2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It had a purposeful yet expressive design, available in primary trims like Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with special editions ranging from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim started at $25,210, while the High Altitude trim, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. The High Altitude trim featured extra-cost paint, dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, the interior, dominated by hard plastic and an all-black color scheme, looked inexpensive despite the fancy details.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the classic, boxy design reminiscent of the 2016 LR4, with squared-off edges, a rising roofline, and roundish headlights. It featured short overhangs and skid plates for off-roading, with design elements like step plates on the front fenders and a ladder on the back hatch. The Defender's taillights were rounded rectangles, and it had an external spare tire. The roof could be painted in various colors, and the vehicle offered four design themes for different styles. Inside, the Defender had an industrial look with cloth seats, an optional center jump seat, and exposed screws. The HSE trim, priced around $75,000, was not luxurious but functional, with a water-resistant synthetic covering and hard fabric on the seats.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission was standard, with front-wheel drive on base models and all-wheel drive on higher trims. The turbocharged engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, but suffered from turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy, leading to uneven power delivery. The Renegade Trailhawk trim was best for off-roading, with the Active Drive Low AWD system. However, the Renegade's driving dynamics were hampered by a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin. Fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 23.6 mpg, and the small 12.7-gallon fuel tank limited range.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender justified its price with a quiet, plush ride and standard air springs that filtered out ruts and bumps. The optional 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine produced 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a mild hybrid system to eliminate turbo lag. The eight-speed automatic transmission's sport mode provided aggressive launches. The Defender's off-road performance was exemplary, with Terrain Response 2 and adjustable-height suspension. It could handle steep angles and deep water, making it a capable off-roader. The standard engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Defender's driving dynamics were reminiscent of older SUVs, with slow steering, generous suspension lean, and deep-stomping brakes. It handled like a commercial vehicle but was comfortable on pavement.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's interior felt larger than its competitors due to the distant windshield, thick pillars, and vertical side glass. The panoramic glass roof added to the spacious feel. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat made it easy to get comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear passengers. Cargo volume was limited, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender was designed for durability and ease of use. The two-door Defender 90, arriving in 2021, had an optional jump seat for six-passenger capacity. The four-door Defender 110 offered an optional third row for seven seats. The interior was austere, with simple controls and a new infotainment interface. Headroom and legroom were generous, and the panoramic moonroof added light. Cargo space varied, with 16 cubic feet in the Defender 90 and up to 79 cubic feet in the Defender 110. The Defender could tow up to 8,200 pounds and had a durable suspension tested to withstand significant impacts.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with volume and tuning knobs and logically arranged menu buttons. The Kenwood premium audio system provided good sound quality. The Renegade also offered a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender introduced the Pivi Pro infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous JLR systems. It featured two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air software updates. The interface had a muted grayscale theme, but some user interface issues remained. The Defender's off-road capability was enhanced by front cameras showing the ground under the hood, a rearview mirror doubling as a screen, and various off-road guides. The standard analog gauges could be upgraded to a 12-inch digital instrument panel. The base Defender 110 came with steel wheels, manual seats, and a basic stereo, but higher trims offered more luxury features like a heated steering wheel, leather, and a 14-speaker Meridian stereo.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered advanced safety features in the Advanced Tech Group, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS gave it commendable scores but did not award it a Top Safety Pick for 2020.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. crash testing agencies. It came with six airbags, forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitor, and 360-degree cameras as standard. Optional features included rear cross-traffic alerts and alerts for passing cars or cyclists when exiting the vehicle.