2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Ford Explorer continued the design evolution that began with its switch to a rear-wheel-drive platform, resulting in a more balanced and sleek appearance. The refreshed model featured a restyled front end, giving it a wider and more ruggedly handsome look. New LED taillights and a strip of trim connecting them added to its modern aesthetic. Inside, the Explorer saw significant improvements, with upgraded materials, colors, and displays that made it competitive in its segment. Ford streamlined the trim levels to four, including the new base trim called Active, the sporty ST-Line, the luxurious Platinum, and the performance-tuned ST, with prices ranging from $39,755 to $55,505, excluding the destination charge.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic design, rooted in its military heritage, with a focus on function over form. The Sport S trim we encountered in Hawaii was a black-on-black hardtop with dark gray wheels, which proved less than ideal in the tropical climate. Despite its nearly $50,000 price tag, the Wrangler's interior was basic, with a focus on durability and utility. The Wrangler offered a range of trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. While the Wrangler's design emphasized American freedom and off-road capability, it lacked the sophistication found in many modern vehicles.

The 2025 Ford Explorer offered two EcoBoost engine options. Most trims, except the ST, came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer ST and optional Platinum trim featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. All Explorers had a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with an optional four-wheel-drive system. The ST-Line test vehicle, equipped with rear-wheel drive, averaged 23.8 mpg during testing. The Explorer's turbo four provided quick acceleration, and the 10-speed automatic delivered decisive shifts. The ST-Line's performance was enhanced with larger wheels and optional performance brakes.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. During testing in Hawaii, the four-cylinder Wrangler averaged 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and off-road capabilities made it well-suited for adventurous driving. However, its ride was rough, and the steering felt disconnected, especially at higher speeds.

The 2025 Ford Explorer offered seating for six in its standard configuration, with an optional second-row bench seat increasing capacity to seven. The ST-Line test vehicle featured a comfortable interior with heated power-adjustable front seats, ambient lighting, and a power-folding third-row seat. The second-row captain's chairs were equally comfortable, with manual rear side window shades for added comfort. However, accessing the third row was challenging for adults, and the seat was uncomfortable. The Explorer provided competitive cargo space, with 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 85.8 cubic feet.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, and the Convenience Group option added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Wrangler seated five, but four passengers were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The Wrangler offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a new 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Ford Digital Experience. This system included Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. A 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot was available, and the system was user-friendly, with Google Maps and Google Assistant integration. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems by Bang & Olufsen, with 10 speakers in the ST-Line and 14 speakers in the Platinum and ST trims.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Sport S trim came with an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect provided access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, Adventure Guides, and GPS Trail Logs for off-road navigation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, remote engine starting, and rear parking sensors.

The 2025 Ford Explorer came equipped with Ford CoPilot 360+, which included adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist and other driver assistance systems. The ST-Line trim and higher featured Ford CoPilot 360 2.0, adding a surround-view camera system and BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise performed well during testing, though it occasionally struggled with tighter curves and heavy traffic. The 2025 Explorer had not been fully rated by the NHTSA, but it earned five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags for the front and rear seats as standard equipment. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. The Wrangler had a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler as Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact, but it received a Marginal rating in the small overlap frontal-impact test.