2011 stock for stock better than 2011 Grand Cherokee

[chewy4x4]

Just throwing that one out there for discusion. Because I say yes, yes it is.

 

[IZwack]

Vvhhat about ze SRT8 ya?

 

[tap24]

Ex definitely better safety-wise. Saw Consumer Reports video of Jeep Cherokee test drive and it seemed to lack adequate stability control.

 

[tmike]

sat in both today at the Auto Show and the Ex is by far better then the GC! No questions asked!

 

[NHarris]

Seeing both in at the utah auto show, i've concluded the only thing good about the GC, is the fancy air suspension and the V8.

 

[tmike]

Seeing both in at the utah auto show, i've concluded the only thing good about the GC, is the fancy air suspension and the V8.

Their V8 does not impress me at all!

 

[Thrumcap]

As far as the "excitement" factor, Grand Cherokee wins. Put the V6 Ecoboost in the Explorer and that would be a game changer.

 

[LincolnAviFan]

I'd say, they are "different". If you need an SUV with 3 rows, the Ex wins. If you want to go offroading, the GC is your choice.

The GC gives you a huge "bang for the buck" and the fit and finish is great, too.

 

[peterk9]

As far as the "excitement" factor, Grand Cherokee wins. Put the V6 Ecoboost in the Explorer and that would be a game changer.

Just want to calrify it is not actually a V6....Explorer offers an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine delivering V6 power with four-cylinder fuel efficiency.

 

[LincolnAviFan]

Just want to calrify it is not actually a V6....Explorer offers an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ I-4 engine delivering V6 power with four-cylinder fuel efficiency.

I think that's the problem Thrumcap was talking about. IF it would be the V6, it would be a "gamechanger"..at least that's how I read his post..

 

[peterk9]

I think that's the problem Thrumcap was talking about. IF it would be the V6, it would be a "gamechanger"..at least that's how I read his post..

This one could be interesting!!!
The F-150 version of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. Additional tuning is expected to push the F-150's EcoBoost engine to around 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, a jump over the Taurus SHO and Flex crossovers on the road. While a six-cylinder isn't normally equated with work trucks, Ford will push the direct-injected, twin-turbo V-6 as a workhorse, which will also be the first EcoBoost application on a pickup truck.

 

[thaywood]

Of course I'm gonna say the GC is better. It's REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE with a real 4x4 system with a low-range transfer case and real capabilities. Plus it's pure awesomeness. I've seen several of them on the road and they are really good looking, well proportioned vehicles. I haven't had a chance to get up close and personal with one yet, but I'm eventually going to the Chrysler stealership in town to check one out. No Flexplorers at our local Ford place yet. I have to say I like the looks of the Jeep interior too. It doesn't have all that voice activated crap the Felxplorer does and I like that. I don't want to talk to my car. I'd rather be able to reach over and touch a button to change my radio or A/C. But that's a matter of preference. And the Jeep's 3.6L Pentastar V-6 has the same 290hp as the Flexplorer's 3.7 and more torque (I don't remember the exact number, but I know it's a few foot-pounds more). Then there's the 5.7L Hemi V-8. I don't remeber exactly, but I think it has 370hp or something. That's not bad. And with cylinder deactivation, it should get decent gas mileage for a big SUV. For me, the Flexplorer's clessic FWD proportions severely detract from the looks of the vehicle. I don't like the long front overhang, short dash-to-axle ratio, or the trailing edge of the front wheel arches almost touching the leading edge of the front doors. It just makes the vehicle look goofy. 99% of FWD vehicles have these wierd proportions. Anyway, to me, the Jeep wins hands down. I'm looking forward to a magazine doing an actual real world comparison between the two.

 

[edge929]

Of course I'm gonna say the GC is better. It's REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE with a real 4x4 system with a low-range transfer case and real capabilities. Plus it's pure awesomeness. I've seen several of them on the road and they are really good looking, well proportioned vehicles. I haven't had a chance to get up close and personal with one yet, but I'm eventually going to the Chrysler stealership in town to check one out. No Flexplorers at our local Ford place yet. I have to say I like the looks of the Jeep interior too. It doesn't have all that voice activated crap the Felxplorer does and I like that. I don't want to talk to my car. I'd rather be able to reach over and touch a button to change my radio or A/C. But that's a matter of preference. And the Jeep's 3.6L Pentastar V-6 has the same 290hp as the Flexplorer's 3.7 and more torque (I don't remember the exact number, but I know it's a few foot-pounds more). Then there's the 5.7L Hemi V-8. I don't remeber exactly, but I think it has 370hp or something. That's not bad. And with cylinder deactivation, it should get decent gas mileage for a big SUV. For me, the Flexplorer's clessic FWD proportions severely detract from the looks of the vehicle. I don't like the long front overhang, short dash-to-axle ratio, or the trailing edge of the front wheel arches almost touching the leading edge of the front doors. It just makes the vehicle look goofy. 99% of FWD vehicles have these wierd proportions. Anyway, to me, the Jeep wins hands down. I'm looking forward to a magazine doing an actual real world comparison between the two.

