Compare the2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee LVS 2026 Honda Pilot

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Honda Pilot doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The Grand Cherokee L has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Pilot doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee L Limited Reserve/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Pilot doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Grand Cherokee L and the Pilot 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 all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Grand Cherokee L	Pilot
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	129	382
Neck Injury Risk	21%	28.9%
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	350 lbs.
Neck Compression	84 lbs.	101 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	137	440
Neck Injury Risk	28%	33.6%
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	232 lbs.
Neck Compression	41 lbs.	98 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	400/347 lbs.	396/388 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Grand Cherokee L	Pilot
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	276 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	100
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	375 lbs.	540 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	34 G’s
Hip Force	432 lbs.	444 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee L’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Grand Cherokee L’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Pilot’s camshafts. If the Pilot’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Grand Cherokee L has a standard 850-amp battery (900 2.0 Hurricane). The Pilot’s 650-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the Grand Cherokee L is under the seat, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grand Cherokee L’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Pilot’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The Grand Cherokee L Laredo’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 8 more horsepower (293 vs. 285) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Grand Cherokee L’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 39 more horsepower (324 vs. 285) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Grand Cherokee L
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
Pilot
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		TrailSport 3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy

The Grand Cherokee L has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pilot (23 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

The Grand Cherokee L stops shorter than the Pilot:

	Grand Cherokee L	Pilot
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee L has larger standard tires than the Pilot (265/60R18 vs. 255/50R20). The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (275/45R21 vs. 265/60R18).

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee L Summit has standard 21-inch wheels. The Pilot’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Grand Cherokee L has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Pilot’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Grand Cherokee L offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Pilot’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Grand Cherokee L offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee L’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Pilot doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Grand Cherokee L has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Pilot doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee L’s wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the Pilot (121.7 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Grand Cherokee L’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Pilot’s (55.3% to 44.7%). This gives the Grand Cherokee L more stable handling and braking.

The Grand Cherokee L 4x4 handles at .82 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Grand Cherokee L 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (27.3 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (8.5 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee L to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s minimum ground clearance is 2.6 inches higher than on the Pilot TrailSport (10.9 vs. 8.3 inches).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 is quieter than the Pilot Elite (39 vs. 40 dB).

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Grand Cherokee L Summit’s second row seats and pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Honda Pilot is limited to 5000 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L offers up to a 6200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Pilot can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Grand Cherokee L uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pilot uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Grand Cherokee L is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pilot. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition, the Grand Cherokee L Summit has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee L’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Pilot does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Pilot’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Grand Cherokee L Summit has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Pilot doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

The Grand Cherokee L Limited Reserve/Summit has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Cherokee L Summit also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Pilot doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pilot.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Pilot doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L retains 53.18% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 51.72% resale value of the 2026 Honda Pilot after five years, which can save the Jeep’s owner up to $1133 in depreciation.

Recommendations

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Honda Pilot by 69% during 2025.

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