For drivers near the Chittenden County, South Burlington, and St. Albans areas, choosing which SUV to bring home next just became much more exciting. Two in-class favorites are going all out in this head-to-head. The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. 2019 Ford Explorer debate is already well underway and we at Goss Dodge Chrysler Ram Jeep wanted to help you make an educated decision on your next SUV.
That's why our automotive professionals wrote this Grand Cherokee vs. Explorer comparison-so you can drive off the lot with the SUV that's right for you.
Grand Cherokee vs Explorer: Engine Power
In our Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Ford Explorer guide, we couldn't start without talking about their engines first. Jeep offers four powerful engine displacements.
Let's start with the standard Grand Cherokee engine, which is a 3.6L Pentastar® V6 that produces 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Ford provides the 2019 Explorer with a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6, which only produces 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. Just to measure up to the base engine in the Grand Cherokee, you would need to upgrade to one of the other engines available in the Explorer.
However, where Ford stopped, Jeep went at least a few extra miles-with three more increasingly strong engines. The largest available engine offered in the 2019 Grand Cherokee is a Supercharged 6.2L V8, which produces a whopping 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque to the wheels.
Max Capacity Towing Competition
Once you get down to the towing options in the 2019 Grand Cherokee vs. 2019 Explorer discussion, it quickly becomes apparent which SUV can handle more on the hitch.
The 2019 Grand Cherokee can tow a maximum of 7,200 pounds when properly equipped with one of its two available V8 engines and the Jeep Trailer-Tow Group IV, which includes a 7-pin and 4-Pin wiring harness and Class IV receiver-hitch. Ford's available 3.5L Twin Turbocharged EcoBoost® engine and Class III Trailer Tow Package will only give you a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
Although the available grouping comes with a frame-mounted Class III hitch and a comparable wiring harness, the Explorer can't compete with over 2,000 pounds of additional towing power.
Safety On- and Off-Road
Both SUVs have their share of safety features that make driving on any terrain a relaxing experience. The Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer are equipped with Hill Start Assist, a system that helps prevent vehicle rollback on a hill.
When a driver shifts from the brake pedal to the accelerator on a hill, the vehicle will maintain brake pressure for a short period to give you time to comfortably switch from braking to accelerating. Jeep has an additional Rain Brake Support for wet road condition, which engages when the windshield wipers are activated and keeps the brake rotors dry by applying a small amount of pressure to the caliper.
In our Grand Cherokee vs. Explorer discussion, we noticed that both SUVs have systems intended to mitigate vehicle roll risks and traction loss, but the Grand Cherokee took it a step further. An available Electronic Rear Limited-Slip Differential quickly transfers up to 100 percent of torque from a slipping wheel onto the axle to help regain lost traction.
Choosing the SUV for Your Lifestyle
At Goss Dodge Chrysler Ram Jeep, we're aware that our 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. 2019 Ford Explorer positions both of these goal-setting rivals as well-built and -equipped SUVs prepared for any daily task. But our automotive professionals believe that drivers around the Chittenden County, South Burlington, and St. Albans areas will prefer what the Jeep Grand Cherokee has to offer drivers.
To really understand the offerings included in the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, we welcome you to contact us at Goss Dodge Chrysler Ram Jeep and schedule a test drive today.