2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches, all wrapped in a purposeful yet expressive design. It offered primary trim levels including Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with the latter being the best for off-roading. Special editions ranged from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim level started at $25,210, while the High Altitude test car was loaded with extras, bringing the MSRP to $36,515. This version featured extra-cost paint, trendy 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 Toyota RAV4 sported a rugged-looking exterior with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end, contrasting sharply with previous generations and most other compact crossovers. Underneath, it was based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with other Toyota models. The RAV4 Adventure model added a retro look with an Ice Edge roof and orange interior accents, while the TRD Off-Road featured matte black 18-inch wheels, standard LED fog lights, and red interior accents. The interior had rugged styling touches like large rubberized knobs and door handles, but material quality didn’t elevate with higher trims. The TRD Off-Road test car had SofTex upholstery, which was lighter than leather but not as luxurious.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered 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 test vehicle had the turbo engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and the Active Drive AWD system. The turbo engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, making the Renegade feel energetic, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy led to a lack of responsiveness. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The driving dynamics were less than ideal, with a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin, making highway driving a chore. The Trailhawk trim was the best version for off-roading, delivering on Jeep’s promise of capability.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came with a “Dynamic Force” 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency and loved to rev, but the transmission hesitated to shift, and the steering lacked feel. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime offered more power and better fuel economy. On the highway, the RAV4 was quieter and more comfortable, with a suspension that soaked up road imperfections. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road models had a torque-vectoring rear axle and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, with a 3,500-pound towing capacity. However, the RAV4’s off-road capability was limited by its lack of suspension articulation and shallow approach, departure, and breakover angles.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade’s boxy exterior design made the interior feel larger, with a far-away windshield, thick and curved pillars, and vertical side glass. The panoramic glass roof added to the sense of space. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear occupants. Cargo volume was 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, with few practical interior storage spots.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had a tall, upright roof providing good headroom and outward visibility, but legroom was behind competitors. The front seats were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat didn’t slide fore and aft. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, with a wide aperture for easier loading but a higher cargo area lip. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were easy to use, but the center-console storage bin and space ahead of the shifter squeezed out console storage space.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Chrysler 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 offered good sound, and the Renegade had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, with an 8-inch screen on Limited models and a 9-inch screen on the RAV4 Prime. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system was optional. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a well-positioned touchscreen and shortcut buttons, but it wasn’t flashy. The gasoline RAV4 didn’t get the head-up display available on the RAV4 Prime.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group with 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 not a Top Safety Pick rating for 2020.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist. A 360-degree camera system was available in certain packages.