2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, featuring chrome and brightwork that differentiated it from the Ford Expedition on which it was based. The Lincoln Embrace lighting system, lattice-type grille insert, and illuminated star logo added to its distinctiveness. The Navigator also offered a new Reserve Monochromatic Package with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels, available in White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black. The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, was priced at $92,385 and included the Luxury and Reserve Monochromatic option packages.

Inside, the Navigator's Dark Slate leather interior boasted Lincoln’s 30-way Perfect Position front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The dashboard featured mid-century modern styling cues, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and piano-key transmission controls. A panoramic glass roof provided natural light, and high-quality materials were used throughout. The overall look and feel of the Navigator made it a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, aside from its “4xe” badge and sky blue accents, looked similar to a regular Wrangler, with the power port at the left base of the windshield being the main visual difference. The PHEV’s silent operation when running on battery power turned heads, especially in Yosemite National Park. The test vehicle, a Firecracker Red Rubicon trim, was priced at $66,690 and included over $13,000 in options. The Wrangler 4xe was also available in Sahara and High Altitude trims, with the Sahara starting at under $50,000 before incentives.

Inside, the Wrangler 4xe retained the classic Wrangler look with some PHEV-specific features like blue seat stitching and charging indicator lights. The driving position was high and close to the steering wheel, providing a clear view. The center console was limited in storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat space was adequate, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a 115-volt power outlet. Cargo volume was 27.7 cubic feet, with a storage bin under the load floor for the charging cord. The Wrangler’s interior was functional but not luxurious.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb with the towing package. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds with RWD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD. The Pro Trailer Backup Assist system made towing easier by allowing the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob. The Navigator averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined.

The Navigator’s acceleration was strong, and the engine note was subtle with a hint of aggression. The SUV’s adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness over imperfect pavement, especially in Excite mode, but body motion control was excellent. The Navigator felt huge around town, but a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views helped with maneuverability. An automatic hold function was useful in heavy traffic.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The Rubicon trim featured an upgraded 4WD system with electronic front and rear lockers. The battery provided an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving, with an efficiency rating of 49 MPGe combined. As a hybrid, the EPA rated fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles.

The Wrangler 4xe had three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save. In Hybrid mode, the Wrangler 4xe offered 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in six seconds. Electric mode allowed for pure electric driving, while e-Save preserved battery power for specific situations. During testing, the Wrangler 4xe averaged 20.8 mpg on a road trip to Yosemite and 19.1 mpg over a four-day loan, covering 757 miles with 120.9 miles on electricity.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers found plenty of room to stretch out. The test vehicle’s 30-way Perfect Position front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with power-adjustable pedals and a heated steering wheel. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or two captain’s chairs, with a large center console available. The third-row seat provided ample legroom and thigh support, making it comfortable for most passengers.

Cargo volumes were class-leading, with the standard-length model offering 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe required some effort to climb into, especially for shorter passengers who used the grab handles. Once inside, the driving position was classic Wrangler, with a high seat and clear view over the hood. Manual front seat height adjusters helped find the best position, but the seats tended to lower over time. The center console offered limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever.

Rear-seat space was adequate, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, a 115-volt power outlet, and MOLLE-style storage straps. Cargo volume was 27.7 cubic feet, with a storage bin under the load floor for the charging cord. The Wrangler’s lower swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window made loading cargo challenging in tight spaces. Folding the back seat down increased the maximum volume to 72.4 cubic feet.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator’s Sync 3 infotainment system was the least impressive piece of technology, taking time to load content. However, it provided Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a Lincoln Way app, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed the smartphone to unlock, start, and drive the SUV. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but was not fully natural.

The test vehicle’s 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system produced a compelling audio experience, with Stereo being the preferred listening profile. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display. The optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system was not included in the test vehicle.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon’s technological advancements were related to its plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4WD system. The Uconnect infotainment system featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available and useful during the road trip. The Alpine sound system could overcome wind noise on the freeway but made conversation difficult when turned up.

The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed its age in load time, responsiveness, voice recognition accuracy, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the five blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard showed charging status at a glance.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance operated with refinement and subtlety. The SUV had a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but a three-star rollover resistance rating with RWD. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group (blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors) and the Advanced Safety Group (adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability, full-speed forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights). The blind-spot warning system was recommended due to the Wrangler’s narrow side mirrors. The LED headlights with automatic high beams were effective but rated Marginal by the IIHS. The Wrangler had a Marginal rating for small-overlap, frontal-impact protection for the driver, with the SUV tipping over in two tests. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler Unlimited a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.