2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

The 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the classic, boxy design that many enthusiasts had missed since the 2016 LR4. It featured squared-off edges, a roof that rose higher toward the rear, and roundish headlights. The Defender's design was both familiar and functional, with short overhangs and skid plates for off-road adventures. Despite some modern touches like plastic step plates and a three-piece ladder, the Defender retained its rugged charm. The interior was basic and industrial, with cloth seats and exposed screws, emphasizing durability over luxury. The HSE trim, priced at $75,000, lacked the opulence expected at that price point, making it feel more like a commercial vehicle than a luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Renegade drew inspiration from the iconic Wrangler, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade's interior was modern and functional, with an upright center stack and controls within easy reach. It offered a variety of trims, each with unique features, from the adventure-minded Upland to the luxury-focused Limited. The Renegade's cabin provided ample headroom and legroom, with helpful storage solutions and the ability to fold the front passenger seat for added space. Overall, the Renegade's design was practical and versatile, making it a great choice for city driving and off-road adventures.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender justified its price with its impressive performance. It featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This mild hybrid system ensured consistent power delivery and quick engine restarts. The Defender's eight-speed automatic transmission offered a sport mode for aggressive launches. Off-road, the Defender excelled with its Terrain Response 2 system and adjustable-height suspension, allowing it to tackle steep inclines and deep water with ease. The standard engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, suitable for the smaller two-door 90 model. The Defender's off-road capabilities were unmatched, making it a versatile vehicle for both rugged trails and smooth highways.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided better torque and refinement. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with composed handling and a maneuverable design, making it ideal for city driving. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road suspension and terrain management system, offered impressive off-road capabilities, earning it the "Trail Rated" designation.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender was designed for durability and versatility. Its interior featured rubber floors and a minimalist design, prioritizing functionality over luxury. The two-door 90 model could seat up to six people with an optional jump seat, while the four-door 110 model offered an optional third row for seven seats. Cargo space varied, with the two-door 90 providing 16 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58 cubic feet with them folded. The four-door 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 79 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Defender's towing capacity was an impressive 8,200 pounds, and its rugged design allowed it to handle tough conditions with ease.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with them in use. Its tall, boxy design offered ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The Renegade featured practical storage solutions, including cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for added space. While the Renegade's cargo space was above average for its segment, it fell short compared to competitors like the Kia Soul and Honda HR-V. Overall, the Renegade's interior was practical and versatile, making it a great choice for both city driving and outdoor adventures.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender featured the new Pivi Pro infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous Jaguar Land Rover systems. It included two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air software updates. The interface was user-friendly, though some icons were small and hard to read. The Defender's off-road capabilities were enhanced by front cameras that showed the ground underneath the hood and a rearview mirror that doubled as a screen. The base Defender 110 came with standard features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, LED headlights, and 360-degree cameras. Higher trims offered additional luxuries like a heated steering wheel, leather seats, and a 14-speaker Meridian stereo.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a logical menu layout and easy-to-read graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on both screens. A Kenwood premium audio system was available as an option. The Renegade's infotainment system was user-friendly and offered a range of features, making it a practical choice for tech-savvy drivers.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by any U.S. crash testing agency. It came with six airbags, including forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and 360-degree cameras as standard. Optional safety features included rear cross-traffic alerts and alerts upon exiting the vehicle.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made several previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were available as options. Despite these features, the Renegade received only four out of five stars in crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.