Compare 2012 Ford Explorer vs 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2012 Toyota 4Runner

2012 Ford Explorer
X
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
X
2012 Toyota 4Runner
X
Select style
4WD 4-Door Base
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Explorer 4WD 4-Door Base 17 23 $28,677 $30,280
Explorer 4WD 4-Door Limited 17 23 $37,088 $39,855
Explorer 4WD 4-Door XLT 17 23 $31,847 $34,095
Explorer FWD 4-Door Base 18 25 $26,837 $28,280
Explorer FWD 4-Door Limited 18 25 $35,268 $37,855
Explorer FWD 4-Door XLT 18 25 $30,027 $32,095
Select style
4WD 4-Door Laredo
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Grand Cherokee 4WD 4-Door Laredo 16 23 $28,743 $29,195
Grand Cherokee 4WD 4-Door Laredo Altitude 16 23 $28,743 $29,195
Grand Cherokee 4WD 4-Door Limited 16 23 $37,059 $39,295
Grand Cherokee 4WD 4-Door Overland 16 23 $40,790 $43,395
Grand Cherokee 4WD 4-Door Overland Summit 16 23 $40,790 $43,395
Grand Cherokee 4WD 4-Door SRT8 12 18 $52,150 $54,670
Grand Cherokee RWD 4-Door Laredo 17 23 $26,803 $27,195
Grand Cherokee RWD 4-Door Laredo Altitude 17 23 $26,803 $27,195
Grand Cherokee RWD 4-Door Limited 17 23 $34,724 $36,795
Grand Cherokee RWD 4-Door Overland 17 23 $37,545 $39,895
Grand Cherokee RWD 4-Door Overland Summit 17 23 $37,545 $39,895
Select style
4WD 4-Door V6 Limited
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
4Runner 4WD 4-Door V6 Limited 17 22 $37,380 $40,630
4Runner 4WD 4-Door V6 SR5 17 22 $30,205 $32,830
4Runner 4WD 4-Door V6 Trail 17 22 $33,815 $36,755
4Runner RWD 4-Door V6 Limited 17 23 $35,508 $38,595
4Runner RWD 4-Door V6 SR5 17 23 $28,603 $31,090

Pricing

Invoice Price
$28,677
$28,743
$37,380

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$30,280
$29,195
$40,630

Monthly Payment Estimate
$505 / month
$487 / month
$677 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
8.6
8.6
8.2

TCC’s Bottom Line
It's a rifle shot at the heart of the crossover market: the 2012 Ford Explorer gives any SUV loyalist a reason to leap off their very high horse. The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee only gets better this year with the addition of the SRT8's thundering HEMI V-8. The brawny 2012 Toyota 4Runner targets off-road purists who sometimes need to haul the family—and it's better on the highway than you might think.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
17 mpg 16 mpg 17 mpg

Highway
23 mpg 23 mpg 22 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD 4WD Sport Utility Vehicle Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

Number of Passenger Doors
- 4 -

Interior Dimensions

Third Shoulder Room (in)
50.8 - NA

Second Leg Room (in)
39.8 38.6 32.9

Front Head Room (in)
41.4 39.9 39.3

Passenger Volume (ft³)
151.7 105.4 97.3

Second Hip Room (in)
56.7 56.2 55.7

Front Shoulder Room (in)
61.3 58.7 57.8

Third Leg Room (in)
33.2 - NA

Second Head Room (in)
40.5 39.2 38.6

Passenger Capacity
7 5 5

Third Hip Room (in)
40.7 - NA

Second Shoulder Room (in)
61.0 58.0 57.8

Front Leg Room (in)
40.6 40.3 41.7

Third Head Room (in)
37.8 - NA

Front Hip Room (in)
57.3 57.0 56.5

Exterior Dimensions

Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - 32.4 - TBD -

Track Width, Rear (in)
67.0 64.1 63.2

Wheelbase (in)
112.6 114.8 109.8

Rear Door Opening Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
78.9 76.3 75.8

Track Width, Front (in)
67.0 63.9 63.2

Min Ground Clearance (in)
7.6 8.6 9.6

Length, Overall (in)
197.1 189.8 189.9

Rear Door Opening Width (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Height, Overall (in)
70.4 69.4 70.1

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
43.8 35.1 47.2

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
- TBD - NA - TBD -

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
80.7 68.7 89.7

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in)
- TBD - NA NA

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
21.0 NA NA

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
- TBD - NA - TBD -

Brakes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- TBD - 12.9 x 1.2 13.3 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- TBD - 12.6 x 0.6 12.3 x - TBD -

Brake Type
Pwr Pwr Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
18.6 24.6 23.0

Steering

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
15.8 18.9 18.4

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
38.9 37.1 37.4

Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
- TBD - 3.67 2.7

Tires

Rear Tire Size
P245/65R17 P245/70R17 P245/60R20

Rear Tire Order Code
- TBD - TY8 NA

Front Tire Size
P245/65R17 P245/70R17 P245/60R20

Spare Tire Size
Compact Compact Full Size

Front Tire Order Code
- TBD - TY8 NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA TBK NA

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 500 500

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
300 750 - TBD -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2000 5000 5000

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2000 5000 - TBD -

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
4732 4660 4805

Wheels

Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel Aluminum

Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 17 x 8.0 20 x 7.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact Full Size

Rear Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 17 x 8.0 20 x 7.5

Front Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- TBD - 14.0 - TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
650 700 - TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
175 160 - TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
255 @ 4100 260 @ 4800 278 @ 4400

Engine Order Code
998 ERB 1GR

Displacement
3.5L/213 3.6L/220 4.0L/241

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
290 @ 6500 290 @ 6400 270 @ 5600

Engine Type
Gas V6 Gas/Ethanol V6 Gas V6

Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection Electronic Fuel Injection Electronic Fuel Injection

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
23 23 22

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
17 16 17

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
19 19 19

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)
NA NA NA

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.84 1.41 1.4

Trans Type
6 5 5

Drivetrain
Four Wheel Drive Four Wheel Drive Four Wheel Drive

Transfer Case Gear Ratio (:1), High
1.00 1.00 1.0

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 0.83 0.72

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
2.88 3.16 3.22

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.87 2.19 2.04

Trans Order Code
44J DGJ NA

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.39 3.09 3.73

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.41 1.00 1.0

Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/manual shift Automatic Automatic w/Manual Shift

Transfer Case Gear Ratio (:1), Low
NA NA 2.57

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.74 NA NA

First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.48 3.59 3.52

Summary

Vehicle Name
Ford Explorer Jeep Grand Cherokee Toyota 4Runner

Body Style
Sport Utility Vehicle Sport Utility Vehicle Sport Utility Vehicle

Suspension

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.86 NA 0.79

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs w/Coil Springs Double Wishbone

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - NA - TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
1.26 NA 1.22

Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Multi-Link 4-Link Rigid

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs w/Coil Springs Coil Spring

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - NA - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson strut Independent SLA Independent

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
9.6 9.6 9.8

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
3 3 4

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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