2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Jeep Renegade

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 test car, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. This version 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 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited maintained its iconic styling with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, it could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. The Wrangler was not built for comfort, with upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted using awkward ripcords. Trims included Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with special editions like Willys, 80th Anniversary, Freedom, Islander, and High Altitude. The Rubicon 392, with its Hemi V8, featured a raised hood with "392" badging and a large hood scoop, making it a standout for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine on higher trims, generating 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 test vehicle had the Active Drive AWD system, which disconnected the rear wheels to save fuel and activated when the front wheels slipped. The turbocharged 1.3-liter engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy resulted in uneven powertrain response. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The Trailhawk trim offered better off-roading capability with the Active Drive Low AWD system.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler had a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and Hemi V8 options. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft 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 featured three 4WD systems: Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the Rubicon offering front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. It featured beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes, with a dual-mode performance exhaust for an incredible rumble.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's interior felt larger than its competitors due to the distant windshield, thick and curved 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 front passengers lacked seat height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear occupants. The Renegade had limited practical interior storage and cargo volume, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, premium black cloth soft top, and classic-looking tan soft top. 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 Sky one-touch power top, featured on the Rubicon 392, was 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, and featured 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.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its technology, including the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. The system, though aging, remained user-friendly with volume and tuning knobs and logically arranged menu buttons. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. SiriusXM satellite radio provided connected services, and the new Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound. The Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen, but 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 intuitive radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and a clever off-road camera nestled between the grille slats, with its own washer-sprayer for muddy or dusty trails.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group with adaptive cruise control, full-speed 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 in most tests, but it did not retain its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

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 included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. The Wrangler's safety features were basic, especially in the base configuration.