2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Volvo XC40

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's cabin maintained a retro look 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 levels of comfort and technology.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, on the other hand, had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch. It featured Volvo's signature "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, had a blanked-off grille and model-specific alloy wheels. Inside, the XC40 boasted a minimalist design with high-quality materials, including real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The interior design was coherent and premium, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and well-integrated air vents.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 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. The new 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine provided 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for off-road adventures. The diesel engine returned fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. Despite its rough ride and road noise, the Wrangler excelled off-road with features like locking differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The base FWD T4 featured a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD T5 offered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, had a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft from its dual electric motors. The Recharge could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads, and offered one-pedal driving for regenerative braking.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was available in two-door and four-door Unlimited versions. The four-door Unlimited, which was more popular, offered a droppable and removable roof, with options for a soft top, hardtop, or the Sky One-Touch roof. With the top on and the rear bench lowered flat, the Wrangler Unlimited provided about 72 cubic feet of cargo space, less than other less-capable SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, the Wrangler's unique features, such as removable doors and fold-down windshield, made it stand out.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to the gasoline models. However, it offered less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The XC40's frunk was also small due to powertrain hardware. Despite this, Volvo included clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was designed to hold a phone securely, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port.

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 optional 8.4-inch Uconnect system added navigation, HD Radio, real-time traffic and weather updates, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an Alpine premium audio system with a subwoofer.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also offered OTA update capability for software-controlled vehicle functions. The gasoline models continued with the previous infotainment system.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler came standard with 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.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 gasoline model received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. The XC40 came standard with lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.