2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2020 Ford Explorer certainly made a visual statement. It featured a refined and upscale, yet utilitarian design that looked lower and more athletic compared to its predecessors. The widened headlights, oversized grille, and italic "Explorer" lettering on the hood gave it a prominent face that was hard to miss. The ST model I tested was particularly stunning with black 21-inch rims, blacked-out trim, red brake calipers, rich Rapid Red paint, and quad exhaust pipes. Despite its external appeal, the interior left much to be desired. At over $60,000, the Explorer’s interior materials didn’t live up to the price, giving off a low-grade vinyl feel rather than luxurious leather. Rough-grained plastic dominated much of the cabin, detracting from the overall experience. The aluminum speaker covers and some white stitching added brief moments of respite, but the Explorer missed the mark for a vehicle in its price range.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was equally, if not more, compelling on the style front. It shared a familial resemblance with the higher-end Wagoneer models, making it look like a smaller, classier, full-size SUV. The Grand Cherokee L’s styling was executed nearly flawlessly, from its signature seven-slot grille to its familiar lighting arrangement. Available in six trims ranging from Laredo to Summit Reserve, the Grand Cherokee L offered a broad visual appeal across its lineup. Inside, the Summit trim of the Grand Cherokee L shined with quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and a surplus of technology. Although some materials didn’t quite justify the nearly $65,000 price tag, it was a clear step up from the previous generation.

The 2020 Ford Explorer delivered impressive performance across various trims. The ST trim featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This setup offered superb power and smooth, uninterrupted acceleration. The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis balanced the vehicle exceptionally well, and the suspension and steering—tuned by Ford Performance—added a nimble, responsive feel. Even though the ride wasn't plush, it handled imperfections remarkably without adaptive dampers. The Explorer's brake feel was also highly commendable.

The more common 2.3-liter turbo inline-four offered a respectable 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A hybrid option was also available but was not recommended due to its lackluster fuel economy benefits. Towing capacities ranged from 5,000 pounds with the hybrid powertrain to 5,600 pounds with the AWD V6.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came with a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For enhanced towing capabilities and power, a 5.7-liter V8 was available on higher trims, delivering 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. This setup enabled the Jeep to tow up to 7,200 pounds. During our tests, the V6 engine with 4WD provided brisk acceleration but was notably loud when pushed. While the eight-speed automatic transmission behaved well, the Auto driving mode sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel efficiency, though it averaged just 17.8 mpg combined.

The Grand Cherokee L’s Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension excelled in off-road conditions, offering up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability. In daily driving, the Grand Cherokee L's structure provided a smooth ride, and the air suspension handled uneven pavements satisfactorily.

The 2020 Ford Explorer impressed with its spacious interior and practicality. A Christmas road trip with my parents proved that even with our camera gear, we had ample room in the cabin and cargo areas. The second-row provided a first-class experience with multiple USB ports, air vents, a panoramic moonroof, and a handy center console. The third-row seats were more spacious than before, accommodating six-foot adults for short trips without feeling cramped. Cargo space was another strong point: 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded down.

In comparison, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L boasted a comfortable and tech-savvy interior, especially in the Summit trim. Features like heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, along with four-zone climate control, ensured high levels of comfort. Captain’s chairs came standard in the second row, offering significant legroom and comfort, although a bench option was available. The third-row seats provided enough space for all but the tallest adults and featured large side windows for a good view. Practical storage space in the front was limited, but the second row included a storage console useful for third-row occupants. Cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 84.6 cubic feet with all seats down.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Higher trims offered a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. While the touchscreen made navigation clearer, the overall interface was not particularly innovative. The gauge cluster had pretty animations but lacked customizable layouts, and Co-Pilot360 Assist+ was less effective than competitors' systems.

Jeep's 2021 Grand Cherokee L employed the new Uconnect 5 system, claiming five times faster response and a better user experience. Available with either 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreens, Uconnect 5 offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Our test vehicle featured the larger screen, which worked well despite some quirks. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system provided excellent sound quality, though the McIntosh logo felt out of place in the interior. Additional tech options included a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came with Ford Co-Pilot 360 as standard, featuring forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control with steering assistance and reverse braking, which occasionally malfunctioned. The Explorer also had a passenger front knee airbag. While NHTSA had not rated it at the time, the Explorer scored Acceptable in the IIHS's small overlap test on the driver's side.

Jeep introduced Active Driving Assist in the 2021 Grand Cherokee L, which combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. This system showed promise but felt somewhat artificial in steering corrections. Intersection Collision Assist, standard on Summit models, could detect threats from either side at intersections. Additional safety features included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist and a comprehensive suite of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies. At the time of review, crash-test ratings yet weren't available for the Grand Cherokee L, but improvements over the older model were expected.