In total, you'll only have 105 cubic feet of passenger space plus 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats and 68.3 cubic feet of maximum cargo room.

• The Explorer seats more passengers, offering seating for seven vs. the Grand Cherokee that only offers seating for five.
• The Ford Explorer offers more space for legroom in the first row, measuring 43 inches vs. the Jeep Grand Cherokee's 40.3 inches.
• The Jeep Grand Cherokee also offers less legroom in the second row, measuring only 38.6 inches vs. the Ford Explorer's 39 inches.
• Overall passenger volume in the Ford Explorer is greater than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, measuring at 152.7 cubic feet vs. the Grand Cherokee's 105 cubic feet.
• The 87.8 cubic feet of total cargo space available in the Ford Explorer is greater than the Jeep Grand Cherokee's 68.3 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.

Comprehensive Safety Features

Safety is of the utmost importance for both the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee-a fact supported by the inclusion of comprehensive protective features in both models.

For the Ford Explorer, this comes in the form of either a standard or advanced Ford Co-Pilot360™ package that includes rain-sensing wipers, Auto High-Beam Headlamps, a Lane-Keeping System that detects and alerts you to vehicle drift, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is no slouch when it comes to safety, either, thanks to inclusions like a LaneSense® Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist system. However, when parking is involved, the Active Park Assist 2.0 system in the Explorer outperforms anything that Jeep can offer. With it, your Explorer can park itself while you merely hold in a button!

Infotainment Technology

The last piece of the puzzle is the infotainment technology-something the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee excel at.

In the case of the Explorer, FordPass™ Connect delivers intuitive control of the vehicle and surrounding areas, giving you the ability to compare nearby gas station prices, for example. This setup, in unison with the Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System, means you can travel around the country with confidence.

The Grand Cherokee touts its own GPS navigation system, but its 8.4-inch touchscreen display can't match the larger, optional 10.1-inch screen in the Explorer.