2021 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Jeep Wrangler

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 ability to fold down the windshield and remove the doors. The removable top added to its rugged persona, making it more of a recreational utility vehicle than a commuter car. Inside, the Wrangler's cabin maintained a retro look with circular climate vents and gauges, focusing on utility with a touch of style. The trims ranged from the basic Sport with manual windows and locks to the upscale Sahara and the off-road king, Rubicon, each offering varying levels of comfort and ruggedness.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, part of Ford's SUV lineup, shared a family resemblance with its siblings but stood out with its sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive grille options. The Explorer offered six trim levels, from the base model to the luxurious Platinum, with prices ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. Inside, it featured three rows of seats as standard, with the base model offering cloth upholstery and higher trims providing leather. The dash was clean and functional, dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space. The XLT trim, the most popular, offered better equipment and finishes, while higher trims added more luxury features.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited came with a base 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired 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 offered 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for off-road adventures. The Wrangler's performance was tailored for off-road capabilities, with features like locking front and rear differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar. However, it had a rough ride on highways, with significant road noise and unique blind spots. The diesel engine provided fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, making it a more efficient option compared to the gas-powered versions.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims came with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented Explorer ST offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. All trims were equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer excelled in towing capabilities, with a capacity ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine. This made it suitable for towing trailers and other heavy loads, although it was not exceptional in its class.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was available in two forms: the standard two-door and the four-door Wrangler Unlimited. The four-door version was more popular, offering more space and versatility. The Wrangler's doors could be removed, and the windshield could be folded down, with a small tool kit provided for these tasks. The most popular feature was the removable roof, available in soft top and hardtop options. The Wrangler Unlimited offered about 72 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear bench lowered flat, which was less than other less-capable SUVs. Despite its limited cargo space, the Wrangler's unique features and off-road capabilities made it a standout choice for adventure enthusiasts.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base trim, with captain’s chairs in the second row reducing the capacity to six in other trims. It provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, which was competitive within its class. With the third row deployed, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, and with the rear seats folded, it provided a total of 81 cubic feet of cargo room. This made it suitable for families needing extra space, although it was not the most spacious in its segment.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's Sport and Sport S trims came with a basic 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara trims offered a 7-inch touchscreen with Uconnect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An 8.4-inch Uconnect system with navigation, HD Radio, real-time traffic and weather updates, 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 Ford Explorer's base trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. The Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio. Higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers in the B&O sound system. The Explorer also provided multiple USB ports and 12-volt power points, with the ST trim including a 110-volt AC power outlet.

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 helpful given the Wrangler's unique sightlines and off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an acceptable rating for adaptive headlights. The base Explorer came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.