2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Land Rover Defender

The 2020 Land Rover Defender brought back the classic, boxy design reminiscent of the beloved LR4, with squared-off edges, a rising roofline, and roundish headlights. Its rugged exterior featured short overhangs, skid plates, and an external spare tire, making it trail-ready. The Defender's design included nostalgic elements like step plates and a ladder, though these were more for show than function. Inside, the Defender's industrial cabin was basic, with cloth seats and exposed screws, emphasizing durability over luxury. Despite its high price, the interior felt more utilitarian than luxurious, akin to a Jeep Wrangler with better materials.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic look with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. Depending on the trim, the Wrangler could sport different looks, from painted fenders to soft or hard tops. Inside, the Wrangler was all about function, with upright seating, limited legroom, and manual adjustments. The cabin featured drain plugs for easy cleaning, and cargo space was competitive with smaller crossovers. The Wrangler's design was unmistakable, appealing to those who valued its rugged charm and off-road capability.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender justified its price with a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its standard air springs. The optional 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine produced 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, making it a powerful yet refined off-roader. The mild-hybrid system eliminated turbo lag and provided consistent power. The Defender's off-road performance was exemplary, with Terrain Response 2 and adjustable-height suspension allowing it to tackle steep angles and deep water. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine offered 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, suitable for the smaller two-door 90 model. The Defender's handling was reminiscent of older SUVs, with slow steering and noticeable body lean, but it excelled in off-road conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The Wrangler also offered a 270-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Wrangler's 4WD systems, including Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, provided excellent off-road capability, with features like front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender prioritized durability and functionality, with a retro and minimalist design. The two-door 90 model could seat up to six people with an optional jump seat, while the four-door 110 offered an optional third row for seven seats. The Defender's interior was spacious, with generous headroom and legroom, and the panoramic moonroof added to the airy feel. Cargo space varied by model, with the two-door 90 offering 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 58 cubic feet with them folded. The four-door 110 provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 79 cubic feet with them folded. The Defender's towing capacity was an impressive 8,200 pounds.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, premium black cloth soft top, and the Freedom top hardtop. The Sky one-touch power top on the Rubicon 392 provided a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with them folded. The cabin featured drain plugs for easy cleaning, making it practical for off-road adventures.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender featured the new Pivi Pro infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous JLR systems. It included two SIM cards for streaming data and over-the-air updates. The interface was more user-friendly, though some elements like map zoom icons were still small. The Defender's off-road capabilities were enhanced by front cameras showing the ground underneath the hood and a rearview mirror that doubled as a screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, LED headlights, and 360-degree cameras. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker Meridian stereo, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's base Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, but higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the grille slats. The Wrangler's infotainment system was user-friendly, with radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel and a clear off-road camera view.

The 2020 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. crash testing agencies and lacked knee and rear side airbags. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitor, and 360-degree cameras. Optional features included rear cross-traffic alerts and alerts for passing cars or cyclists when exiting the vehicle.

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. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler came with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.