Compare the2026 Toyota 4Runner VS 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee

With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota 4Runner is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-28 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.3 sec	1.6 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota 4Runner achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has not been tested.

The 4Runner has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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 4Runner and Grand Cherokee have rear cross-traffic warning, but the 4Runner Limited/Platinum/Trailhunter/TRD Pro has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the 4Runner and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota 4Runner is safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	30	253
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	1.22 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.34 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	1004 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	51	185
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	1.34 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	424 lbs.	803 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4Runner for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Jeep doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Grand Cherokee.

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 4Runner’s reliability 66 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 113 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 33rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 24th.

The 4Runner has more powerful engines than the Grand Cherokee:

	Horsepower	Torque
4Runner 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	278 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
4Runner Trailhunter 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	465 lbs.-ft.
4Runner 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	326 HP	465 lbs.-ft.
Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6 DOHC V6	293 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Grand Cherokee 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	324 HP	332 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota 4Runner 4 cyl. hybrid gas is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee turbo 4 cyl.:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	7.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.5 sec

On the EPA test cycle the 4Runner gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee:

			MPG
4Runner
	RWD	SR5/TRD Sport 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/24 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 4Runner i-FORCE MAX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The 4Runner has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Grand Cherokee. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The 4Runner stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	187 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	142 feet	Motor Trend

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Grand Cherokee only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Grand Cherokee. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The 4Runner offers an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 4Runner is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Grand Cherokee.

The 4Runner’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.4% to 50.6%) than the Grand Cherokee’s (52% to 48%). This gives the 4Runner more stable handling and braking.

The 4Runner offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The 4Runner has 29 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (136 vs. 107).

The 4Runner’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee.

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee
Third Seat Folded	44.8 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	48.4 cubic feet	37.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.4 cubic feet	70.8 cubic feet

The 4Runner’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	10”/41.5”/65”	n.a./41”/73.8”
Max Width	56”	55”
Min Width	44”	43”
Height	40.1”	32”

The 4Runner’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Grand Cherokee’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The 4Runner’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (6000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The 4Runner has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee (1390 vs. 1240 lbs.).

The 4Runner has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee (1550 vs. 1280 lbs.).

The 4Runner’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.

If the windows are left open on the 4Runner the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Toyota 4Runner retains 69.9% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 47.26% resale value of the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $6976 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota 4Runner, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.