Had to point out some inaccuracies. The 2011 Ex V6 is a 3.5L not 3.7L. It's good for 290HP and 255ft-lbs while the GC 3.6L Pentastar is good for 290HP and 260ft-lbs. So close, no truthful man could tell a difference between them. Anybody who follows Ford vehicles knows that the V6 Ecoboost on the F-150/Taurus/Flex will come to the Explorer soon enough, heck I'd be willing to bet 2012 model. When this happens, the GC's V8 "one-up" will be no more. The Hemi V8 is good for 360HP and 390ft-lbs according to Jeep.com.

 

[LincolnAviFan]

Anybody who follows Ford vehicles knows that the V6 Ecoboost on the F-150/Taurus/Flex will come to the Explorer soon enough, heck I'd be willing to bet 2012 model.

Oh, that would be great!

But I agree, they will offer it one day. Mid-facelift (MY2014) or even sooner. I'm still curious if there will be a Lincoln (previously known as "Aviator") version of the Explorer. If so, I could see the V6 EcoBoost on that model as well..

 

[2011EX]

When this happens, the GC's V8 "one-up" will be no more. The Hemi V8 is good for 360HP and 390ft-lbs according to Jeep.com.

Except for 2012 GC will add the SRT8 and the ecoboost will be one upped LOL

 

[thaywood]

Had to point out some inaccuracies. The 2011 Ex V6 is a 3.5L not 3.7L. It's good for 290HP and 255ft-lbs while the GC 3.6L Pentastar is good for 290HP and 260ft-lbs. So close, no truthful man could tell a difference between them. Anybody who follows Ford vehicles knows that the V6 Ecoboost on the F-150/Taurus/Flex will come to the Explorer soon enough, heck I'd be willing to bet 2012 model. When this happens, the GC's V8 "one-up" will be no more. The Hemi V8 is good for 360HP and 390ft-lbs according to Jeep.com.

You're right. It's a 3.5L. I must have been thinking about the Mustang's V-6. Oopsies. But the fact that Ford advertises the Flexplorer's V-6 as the most powerful in it's class when the Jeep and Dodge SUV's have exactly the same horsepower and more torque shows that they no longer compete in the same territory as the Jeep anyway. Or else it would be lying And if they put the EcoBoost V-6 from the MKS in the Flexplorer (they won't use the SHO's engine), it will have 355hp, 5 shy of the Jeep's 5.7L Hemi, and with only 350 ft-lbs, it's 40 shy of the Hemi. No one-up there. Close, but no cigar.

 

[thaywood]

Except for 2012 GC will add the SRT8 and the ecoboost will be one upped LOL

Yeppers. Ford's got absolutely nothing that can compete with that.

 

[2011EX]

No I can't believe anyone would put the GC and the explorer in the same class. From the beginning they have always been completely different from one another. They have always offered what they other one can't.

It feels like it is 1995 all over again, because the explorer had no V8 power then either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6unHzcFVfLo

Listen to good ole Jim's last 30 seconds, go get what you need.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL3GM009OJU&feature=related

 

[thaywood]

No I can't believe anyone would put the GC and the explorer in the same class. From the beginning they have always been completely different from one another. They have always offered what they other one can't.

It feels like it is 1995 all over again, because the explorer had no V8 power then either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6unHzcFVfLo

I can see that in a way. But until now, they have been very similar. Both were REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE with real 4x4 systems with low range transfer cases. Both had torquey six-cylinder engines. Later, both had relatively strong V-8 options...the Jeep getting the SRT8 package and stomping all over the Explorer. Both had roomy comfortable interiors. Both were capable off-roaders (the Jeep slightly moreso). Both were classified as mid-sized SUV's. And so on. Now, they aren't even in the same league. The Flexplorer is a wrong-wheel-drive sissymobile with no V-8 or 4x4 drivetrain (front-biased part-time AWD doesn't count as a real 4x4 system). They shouldn't even be compared. The Flexplorer should now be compared to the Hyundai Santa Fe, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet...whatever they've got now, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and all those other cookie-cutter FWD CUV's that "Joe the average customer" seems to love for some odd reason. The Jeep Grand Cherokee no longer has to worry about the Flexplorer. It's nowhere near as good as it used to be.

 

[LincolnAviFan]

...the Jeep getting the SRT8 package and stomping all over the Explorer.

You might love a car like that - but a company like Ford simply can't afford to rely on such vehicles. The majority of buyers need a vehicle that makes sense. The SRT-8 GC doesn't.

How many SRT-8s is GM going to sell when gas is $5/gallon?

The MPG of the 5.7L V8 is already at the edge of what is considered acceptable for a modern vehicle (and yes, to get those impressive numbers, you need the more expensive mid-grade fuel) - the 4x4 version doesn't even get 20 mpg highway. Not very impressive until they launch the 8-speed to bring that number up.

Sure, there will always be a market for high-powered performance cars - but those cars in that category will be sold for a profit by Porsche, Mercedes or BMW - not by Jeep or Ford.

A car-manufacturer has to offer what makes sense to stay in business or focus on some individual wishes and desires of performance- and offroad-fans and go broke. The Explorer makes PERFECT sense. It's just as easy as that and nobody can blame them for making a business decision. That's their job.