Compare the2026 Toyota 4Runner VS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

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

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee L
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 L 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 L 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 L 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 L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the 4Runner and the Grand Cherokee L 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 L:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	30	163
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	1.06 in
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.3 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	870 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	51	96
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	1.38 in
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	424 lbs.	915 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 L.

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 L.

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 L:

	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 L Laredo 3.6 DOHC V6	293 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Grand Cherokee L 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	324 HP	332 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota 4Runner turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Grand Cherokee L Laredo 3.6 DOHC V6:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee L
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	8.8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.7 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	85 MPH

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

			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
		SR5/TRD Sport 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/25 hwy
		Limited 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Grand Cherokee L
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 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 L 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 L. 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 L:

	4Runner	Grand Cherokee L
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	132 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 L 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 L. 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 L 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 L.

The 4Runner is 10 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the 4Runner easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 4Runner has .5 inches more front legroom and 1.5 inches more third row legroom than the Grand Cherokee L.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 4Runner’s middle and third row seats recline. The Grand Cherokee L’s third row seats don’t recline.

The 4Runner has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

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 L’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

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

The 4Runner has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1390 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The 4Runner has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1550 vs. 1400 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 L’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 L can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Compared to traditional radio, the Toyota 4Runner’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Toyota 4Runner retains 69.9% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 53.18% resale value of the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $6005 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota 4Runner, based on reliability, safety and performance.