2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 INFINITI QX80

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, as the flagship SUV in Infiniti’s lineup, was significantly larger than its siblings, the two-row QX50 and three-row QX60. For 2020, it was available in two trim levels: Luxe and Limited. The QX80's exterior, refreshed in 2018, boasted a commanding presence with modern features such as welcome lights, power-folding, auto-dimming, heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, and adaptive front lighting with auto-leveling functionality. The SUV also featured automatic on/off LED headlights with high beam assist, body-color running boards, a power-sliding tinted moonroof, and roof rails. Buyers could choose from nine paint jobs and three interior color schemes, with Limited-grade models getting premium materials like matte silver and open-pore Ash wood trim.

Inside, the QX80's cabin was upscale, filled with soft-touch materials, though some trim pieces lagged behind competitors. The center stack prominently featured piano-black plastic, prone to fingerprints. The infotainment system had been updated to a sleeker, more modern display. Despite some shortcomings, the fit and finish were generally good, and the cabin was attractive. Our tester was the 2020 Infiniti QX80 Edition 30.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, recognizable by its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. The Wrangler's interior was not as comfortable as car-based SUVs, with upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted using ripcords. However, for the right type of driver, these quirks added to its charm.

The Wrangler Unlimited was available in several trims: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, along with special editions like Willys, 80th Anniversary, Freedom, Islander, and High Altitude. The Sport trim was basic, with manual door locks, black plastic fenders, and a 5-inch audio display. The Sport S added power windows and locks, air conditioning, and remote keyless entry. The Sahara was more street-oriented, with dual-zone climate control, upgraded upholstery, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The Rubicon was ideal for off-roading, with beefed-up suspension and running gear, and the Rubicon 392 featured a Hemi V8 and a raised hood with "392" badging.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The QX80's powertrain handled its heavy load well, though the transmission was clunky when downshifting. Fuel efficiency was a weak point, with the RWD model getting 14 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg combined, while the 4WD model got 13 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined.

The QX80 Luxe was available with rear- or four-wheel drivetrains, while the Limited came standard with 4WD. The SUV had Normal, Snow, and Mud drive modes, and two different steering systems: engine-speed-sensitive power-assist steering on Luxe models and vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assist steering on Limited models. The QX80's light wheel feel made off-roading easier, but highway driving required constant attention to keep the wheel from wandering. The optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control system and standard rear auto-leveling suspension provided a relatively smooth ride and kept the SUV level when towing. The QX80 had an 8,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of powertrains, including a standard 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, 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 also introduced a plug-in hybrid, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range.

The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The 392 had beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes. Its dual-mode performance exhaust emitted an incredible rumble, adding to the driving experience.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 offered plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, but the third row had limited legroom, making it suitable for small children or pets. The SUV had standard seating for seven with captain’s chairs in the second row, and a 60/40 split-folding bench seat was available. The leather-appointed seats came in perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery, with Alcantara seats available as well. The driver’s seat was 10-way power-adjustable with two-way power lumbar support, and the passenger’s seat was eight-way power-adjustable with the same lumbar support. Heated and climate-controlled front seats were standard, with heated outboard second-row seats available.

The QX80 had a heated, leather-wrapped, tilting and telescoping steering wheel, and a dual-occupant memory system for the driver’s seat, mirrors, and steering wheel. Entry and exit seating assist was standard, and getting into the third row was easier with flip-up easy-entry second-row captain’s chairs. The QX80 had 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.1 cubic feet with the second- and third-row seats folded. A power liftgate was standard.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple options for cloth tops and hardtops. The basic setup was the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, with a premium black cloth soft top and a classic-looking tan soft top also available. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color, with insulated panels to reduce road noise. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph.

The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. The cabin also had drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, comparable to smaller crossovers.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 came with an 8-inch upper infotainment touch screen and a 7.0-inch lower touch screen, allowing for navigation and audio system information to be displayed simultaneously. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, keyless entry, remote start, tri-zone climate control, a moonroof, a CD player, a 12-volt outlet, and four USB ports. Upgrades included two 8.0-inch displays, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a WiFi hot spot. A 13-speaker Bose stereo was standard, with a 17-inch Bose system available. SiriusXM services, including Travel Link and Traffic, were available with a four-year trial period.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport had a basic 5-inch screen for the radio and vehicle settings. The 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, with crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the slats of the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 had a good roster of standard and available safety features, including automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and automatic collision notification. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, distance-control assist, and lane-keep assist. The QX80 earned "good" scores in the moderate overlap front and side crash tests from the IIHS and had a moderate risk of rollover during a crash according to the NHTSA.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler had 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 came with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.