2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. It balanced rugged utility and upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels under flared fenders, making it a quintessential SUV. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, offering a blend of mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV characteristics. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models. The 2021 updates included minor tweaks to the Laredo and Limited trims and the introduction of the Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition. Our test vehicle, a Summit trim with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and 4WD, was priced at $68,185, including destination charges. The Platinum Series Group added a premium look with body-color accents and platinum chrome finishes. Inside, the Summit featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum, creating a luxurious cabin. However, the interior showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us at Los Angeles International Airport after a long flight, offering a plush and roomy interior. The Platinum trim, the most luxurious in the lineup, included features like Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package. Priced at $80,510, the Expedition Platinum impressed with its chrome grille, 22-inch wheels, and brightwork. However, it struggled to accommodate our luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The extended-length Expedition MAX would have solved this issue, offering more cargo space. The Expedition's leather-lined cabin provided comfort for our six-person crew, though the interior featured hard plastics reminiscent of its F-150 origins. Despite this, the Expedition remained a good-looking vehicle with a commanding presence.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds, making it a capable SUV. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management made the Grand Cherokee adept at off-roading. The Quadra-Lift air suspension provided 4.1 inches of variability, enhancing both on-road and off-road performance. The Grand Cherokee Summit offered a smooth and responsive ride, though the V8 consumed more fuel in city driving. Its tight turning radius and effective brakes added to its practicality, but it lacked surround-view and forward-view camera systems.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Platinum trim received a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The Expedition's Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology made towing easier. Acceleration was impressive, even with a full load, and the V6 engine emitted a pleasant note. The transmission operated smoothly, and the steering and brakes performed well. The Platinum's 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin, but the independent suspension kept the SUV stable. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, including a two-speed transfer case and all-terrain tires. Our Platinum test vehicle averaged 17.1 mpg, slightly below the EPA's combined rating of 19 mpg.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather-wrapped panels. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat provided comfort but limited legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. Interior storage was adequate, but the DVD/Blu-Ray player took up space in the center console bin. The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. Practical features included a recessed bin, storage around the spare tire, and a power liftgate closing button.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with large, wide seats for all passengers, including adults in the third row. The front seats offered a massage function, adding to the luxury. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort in every seating position. Storage was plentiful, with cargo volume expanding from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded. The maximum volume behind the front seats was 104.6 cubic feet. The Expedition MAX provided even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet. However, the cargo floor's high liftover height could be a challenge when loading heavy items.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link services, while SiriusXM Guardian offered remote access to locks and engine starting. The voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of many features through voice commands. The Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, delivering excellent sound quality. Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee's infotainment system remained impressive, though it lacked advanced digital features.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's Sync 3 infotainment system, though aging, offered a user-friendly interface with an 8-inch touchscreen display. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and navigation. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also part of the system. The test vehicle featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and wireless smartphone charging. The available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system included dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, and the ability to stream content from a mobile device. Despite its age, Sync 3 provided the essential features expected from a modern infotainment system.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with 4WD, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. The Summit trim included the ProTech II Package, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Grand Cherokee also featured a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.

The 2021 Ford Expedition earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, though its rollover-resistance rating was three stars with RWD and four stars with 4WD. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Starting with Limited trim, the Expedition offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The lane-keeping technology proved helpful on narrow freeways, though Ford did not offer a more advanced driving system with lane-centering assistance.