2020 Jeep Cherokee vs Ford Explorer

We know that the Winter Haven area is full of adventurous Floridians who love to hit the open road when the mood strikes. That’s why you’re looking for an SUV like the 2020 Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer that has the same kind of wanderlust you do.  

Both vehicles are well suited to the needs of drivers around Lakeland and Bartow, but which one is going to be right for you? To help you decide, the team at Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Winter Haven put together this Cherokee vs. Explorer comparison.

Other Comparisons:

Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Compass | Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

Check out how these two SUVs compare on the points of agility and efficiency and then contact us to learn more or schedule a test drive!

Jeep Cherokee vs Ford Explorer Agility

When you’re ready to take off for the beach or hit the rocky trails, it’s important to have a set of wheels that’s agile and capable. That’s something you’ll get with both the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer.

Both SUVs have available 4-wheel drive (4x4) systems that automatically adjust to the task at hand to provide the most capable handling possible. These include drive-mode select systems that let you choose different settings based on your specific conditions, including settings for:

·         Sandy and slippery conditions

·         Rocky terrain

·         Normal/everyday driving

While these agility specs make both the Ford Explorer and Jeep Cherokee well-suited to off-road or inclement-weather driving, the size of the Cherokee may give it the advantage during city driving or when tackling a particularly tight off-road passage.

The Cherokee is significantly more compact than the Explorer, as you can see from the table of dimensions below:

With a body that’s more than five inches wider, four inches taller, and 16 inches longer, the Ford Explorer may prove to be more cumbersome than the Jeep Cherokee, especially when trying to parallel park on a busy street or navigate a crowded parking lot.

This advantage tends to make the Cherokee a preferred vehicle for weekly commuters who share their time between city streets and off-road adventures.

2020 Cherokee vs Explorer Efficiency

While capability is the name of the game with these types of SUVs, it’s important to look at their efficiency, and how far they can get you on the open road before having to stop to fill up. In other words, which one is going to take you farther on your road trip between pit-stops?

Both the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer have features in place to help improve efficiency, like their available stop/start engine systems. These prevent unnecessary fuel use during city driving. They work by shutting down the engine during extended pauses at red lights and stop signs.

As you take your foot off the brake, the engines seamlessly power back on again and giddy-up without missing a beat.

When you’re cruising down the highway, however, you may get farther in the Jeep Cherokee:

As you can see in the table above, the 2020 Cherokee can get up to an EPA-estimated 31 MPG on the highway with its turbocharged I4 engine and up to an EPA-estimated 29 MPG highway with its high-powered V6 engine.

The Explorer, by comparison, only gets an EPA-estimated 28 MPG highway and 24 MPG highway with its turbocharged I4 engine and V6 engines, respectively.

Jeep Cherokee or Ford Explorer: Which is Right for You?

Only you can know which vehicle is the right pick for your drives through Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Bartow. However, our team found a lot to like about the Cherokee when we compared the 2020 Jeep Cherokee vs. Ford Explorer.

Do you want to see it in action for yourself?  Contact the team at DCJR of Winter Haven to take the wheel.

Schedule your test drive of the Jeep Cherokee today!