2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Ford Explorer Watertown WI

Features & Specs

Base Engine

3.6 L

3.5 L

Drive Type

Rear wheel drive

Front wheel drive

Fuel Capacity

24.6 gal.

18.6 gal.

Torque

260 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm

255 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm

2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2015 Ford Explorer near Madison, WI

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the way to go if you are seeking a mid-size SUV. Its well trimmed cabin is comfy for 5 people, and it's one of the few remaining utility vehicles that can handle both off-road trails and daily commutes. The 2015 Ford Explorer isn't as versatile or roomy as some other large, 3-row crossover SUVs, but it is still a respectable pick in this class thanks to its convenience features, improved safety and driver aids and comfortable highway ride.

2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Power & Handling

Jeep Grand Cherokees equipped with the optional 5.7-liter V8 get an estimated 16 mpg combined with 4WD and 17 mpg combined with 2WD. Towing capacity for Grand Cherokees with the 5.7-liter V8 tops out at 7,400 pounds. Fuel economy is vastly improved when you select the diesel V6 engine, which is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined with 4WD and 25 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive. Impressively, the towing capacity with the diesel is the same as the 5.7-liter V8.

2015 Ford Explorer Power & Handling

All 2015 Ford Explorers, except for the Sport, come standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. It produces 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. With this engine, you have your choice of front-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. Four-wheel-drive models get hill descent control, hill start assist and Ford's Terrain Management System, a selectable four-mode system that optimizes traction electronically for different conditions.

2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Features & Design

The Grand Cherokee is one pretty, sophisticated SUV. The details are fine and the LED taillights have improved. This brings the derivative look of the rear nicely. Rear LED taillights and a spoiler lifted from the SRT edition are standard on all versions, while from the nose and tail, the lower fascias are different, pierced by dual exhausts on most models, including the SRT. While the Grand Cherokee has no third-row seat option, there's ample room for a family of four or five, and you can order up a significant amount of luxury ambience, including ventilated front seats and a dual-screen, Blu-ray-capable rear entertainment system with an HDMI input.

2015 Ford Explorer Features & Design

The Explorer has 80 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, making it less spacious than the Grand Cherokee. The third row is short on legroom and will fit only small children. The Explorer's second-row seats may be a bit disappointing for families as well, as there's not as much room to install rear-facing child safety seats, something you'd expect to do with ease in a vehicle of this size. And while the Explorer has the commanding ride height expected in an SUV, its thick roof pillars and tall dash limit outward visibility. Even with all of the available parking aids, it's a handful in tight spaces.

Conclusions

With the Jeep Grand Cherokee, you will definitely be making fewer stops at the gas station than with the Ford Explorer, due to its tank size and fuel economy. The Ford Explorer also has a larger turning radius than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, making it slightly more difficult to maneuver in and out of tight spots.

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