Price
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The base trim Grand Cherokee Laredo, with a starting price around $32,000, is much more affordable than the Explorer XLT model (the cheapest in the lineup), which is priced at about $37,000.
The Ford Explorer Platinum sits at the top of the range and carries a base price of $58,250. This is one fully-loaded SUV, though Jeep manages to soar past this sticker price with the performance-oriented Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Powered by a supercharged V8, this 707-horsepower monster costs an eye-widening $86,900. A more direct competitor to the Ford Platinum is the Grand Cherokee Summit with four-wheel drive. It’s not nearly as rapid as the Trackhawk, but it has plenty of luxury touches and a much saner asking price of $54,995.
Reliability
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The 2020 Grand Cherokee has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five, as determined by J.D. Power. In comparison, the 2020 Ford Explorer scores three out of five.
Each comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Seat Comfort
Winner: Tie
You can add plenty of comfort touches to both the Explorer and the Grand Cherokee. Each offers heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and power-adjustable front seats. The Explorer does offer seats up to seven, thanks to its third row. The standard trims of both SUVs come with cloth upholstery.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Ford Explorer is a significant step forward from the outgoing model, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a classier and more upscale overall design. This is especially true in higher trims, like the Grand Cherokee Summit, which has near-luxury levels of refinement and style.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2020 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer has 18.2 cubic feet of storage space when the third-row seats are occupied. With these seats folded down, space jumps to a roomy 47.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 87.8 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.
As for the Grand Cherokee, its 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 68.3 cubic feet with them folded ranks among the stingiest in the midsize SUV segment. If hauling is your thing, the Ford is the obvious winner.
Interior Features
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Don’t envy the Ford Explorer here, because it’s going against one of the best and most intuitive infotainment systems in the business. The UConnect system in the Grand Cherokee is easy to operate and is controlled via a 7-inch or 8.4-inch touch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
In the Ford, the SYNC 3 infotainment system is also a pleasure to use and has the same smartphone connectivity. A Wi-Fi hot spot is available in the Explorer and not the Grand Cherokee, too. But in the end, the Jeep’s superb interface comes out ahead.
Safety
Winner: 2020 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer comes with a lengthy assortment of standard safety items, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, and much more. These are bundled into what Ford calls Co-Pilot360. The Explorer earned the two highest scores of “Good” or “Acceptable” in all crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In comparison, the Grand Cherokee registered scores of “Marginal” and “Poor” in the IIHS small front overlap crash test for the driver and passenger sides. While you can add plenty of safety equipment to every trim level of the Jeep, the base model only comes with blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera.
Acceleration
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
We’re starting at the top and working our way down, because that’s where the Grand Cherokee turns into a snarling beast. The Trackhawk trim shares a supercharged V8 engine with the Dodge Challenger Hellcat muscle car. This 707-horsepower SUV is a riot to drive, though its speed is far beyond what most shoppers need in a midsize SUV.
Credit the Explorer for having a stout turbocharged four-cylinder as its base engine. This motor delivers 300 horsepower, which is five horsepower more than what the standard 3.6-liter V6 offered in the Grand Cherokee delivers. Other engine options in the Explorer include two twin-turbocharged V6 engines, while the Grand Cherokee offers two V8s in its midrange models.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2020 Ford Explorer
Even without factoring in the available Explorer Hybrid, the standard Explorer with its turbo-four and rear-wheel-drive format returns an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway. This bests the base Grand Cherokee’s 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway averages.
If you’re considering the highest performing Grand Cherokee models, like the Trackhawk, expect fuel economy to fall off a proverbial cliff. It gets ugly, fast.
Towing
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The pure hard numbers make this category easy to call. The Grand Cherokee has a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds, versus a max of 5,600 pounds in the Explorer. Jeep takes the towing win.
Ride and Handling
Winner: Tie
You might think the Jeep scores a resounding victory here, based simply on the horsepower figures of its performance variants. However, the Ford Explorer delivers a smooth ride and nicely weighted handling that makes it easy to maneuver. Like the Jeep, there is some body roll during hard cornering, though nothing that will leave you reaching for the Dramamine.
Off-Roading
Winner: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
If you intend on venturing off paved surfaces, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is the best choice. It comes fitted with go-anywhere features like hill descent and hill ascent control, active four-wheel drive, and air suspension. While the Explorer is no slouch when it comes to off-roading, the Jeep holds a clear edge.
The Winner Is …
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
This was a tight race to the finish line, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee scores a solid win against its rival at Ford. While the 2020 Explorer is impressive and delivers much of what SUV shoppers want and expect, the Grand Cherokee holds an edge in terms of performance, cabin quality, towing capacity, off-road capability, and interior tech.
Let’s remember to credit the Explorer for its safety features, roomy cabin with three rows of seating, and superior fuel economy. Each of these midsize SUVs is a strong choice in one of the most hotly-contested vehicle segments.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
To discover even more about the 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, be certain to check out their full reviews. You can also see how they compare to a long list of competitors by navigating our midsize SUV rankings. When it comes time to buy or lease, don’t forget to use our Best Price Program to get the best deal. Shoppers who use this program save an average of more than $3,000 off their purchase.
2020 Ford Explorer vs. 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Head to head
- Price: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Reliability: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Seat Comfort: Tie
- Interior Quality: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Cargo Space: 2020 Ford Explorer
- Interior Features: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Safety: 2020 Ford Explorer
- Acceleration: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Fuel Economy: 2020 Ford Explorer
- Towing: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Ride and Handling: Tie
- Off-Roading: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Recommended Articles
-
10 Alternatives to the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
-
Redesigned 2020 Ford Explorer: All You Need to Know
-
The 17 Roomiest Midsize SUVs for 2019
-
Best 2-Row SUVs for the Money in 2021
-
Honda vs. Hyundai: Battle of the Brands in 2021
-
2022 Kia Carnival: What You Need to Know
-
9 Best Subcompact SUVs for the Money in 2021
-
2021 Best Cars for the Money
-
Best Cars for Families
Which Midsize American SUV Is Right for You?
Among midsize SUVs, few have more name recognition than the hugely popular Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee. These two sport-utilities established the blueprint for the segment, thanks to their spacious cabins, powerful engines, high seating positions, and four-wheel-drive capabilities.
The 2020 Ford Explorer has been redesigned and comes with an engine range that includes a punchy turbocharged four-cylinder, two turbo V6s, plus a hybrid. There are three rows of seating and a long list of standard safety equipment, too.
While the Jeep Grand Cherokee hasn’t been substantially updated this year, it has a similarly impressive engine lineup. This includes a 707-horsepower supercharged V8 that delivers absolutely outrageous performance. There is seating for only five aboard the Grand Cherokee, and this could be a deal-breaker for some SUV shoppers.
So, how do these two compare against each other? Using our rankings data, we’ve broken things down into specific categories to see which SUV comes out ahead. It was a tight battle, but in the end, a clear victor emerged.