2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Jeep Wrangler

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was instantly recognizable on the road with its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. The exposed hinges and bolts, along with the removable top, doors, and fold-down windshield, gave it an industrial look that screamed rugged utility. Inside, the cabin maintained a retro feel with circular climate vents and gauges, emphasizing utility over luxury. 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 degrees of comfort and capability.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. The different trims allowed for various looks, from painted or exposed fenders to soft or hard tops. Inside, the Wrangler was not built for comfort but for charm, with upright seating and minimal legroom. The trims included the bare-bones Sport, the more comfortable Sport S, the street-oriented Sahara, and the off-road-ready Rubicon. Special editions like the Willys, 80th Anniversary, and High Altitude added unique touches to the lineup.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler offered 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. New for 2020 was the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, which produced 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for both highway driving and off-road adventures. The diesel engine provided fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, outperforming the gas-powered versions.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler expanded its powertrain lineup to include gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a new Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, available with a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, and the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The 4xe plug-in hybrid offered 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was available in two-door and four-door Unlimited versions. The four-door Unlimited was more popular, offering removable doors, a fold-down windshield, and various roof options, including a soft top, hardtop, and the Sky One-Touch roof. With the rear bench lowered, the Wrangler Unlimited provided about 72 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some less-capable SUVs but sufficient for its purpose.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler continued to offer multiple roof options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, premium black cloth soft top, and tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Sky One-Touch power top allowed for easy open-air driving. The cabin featured functional elements like a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets, with drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's Sport and Sport S trims came with a basic 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the Rubicon and Sahara featured a 7-inch touchscreen with 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, along with an Alpine premium audio system.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim also 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 available, offering crisp graphics and intuitive controls. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera for a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler included standard safety features like airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera. Optional safety packages added rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, and full-speed forward-collision warning.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. A backup camera with dynamic guidelines was standard, and a live tire-pressure monitoring system was available for off-roading.