Compare the2026 Ford Expedition MaxVS 2025 Jeep Wagoneer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Expedition Max 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 Wagoneer doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Expedition Max has standard Post-Impact Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Wagoneer 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.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Ford Expedition Max’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Jeep Wagoneer.

Both the Expedition Max and Wagoneer have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Expedition Max has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Wagoneer’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Expedition Max and the Wagoneer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition Max is safer than the Jeep Wagoneer:

	Expedition Max	Wagoneer
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	32.1%
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	277/329 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	43.9%
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/178 lbs.	357/300 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 Ford Expedition Max is safer than the Jeep Wagoneer:

	Expedition Max	Wagoneer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Hip Force	180 lbs.	203 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	33 G’s
Hip Force	434 lbs.	515 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	238
Hip Force	569 lbs.	686 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Expedition Max is .4% to 3.5% less likely to roll over than the Wagoneer.

Warranty

There are over 18 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Expedition Max’s warranty.

Reliability

The Expedition Max has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Wagoneer doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 Expedition Max’s reliability 15 points higher than the Wagoneer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 67 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 6 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 468) than the Wagoneer’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Expedition Max (440 HP engine) is faster than the Jeep Wagoneer 3.0:

	Expedition Max	Wagoneer
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	5.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.7 sec	14.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6 sec	6.1 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.9 sec	3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.5 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	13.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102 MPH	98 MPH
Top Speed	125 MPH	114 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Expedition Max gets better mileage than the Wagoneer:

			MPG
Expedition Max
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6 (400 HP)	15 city/22 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6 (440 HP)	15 city/22 hwy
Wagoneer
	AWD	Grand Wagoneer 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	14 city/20 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Expedition Max uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Grand Wagoneer requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Expedition Max has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Wagoneer (27.8 vs. 26.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Expedition Max, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Wagoneer.

Brakes and Stopping

The Expedition Max stops much shorter than the Wagoneer:

	Expedition Max	Wagoneer
70 to 0 MPH	182 feet	207 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The Expedition Max Platinum Ultimate’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Wagoneer’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Expedition Max Platinum Ultimate has standard 24-inch wheels. The Wagoneer’s largest wheels are only 22-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Expedition Max’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Wagoneer doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition Max’s wheelbase is 8.5 inches longer than on the Wagoneer (131.5 inches vs. 123 inches).

The Expedition Max Platinum 4x4 handles at .77 G’s, while the Wagoneer Series III 4x4 pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Expedition Max has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Wagoneer (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Expedition Max to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Ford Expedition Max may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 650 pounds less than the Jeep Wagoneer.

Passenger Space

The Expedition Max has .5 inches more front headroom and 3 inches more front legroom than the Wagoneer.

Cargo Capacity

The Expedition Max’s cargo area provides more volume than the Wagoneer.

	Expedition Max	Wagoneer
Behind Third Seat	36.1 cubic feet	27.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	75.4 cubic feet	70.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	123.1 cubic feet	116.7 cubic feet

The Expedition Max’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Wagoneer’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The Expedition Max’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Wagoneer’s (6300 vs. 6120 pounds).

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the Expedition Max the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Wagoneer can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

Recommendations

The Ford Expedition outsold the Jeep Wagoneer by 31% during 2024.

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