2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2020 Jeep Renegade

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was a compact SUV that captured attention with its classic Jeep design elements, including round headlights, a 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It offered a range of trim levels, from the base Sport to the off-road-ready Trailhawk, with special editions like the High Altitude, which we tested. Priced at $36,515, the High Altitude trim featured premium touches such as dark gray 19-inch wheels, a dual-pane panoramic roof, and a black leather interior. Despite these upscale features, the Renegade's interior was dominated by hard plastics, which detracted from its overall luxury feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a crossover that built on the Impreza hatchback's foundation, adding rugged styling and increased ground clearance. It featured black body cladding, model-specific wheels, and vibrant color options like Plasma Yellow Pearl. The Crosstrek's design changes gave it an SUV-like character, while its interior remained functional but plain. The Sport trim we tested included unique accents and water-repellant upholstery, though some materials felt cheap. Overall, the Crosstrek offered a more refined platform with a comfortable ride and good visibility.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder producing 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Our test vehicle featured the turbo engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD. While the turbo provided energetic performance, it suffered from turbo lag and a transmission focused on fuel economy, leading to inconsistent power delivery. The Renegade's driving dynamics were marred by a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a noisy cabin, though it excelled in off-road capability, especially in the Trailhawk trim.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek introduced a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine for the Sport and Limited trims, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The base and Premium trims retained the 2.0-liter engine with 152 horsepower. The Crosstrek's AWD system included torque vectoring and X-Mode for improved traction. Despite the new engine's additional power, acceleration remained adequate, with the CVT contributing to a droning sound. The Crosstrek offered predictable handling and a comfortable ride, making it well-suited for on-road driving.

Inside the 2020 Jeep Renegade, the boxy design resulted in a spacious feel, with a distant windshield and vertical side glass. The panoramic roof enhanced the sense of openness. The driver's seat was comfortable with power adjustments, but rear-seat space was cramped, and storage options were limited. Cargo capacity was modest, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.8 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shared interior dimensions with the Impreza hatchback, offering competitive passenger space but limited cargo capacity compared to rivals. It provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 55.3 cubic feet with them folded. The Crosstrek featured a rear-seat reminder system and a convenient front cubby with USB ports. While the driving position was higher than the Impreza's, it didn't offer the commanding view of traditional SUVs, but visibility was good.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with intuitive controls and a Kenwood premium audio system. The Renegade also included a comprehensive driver information center and optional parking assist.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used the Starlink infotainment system, starting with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and offering an 8-inch version with navigation on higher trims. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with additional features like WiFi and SiriusXM on certain trims. The Crosstrek's system was easy to navigate, with large analog controls for essential functions. EyeSight driver-assistance features were controlled via steering wheel buttons.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. It received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS rated it well in most tests but did not award it a Top Safety Pick for 2020.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS for the 2020 model. It featured EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The system's cameras were well-protected but could be affected by weather conditions. The Crosstrek's blind-spot monitoring was effective, with prominent warning lights.