2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot was designed with a dynamic styling that aligned with the rest of the Honda lineup. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille, with a subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows that cleverly masked its size, giving it a more streamlined appearance. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, where the fuel and engine-temperature gauges were analog, but all other information was displayed on a digital screen in front of the driver. The cabin was comfortable and spacious, offering a solid level of refinement, although it did incorporate hard plastics in many areas. Despite this, the Pilot's interior was considered less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Mazda CX-9.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, which had remained largely unchanged over the years. It was instantly recognizable with its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders, giving it a toy truck-like appearance for adults. The Wrangler's design varied slightly depending on the trim level, with options for painted or exposed fenders, and soft or hard tops, but it always retained its core elements. Inside, the Wrangler was less about comfort and more about rugged charm, with upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted by ripcords. The cabin was functional, featuring a small center console bin, glovebox, and effective in-door cargo nets, with drain plugs for easy cleaning.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered to either the front wheels or available all-wheel drive, depending on the configuration. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims came with a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims were equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission, offering more refined acceleration and potentially better fuel economy. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. It featured an Intelligent Traction Management System with drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its capability slightly in challenging terrains.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and the powerful Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler's 4WD systems varied by trim, with Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac options, the latter featuring front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar for off-roading. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, transforming the Wrangler into an off-road powerhouse.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious cabin with seating for up to eight passengers, thanks to its second-row bench seating. Higher trims like the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, unlike some rivals, and the EX trims and higher provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with other SUVs in its class. The Pilot was designed for family hauling, with plenty of storage spaces and a conversation mirror to keep an eye on rear passengers.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler provided a variety of top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top and the Freedom hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, offering a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. While these figures were on par with smaller crossovers, the Wrangler's wheel-wells and roll-bars could limit the ability to fit larger items. The cabin was designed for functionality, with features like drain plugs for easy cleaning after off-road adventures.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's base LX trim came with a 5-inch color LCD screen, operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system's interface was criticized for its lack of intuitive controls, relying heavily on the touchscreen for radio operations. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims offered additional features like navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a premium audio system. The Elite and Black Edition also included a wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, but higher trims offered a 7-inch or optional 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens were praised for their crisp graphics and intuitive layout, complemented by steering wheel radio toggles. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled in the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured standard front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety features included parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating from the IIHS, with a Superior score in crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. The Wrangler's safety features were considered basic, especially in the base configuration.