Design

The Ford Explorer is a rugged SUV, available in eight trim levels or model options that get fancier as you move up the trim levels. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is similarly rugged in design but not as flexible as the Explorer. There are eight trim levels for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but you have to add various packages to create the same well-rounded vehicle that is the Ford Explorer. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is also wildly more expensive, with the top-tier Summit Reserve reaching almost $70k. The most luxurious King Ranch and Platinum trims for the Ford Explorer top out at around $57k and offer many of the same creature comforts and plush-style upgrades.

The Ford Explorer offers a practical and flexible layout with three rows of seating for up to seven passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is smaller and is exclusively a two-row SUV. Don't need a third row? No problem; the third row in the Ford Explorer folds flat to create a much larger cargo hold than the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers. Use the third row when needed, or create a large storage area for groceries, gear, and more.

Load Up On Tech

A new Ford Explorer at Butler Ford is a significant upgrade thanks to a generous list of advanced technology to keep drivers and passengers connected and entertained on the road. The intuitive Sync® 3 infotainment system through an 8- or 10.1-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen offers staples like smartphone integration, satellite radio, voice recognition, and more! The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers similar features but is generally more expensive than the Ford Explorer.

Roam Freely

Traveling to or from Macon, GA? The Ford Explorer allows you to do more and go further with a robust set of engine options, both of which are more powerful and efficient than the standard V6 on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The standard engine in the Explorer is a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A twin-turbo V6 is available for the ST and the two luxury trims: King Ranch and Platinum. While the base engine on the Explorer is smaller, it creates more horsepower than the standard V6 in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Ford Explorer can tow up to 5,600 pounds, but the base Grand Cherokee tops out at 3,500 pounds.

Affordability

You could be the talk of the town in quaint Eatonton, GA. The Ford Explorer comes generously equipped and starts at a budget-friendly price of $36,860, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $36,495. On paper, it might seem like the Jeep Grand Cherokee is more affordable, but when we take a deep dive, it's clear that you have to pay much more for features that the Explorer includes as staples on the entry-level model. For example, the Ford Explorer base model has a standard power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers, and remote start features. You'll have to pay more than $4,000 extra to get the same features in the Jeep Grand Cherokee through a handful of complicated package upgrades.