Compare the2026 Subaru OutbackVS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Subaru Outback’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Both the Outback and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 19th.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee running its gasoline engine:

Both the Outback and the Grand Cherokee have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Outbacks have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the Grand Cherokee V6.

The Outback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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 Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outback Wilderness’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 70 series tires.

The Outback Wilderness 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.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Grand Cherokee’s (36.5 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee (8.7 vs. 8.4 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 1550 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Outback has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (112.3 vs. 107).

The Outback has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the Outback is 1.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (19” vs. 20.2”). The Outback’s rear step up height is 3 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (18.5” vs. 21.5”).

The Outback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat folded (80.5 vs. 70.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.3 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Outback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 34% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 21st.

The Outback’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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Compared to traditional radio, the Subaru Outback’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.