Compare the2023 Ford Escape PHEVVS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape PHEV have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Escape PHEV has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Escape PHEV and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Escape PHEV the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee has not been tested, yet.

There are over 25 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Escape PHEV’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Escape PHEV has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

The Escape PHEV has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Escape PHEV’s reliability 15 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Escape PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee 4xe running on electricity (117 city/93 hwy vs. 57 city/56 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Escape PHEV running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee running its gasoline engine:

The Escape PHEV can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 37 miles. The Grand Cherokee 4xe has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape PHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee 4xe requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape PHEV higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Grand Cherokee (5 to 7). This means the Escape PHEV produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grand Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

The Escape PHEV has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Escape PHEV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape PHEV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee Laredo.

For better maneuverability, the Escape PHEV’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Grand Cherokee’s (37.2 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Ford Escape PHEV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 1650 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Escape PHEV is 1 foot, 1 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee, making the Escape PHEV easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Escape PHEV has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the Grand Cherokee.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape PHEV easier. The Escape PHEV’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

All models of the Escape PHEV can be flat towed on all four wheels, allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escape PHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. Only the Grand Cherokee 4WD can be dinghy towed and it requires equipment that is not standard.

The Escape PHEV’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape PHEV’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Escape PHEV has a standard locking fuel and charge port door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

The Escape PHEV has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The Escape PHEV’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Cherokee Summit’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape PHEV will be $5473 to $20903 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Escape PHEV, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.