2025 Ford Explorer vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee Interior Design & Technology

Plush interiors with soft-touch materials, innovative technology, and premium comfort options enhance your driving experience in both the 2025 Ford Explorer and 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Contemporary amenities available in both models include power-adjustable front seats, wireless phone charging capabilities, auto-dimming rearview mirrors, premium leather seat upholstery materials, and heated steering wheels. Both models allow you to fill the cabin with warm, natural light and fresh air through a panoramic Vista Roof® in the Explorer or dual-pane panoramic sunroof in the Grand Cherokee.

Some notable differences include:

Comfort Options — In select trims, the two models share features like heated and ventilated front seats with a massage function and heated second-row seats. Ventilated second-row seats are available on the Grand Cherokee, along with four-zone climate control. The Explorer features a standard tri-zone climate control.

Displays and Infotainment — Every Explorer is equipped with a 13.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch instrument panel productivity screen. The Ford Digital Experience in the Explorer utilizes Google built-in capabilities, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and Amazon Alexa Built-in capabilities. By comparison, the Grand Cherokee uses a standard 8.4-inch Uconnect® 5 touchscreen and a 10.25-inch cluster display with the option for a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 Nav touchscreen system. The Grand Cherokee also offers a front passenger interactive display.

Sound System Options — A premium sound system is available in both SUVs. The Explorer offers a 14-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® with a subwoofer, while the Grand Cherokee offers a 19-speaker McIntosh® sound system.

2025 Ford Explorer vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Specs & Fuel Economy

Rugged capability blends with adventure-extending fuel efficiency in both the 2025 Ford Explorer and 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Choose between either a 2.3L EcoBoost® inline four-cylinder (I4) engine or a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine with the Explorer. Every Grand Cherokee is powered by a 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine. Overall, both Explorer engines make more horsepower and torque than what the Grand Cherokee has to offer — 300 horsepower in the standard Explorer engine and 400 horsepower with the available engine, versus 293 horsepower with the Grand Cherokee.

Fuel economy estimates for the Ford SUV are also higher, with up to 20 MPG in city driving and 29 MPG on the highway, versus 19 city and 26 highway for the Jeep. Tow up to 5,000 pounds with the Ford Explorer or 6,200 pounds with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Compare the performance specs for the Explorer and Grand Cherokee in the accompanying chart.

2025 Ford Explorer vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee Size & Cargo Space

Enjoy generous space in both the 2025 Ford Explorer and 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Explorer is standard with three rows of seating, while the Grand Cherokee is built in both two- and three-row configurations. In their comparable three-row configurations, the Explorer and Grand Cherokee L both seat seven, but the Ford SUV provides more first- and third-row legroom. Overall cargo space is close — with a maximum of 85.8 cubic feet in the Explorer and 84.6 cubic feet in the Grand Cherokee L.

See the size and interior space differences between the Explorer and Grand Cherokee in the following chart.

2025 Ford Explorer vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee Safety Options & Features

A vast selection of standard and available safety technologies surrounds you in both the 2025 Ford Explorer and 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Among their similar standard features, you can enjoy the convenience of adaptive cruise control, systems to boost blind spot and cross-traffic awareness, features to help you maintain proper lane positioning, and emergency braking that automatically engages as needed. Boost your visibility in tight parking situations with a 360-degree camera in either model. Both SUVs allow you to drive hands-free on select highways with Ford BlueCruise in the Explorer and a hands-free active driving assist system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Intersection Assist 2.0 functions within certain speeds to help you avoid collisions in an intersection, alerting you to oncoming traffic when you turn left, traffic crossing your path, and pedestrians with audible cues and automatic braking if needed. While this functionality is standard in the Explorer, intersection collision assist with a focus on mitigating cross-traffic collisions by alerting you to hazards is available in select Grand Cherokee models. A night vision camera and automatic steering for parallel and perpendicular parking are uniquely available on the Grand Cherokee.

Standard Explorer safety features include:

• Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centering
• Auto high beams
• BLIS® (blind spot information system) with cross-traffic alert, exit warning, and trailer coverage
• Evasive steering assist
• Intersection Assist 2.0
• Lane-keeping system
• Pre-Collision Assist® with automatic emergency braking
• Rear cross-traffic braking
• Rearview camera
• Reverse parking assist
• Post-collision braking
• Rear parking sensors

Standard Grand Cherokee safety features include:

• Active lane management system
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
• Advanced brake assist
• Blind spot and cross-path detection
• Full-speed forward collision warning plus
• Hill start assist
• ParkSense® rear park assist with stop
• ParkView® rear backup camera
• Pedestrian/cyclist emergency braking

2025 Ford Explorer Key Advantages

Performance, space, and standard tech top the list of key reasons to pick the 2025 Ford Explorer. Enjoy more fuel-efficient performance and higher horsepower and torque estimates with the standard engine in the Explorer, or make every drive a thrill with the 400-horsepower V6. Larger standard screens with built-in Google capabilities lend modern convenience to your daily routine, and spacious front legroom ensures you and your co-pilot’s comfort remain a top priority.

Notable Explorer advantages include:

• Higher standard fuel economy
• Higher standard and available horsepower and torque
• Standard 13.2-in. touchscreen
• Standard 12.3-in. digital productivity screen
• Higher front- and third-row legroom

2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Key Advantages

An additional 1,200 pounds of towing capacity and unique features in higher-end 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee trims help differentiate the model. Among these are ventilated second-row seats and several distinctive tech features, including a premium 19-speaker sound system and a display in front of the front passenger. Night vision camera technology is also available in select Grand Cherokee models.

Notable Grand Cherokee advantages include:

• Higher max. towing capacity
• Ventilated second-row seats
• Night vision technology
• Interactive passenger’s display
• 19-speaker sound system

Learn More About the Ford Explorer

The team at Wickstrom Ford is dedicated to helping you discover the ideal vehicle for your active lifestyle. Continue learning about all the Explorer has to offer, including specs, colors, and options in our Explorer review. Click through to our trims page to see the key features and Ford Explorer pricing.

Take your research from the screen to the driver’s seat and schedule a test drive at our dealership in Barrington, IL. See which model fits your criteria best from our new Explorer inventory, or find high-quality pre-owned options in our used Explorer inventory. If a new model appeals to you, be sure to find an enticing monthly rate with our Explorer lease offer.