2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, balanced the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved front and sleek roofline made it resemble an enlarged Focus, yet it maintained the tall ride height of a proper SUV. This design gave the Escape a less truck-like appearance compared to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, but it also resulted in a more generic look than the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package, which featured upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery, and leather-wrapped steering wheels.

Inside, the Escape's design was less cohesive. The angular instrument cluster clashed with the exterior's smooth lines, and the interior materials felt low-rent. Even the top-tier Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery, though it did offer ambient lighting. Dual-zone automatic climate control was only available starting from the SEL trim level, highlighting some of the Escape's interior shortcomings.

When shopping for a 2022 Jeep Wrangler, buyers had to choose between the classic two-door or the more practical four-door model. Engine options included a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or plug-in hybrid powertrain. The turbo-four and V6 engines came standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with an optional upgrade to an eight-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive (4WD) was standard, with multiple systems available depending on the trim level.

The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions offering various top options and the Sky One-Touch Power-Top. The High Tide special edition, based on the four-door Sport S trim, added features like LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, and a Gorilla Glass windshield. The standout feature was the Xtreme Recon package, which included a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires, and a 4.56 rear axle ratio. Despite its rugged appeal, the Wrangler's interior remained basic, with a focus on durability over luxury.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base powertrain was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine from Ford’s EcoBoost range, producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). An upgrade to the EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo-four engine increased output to 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, available only with AWD and the same eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Escape hybrid and plug-in hybrid both used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, delivering a total system output of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery pack allowed for significant electric-only driving distances. The hybrid was available with FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was FWD only. Despite the three-cylinder engine's modest size, it proved adequate for the Escape. However, the chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models could be equipped with a Class 2 Trailer Tow Package, offering a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, providing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option on the High Tide, and the test vehicle also had the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg for the Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6, but the Xtreme Recon Package modifications reduced this to an average of 16.8 mpg over a week of testing.

Driving a Wrangler was a unique experience, characterized by loud cabin noise, vague steering, a rough ride, and touchy brakes. Despite these traits, the Wrangler's off-road capabilities and immersive driving experience made it a beloved choice for enthusiasts. The Wrangler's design encouraged exploration and adventure, offering a sense of freedom and excitement that few vehicles could match.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space compared to more traditionally-styled compact SUVs. First-row and second-row headroom and legroom were near the top of the segment, with a standard sliding rear seat that could be adjusted to expand legroom or cargo space. Sliding the bench seat all the way back provided 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models, second only to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson. However, the battery pack placement in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models reduced some of that legroom.

With the rear seat up and in its default position, the gasoline Escape offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, while hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had 30.7 cubic feet. Sliding the rear seat forward increased cargo space to 37.5 cubic feet for gasoline models and 34.4 cubic feet for hybrid/plug-in hybrid models. Folding the rear seat down yielded 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models and 60.8 cubic feet in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Despite these figures, most competitors offered more cargo space, with the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester exceeding 70 cubic feet with their rear seats folded.

Getting into and out of a 2022 Jeep Wrangler was challenging, especially with the High Tide’s raised suspension. Shorter and less-limber individuals struggled, often getting dirty from the Jeep's exterior. The manual height adjuster for the driver’s seat required frequent re-adjustment due to its placement. The Wrangler’s seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery, and the interior featured a mix of plastic and rubber materials, with some padded spots for comfort.

Visibility varied, with excellent views in some areas and compromised views in others. The High Tide’s 35-inch spare tire obstructed the rear view, but the reversing camera and Safety Group features helped. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry and exit difficulties, but once inside, they found comfortable accommodations with good visibility. Storage options were limited, with netting on the lower door panels, a small dashboard tray, and deep but narrow center console and glove compartments. The tailgate, with its heavy 35-inch wheel, required careful handling, especially on hills or when parallel parked. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Ford Escape used Ford’s older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base Escape S models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features found in competitors and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with the newer Sync 4 system.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on Sport S trim, featured a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen offered upgrades like satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, bundled with an Alpine premium sound system. Despite the smaller screen, the Wrangler’s basic infotainment technology met essential needs, though wind noise could affect Siri’s effectiveness. Additional tech features included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats and steering wheel from the Cold Weather Group.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. It also earned high marks for front-crash prevention technology but received “Acceptable” and “Marginal” ratings for headlights, depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included both the Safety Group and the Advanced Safety Group. The Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors, while the Advanced Safety Group included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. Despite these features, the Wrangler’s safety ratings were lacking. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler a three-star rating for rollover resistance, and the IIHS rated it Marginal for protection in the left front small overlap crash-test and the new side-impact test. Headlight performance was rated Poor for standard lights and Marginal for LED upgrades. Safety features were optional rather than standard, and the Wrangler’s ratings suggested it required extra care when driving.