Compare the2023 Ford ExpeditionVS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Both the Expedition and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Expedition has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Expedition and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Expedition have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

The Expedition 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 L 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 Expedition’s reliability 16 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

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.

The Expedition has more powerful engines than the Grand Cherokee L:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Expedition (base engine) is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Expedition 10-speed Auto 4x4 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Grand Cherokee L 5.7 OHV V8 (16 city/22 hwy vs. 14 city/22 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the Expedition’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee L V6.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Expedition, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee L.

The Expedition stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

For better traction, the Expedition’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Cherokee L (285/45R22 vs. 275/45R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Expedition offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Grand Cherokee L’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Ford Expedition’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Expedition has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Expedition is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited (9.8 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Expedition offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The Expedition has 12.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee L (171.9 vs. 159.1).

The Expedition has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 4.8 inches more front hip room, 5.7 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, 6.3 inches more rear hip room, 6.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 5.8 inches more third row legroom, 8.5 inches more third row hip room and 12.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition’s middle and third row seats recline. The Grand Cherokee L’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Expedition’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

The Expedition’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Grand Cherokee L’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Expedition’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (6000 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4x4 is only 7200 pounds. The Expedition offers up to a 9300 lbs. towing capacity.

The Expedition’s standard front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee L 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Expedition owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Expedition will cost $280 less than the Grand Cherokee L over a five-year period.