2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler had an unmistakable road presence with its iconic circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. Its design allowed for the windshield to fold down and the doors to be removed, offering a unique industrial look even if you opted not to make these modifications. The exposed hinges and bolts only added to its rugged persona. Perhaps its most defining feature was the removable top, which made the Wrangler Unlimited appear more like a “recreational utility vehicle” than a commuter car.

Inside, Jeep focused on a retro look with circular climate vents and gauges, which complemented its ergonomic shortcomings with brute utility and a touch of style. With trims ranging from the basic Sport with manual windows and locks to the more upscale Sahara, the Wrangler Unlimited catered to different needs. The Rubicon trim was geared towards serious off-road enthusiasts with its larger tires and lifted suspension.

In 2021, Toyota revamped the RAV4 with a more rugged design, aiming to imbue it with a traditional SUV appearance rather than a mere family car. Chiseled taillights, boxy fender flares, and a scowling front end set the RAV4 apart from its predecessors and other compact crossovers. But beneath its bold sheet metal, the RAV4 was essentially an ordinary vehicle platform sharing similarities with sedans and minivans in Toyota’s lineup.

While the exterior of the 2021 RAV4 emphasized toughness, its interior aimed for functional elegance with large rubberized knobs and door handles. Material quality varied, with higher trims like the TRD Off-Road offering durable SofTex upholstery over traditional leather.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler came with multiple engine choices. The base engine was a 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission. An 8-speed automatic was the alternative option, especially for those considering the other engines: a 270-hp, 295 lb-ft turbocharged 4-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel delivering 260 horsepower and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque.

The rodeo ride was evident on highways with substantial road noise, and the Wrangler had unique blind spots. Its on-road experience was akin to driving a truck, with some steering play and a rough ride courtesy of the off-road tires. SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner offered similar off-road capabilities with more comfort, but the Wrangler excelled on rocky trails with features like locking differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar.

The RAV4's gasoline model featured a “Dynamic Force” 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, offering 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the engine's performance was exceptional in terms of thermal efficiency and response, the RAV4's transmission lagged, and the steering felt insubstantial. The RAV4 Hybrid and Prime models provided more power and refinement, making them suitable upgrades.

On highways, the RAV4's cabin was impressively quiet, and the suspension handled road imperfections well. For off-road ventures, the RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road models offered torque-vectoring, elevated ground clearance, and other improvements, making it capable of handling rough roads better than the average crossover.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was available in both two-door and four-door configurations, with the latter (Unlimited) achieving greater sales. It was known for its customizable doors and windshields, and a variety of removable roof options from hardtops to soft tops. However, the focus on these features resulted in limited cargo space, providing about 72 cubic feet with the rear seats down, which was less than competitors like the RAV4.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 boasted impressive headroom thanks to its tall, upright roof design, although legroom was slightly behind some competitors. The front seats were comfortable, particularly in the TRD Off-Road trim, but the rear seats were less inviting for long journeys. The cargo space was around 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, and although it was above average, it still lagged behind the Honda CR-V.

The Jeep Wrangler Sport and Sport S trims featured a basic 5-inch touchscreen system with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen with Uconnect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, which could also be an option for the Sport S. An 8.4-inch Uconnect system could be added to the Sahara and Rubicon, including features like navigation, HD Radio, real-time traffic updates, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an Alpine premium audio system with a subwoofer.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 also covered essential technology with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on most trims, while the Limited got an 8-inch screen, and the Prime could have a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, with three for the front and two for the rear, and a JBL premium audio system was optional. In-car infotainment was straightforward and user-friendly, although not very advanced or flashy.

Standard safety features on the 2020 Jeep Wrangler included airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera cleverly placed on the hub of the external spare tire. The optional $895 safety package added rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. The $795 Advanced Safety Group enhanced safety with adaptive cruise control and full-speed forward-collision warning. Our test model also had automatic high beams.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a “Top Safety Pick” designation from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Its Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. High trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist, with a 360-degree camera system also available.