2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was instantly recognizable on the road with its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. Its industrial look was accentuated by exposed hinges and bolts, and the removable top added to its rugged persona. Inside, the Wrangler maintained a retro look with circular climate vents and gauges, focusing on utility over luxury. The various trims, from the basic Sport to the off-road king Rubicon, offered different levels of comfort and capability, with the Rubicon standing out for its off-road prowess.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's high-quality craftsmanship. Its design was unmistakably BMW, from the kidney grille to the body shape. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and a choice of matte aluminum or high-gloss black trim, depending on the model. Inside, the X5's interior was luxurious but suffered from a sameness issue, with many elements borrowed from other BMW models. Despite this, the cabin was filled with leather and soft-touch materials, and the M Sport models added unique styling elements for a sportier feel.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine came with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine was also available, delivering 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The new 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine, making 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, was a standout for its low-speed performance and fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Wrangler's on-road performance was less refined, with significant road noise and a rough ride.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered multiple powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. The X5 M50i came with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The X5 M took it further with 600 hp, or 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and offering up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's driving dynamics were less engaging than other BMW models, with steering issues at high speeds and a Lincoln-like ride quality. Fuel economy varied, with the X5 M being the least efficient at 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e achieved 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was available in two-door and four-door Unlimited versions, with the latter being more popular. The Wrangler's doors and windshield could be removed, and the roof was available in various configurations, including a retractable soft top and a three-piece hardtop. The Wrangler Unlimited offered about 72 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear bench lowered, less than other less-capable SUVs. Despite its limited cargo space and comfort, the Wrangler's unique features and off-road capabilities made it stand out.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of its interior space, with well-placed cupholders and a wireless phone charging pad. The seating was comfortable for short trips, but the front seats felt hard after a few hours. The rear seats were spacious, and an optional third row was available. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with full power functionality made loading cargo easy. The X5's cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space due to its battery. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second row was somewhat challenging due to the narrow door openings.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's Sport and Sport S trims came with a basic 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Uconnect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An 8.4-inch Uconnect system with navigation, HD Radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was available on higher trims. The Alpine premium audio system provided excellent sound quality, even at highway speeds.

The 2021 BMW X5 came standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The standard features list included a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional upgrades included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and premium audio systems. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once mastered.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler came with standard safety features like airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera. Optional safety packages included rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, and full-speed forward-collision warning. These features were particularly useful given the Wrangler's awkward sightlines.

The 2021 BMW X5 was equipped with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some features, like the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, had performance issues. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.