2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
The SUV is the most popular vehicle class among today’s consumers. Offering performance, safety, seating, and storage, the SUV is applauded by many for its versatility. Two models that have been instrumental in launching the SUV to the heights of current popularity are the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Both vehicles have proven to be adept at a wide range of different tasks. Family-oriented consumers enjoy the Explorer and Grand Cherokee L for their comfortable seating and generous cargo space, which are crucial for the modern family on the go. In contrast, off-roaders and those who enjoy outdoor recreational activities have always enjoyed the Explorer and the Grand Cherokee L’s ability to offer them a means to facilitate an adventure on the road less traveled.
The question is: Which one is the better pick for you? Today, we’re going to find out. Choosing the perfect three-row SUV for your family-oriented or off-roading needs just got easier. Today, we will take a deep dive behind the wheel and under the hood of both vehicles to see which one comes out on top. In a contest of three-row SUV supremacy, it’s the 2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Both models have long-standing reputations and offer modern drivers the performance, features, and amenities they enjoy having with them on the road. Both vehicles are equipped with exceptional powertrains and three rows of seating and are backed with extraordinary warranty coverage. Once you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll be one step closer to choosing the perfect SUV for your travels on the road ahead.
| 2025 Ford Explorer | VS | 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L |
|---|---|---|
| $40,050[a] | MSRP | $36,495[a] |
| 400 | Horsepower | 293 |
| 415 lb-ft | Torque | 260 lb-ft |
| 13.2 in | Screen Size | 10.1 in |
Performance
A three-row SUV accommodates passengers and cargo, facilitates adventures, and requires a powertrain that performs well and offers exceptional fuel economy. Ford and Jeep are brands that have been celebrated for several decades for their powertrains, which provide performance that surpasses expectations. Let’s start our examination by looking under the hood and seeing what both vehicles offer.
There’s been a notable change to the Jeep Grand Cherokee L for the 2025 model year that performance-focused drivers will find unsatisfactory. The HEMI V8, seen by many as the pinnacle of high performance for the Jeep brand, is no longer available. Instead, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is equipped with a single powertrain across all trims. The sole engine for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a 3.6L V6 that produces 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which offers performance but does little to provide sustainable fuel economy. According to testing conducted by the EPA, RWD models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L achieve 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway for a combined average of 21 MPG.
If the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is limited by its performance, then the exact opposite is true of the 2025 Ford Explorer. Ford’s flagship SUV has two powertrains available, one made for sustainable fuel economy and the other designed to give drivers that extra boost of performance where it matters most. The base engine for the Explorer consists of a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine that produces 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder pairs with a ten-speed automatic transmission, like many other trucks and SUVs in the Ford fleet. Besides overpowering the sole powertrain from Jeep, it’s also far more efficient at conserving fuel. The EPA estimates that an Explorer with RWD will achieve 20 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway for a combined average of 24 MPG.
The Explorer’s base engine outperforms and conserves more fuel than the Grand Cherokee L’s sole powertrain, and there’s more in store for drivers who enjoy enhanced performance. The Platinum and ST trims of the Ford Explorer are granted access to a turbocharged 3.0L V6 that produces 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque.
Having a powertrain that provides performance and fuel economy is what many drivers look for in an SUV. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is saddled with a single powertrain that offers adequate performance but isn’t ideal for traveling far between fill-ups. The Ford Explorer, on the other hand, has an engine that can outperform Jeep’s SUV and save money at the pump. Drivers who want enhanced performance can get it with an available V6 that exhibits the best of Ford’s engineering. Pound for pound, the Explorer simply offers more than Jeep.
Interior Technology
A reliable and efficient powertrain has always been the cornerstone of any vehicle’s success. However, the modern driver looks for much more. They want an interior lined with comfort and amenities and access to tech-savvy features that connect them to their favorite apps and technologies. Jeep and Ford have always been on the cutting edge of innovation, and the technology that both vehicles offer makes them appealing to drivers everywhere.
The infotainment screen is the gateway to apps and technologies in any vehicle. Base trims of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L have a 10.1-inch screen that provides connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Grand Cherokee L’s infotainment screen is powered by Uconnect 5 to provide an immersive and intuitive experience. Jeep is known for keeping its best items obscured by trims and pricing. A navigational system powered by TomTom is limited to select trims, as are refined stereo systems meant to provide entertainment.
Drivers who favor a tech-savvy experience that surpasses all others will be pleased with what they’ll find in the 2025 Ford Explorer. New for the 2025 model year is the Ford Digital Experience, an infotainment system that has set a new standard for all brands to live up to. The Ford Digital Experience not only grants drivers wireless connectivity to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay but also integrates with Google and Amazon. Drivers can access music, maps, and much more, all offered by the industry’s best search engine. The Ford Digital Experience is standard across all trims, as is a 13.2-inch infotainment screen with pristine clarity and picture quality.
Access to apps and staying connected on the road are crucial for the modern consumer. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, but drivers have to chase the upper trims to get the most out of what it provides. The 2025 Ford Explorer has a much more advanced infotainment system and a larger touchscreen across all trims. No matter which version of the Explorer you purchase, you’re getting technology on the cutting edge of innovation.
Safety and Driving Assistance Features
The performance and connectivity of the 2025 Ford Explorer and the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L highlight the best of what both brands offer. Beyond powertrains and infotainment is a far more important aspect of any vehicle you purchase: safety. The best safety and driving assistance features matter most, so we’ve saved them to conclude our examination. Both the Grand Cherokee L and Ford Explorer received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA in collision testing. This is government-mandated and objective testing conducted annually on all vehicles to provide consumers with the information they need.
Both SUVs have the necessary items that provide protection and oversight where it matters most. Items to enhance reaction time, such as collision warning with automated emergency braking, are included. Having enhanced reaction time makes all the difference in avoiding a potential collision. Both SUVs have additional items to improve reaction time, such as adaptive cruise control, which assists you with maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when traveling on the highway. Lane-keeping technologies can also be found in both SUVs and help you maintain a correct position on the road.
Both SUVs are closely matched in terms of what they offer. However, the Ford Explorer has access to technology that many drivers seek. BlueCruise, Ford’s semi-autonomous hands-free driving technology, is available on the Explorer. With hundreds of thousands of pre-programmed miles, BlueCruise can reduce driver fatigue over long stretches of highway and interstate travel. It’s a must-have for those who enjoy long road trips. Jeep has a Hands-Free Active Driving Assist, but Ford BlueCruise covers 5,000 more miles than Jeep’s alternative.
Comparing the safety and driving assistance features of both SUVs is almost too close to call. Safety is important and should be seen as a necessity rather than a competition. With high test ratings and a host of features at your disposal, the real winner of this contest is you.
Test Drive the 2025 Explorer at Kings Ford
It was a tough competition, but with its superior performance, intuitive technology, and access to BlueCruise, the 2025 Ford Explorer simply outdoes the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. When you shop at Kings Ford, you’ll have the chance to experience everything the Explorer offers at a dealership that embodies Ford’s high standards of quality and craftsmanship. With a large selection of vehicles and a courteous and professional sales team, we give you a better way to buy that surpasses our competitors. We can help you obtain the loan or lease you want, and our parts and service center is here to ensure you get the most out of your Explorer.
