2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Jeep Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had evolved since its debut, and opinions on its design had mellowed over time. While the short grille opening and swept-back headlights were initially polarizing, they became more accepted after seven years. The Cherokee's appearance varied significantly depending on the trim level. The entry-level Latitude with 17-inch wheels and front-wheel drive (FWD) looked quite basic, while the 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding appeared much more refined. The Cherokee also offered an optional panoramic sunroof, enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal. Despite the crowded crossover SUV market, the Cherokee managed to stand out, bearing a resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic status with its timeless styling. Key features included circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. The Wrangler's design was unmistakable and instantly recognizable. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other unique styling touches. The Wrangler's interior was functional but not as comfortable as car-based SUVs. It featured upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted with ripcords. The Wrangler's trims included the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, each offering different levels of features and comfort. The Rubicon 392, with its Hemi V8 engine, stood out with its raised hood and "392" badging, making it a powerful off-road vehicle.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options. The base engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower, available on the Latitude and Latitude Plus trims. The 3.2-liter V6 engine, delivering 271 horsepower, was a significant upgrade. The top-tier engine was the 2.0-liter GMET4 turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, available on the Latitude Lux and Limited trims. Despite these options, none of the engines provided outstanding acceleration. The V6 engine could achieve 0-60 mph in about 7.2 seconds, while the turbo-four took about 7.4 seconds. All Cherokee models came with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which had improved over time. The Cherokee Trailhawk model excelled in off-road capability, thanks to features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. However, the Cherokee was also available in FWD, making it more affordable for rental fleets.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler had a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and Hemi V8 options. The standard engine was a 3.6-liter V6, producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid variant, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 horsepower and up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine, producing 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, making it a powerful off-road vehicle. The Wrangler's 4WD systems included Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the Rubicon offering front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnecting front sway bar for challenging off-road conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee occupied a space between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee, competing with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, it fell short in terms of utility, offering only 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 55 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was less than competitors like the Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Kia Sportage. The Cherokee provided about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive in that metric. The interior layout was simple and businesslike, with variations depending on the trim level. The Latitude trim featured rubberized black plastic, while the Trailhawk offered suede seat inserts and contrasting stitching. The Latitude Lux trim had perforated Nappa leather upholstery for a more upscale appearance.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple options for both cloth and hardtops. The basic setup was the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, with premium black cloth and classic tan soft-top options available. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color, with optional insulated panels to reduce road noise. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that could open or close in 18 seconds at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It also had drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, comparable to smaller crossovers.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee featured the Stellantis Uconnect infotainment system, available with a 7-inch touchscreen on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, and Latitude Lux trims, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Trailhawk trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though only via wired connections. The Cherokee also offered a 4G WiFi hotspot and Amazon Alexa integration. Remote start was available, a useful feature in various climates. The Uconnect system was praised for its user-friendly interface and minimal latency issues, making it a strong point for the Cherokee.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's base Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen for radio and vehicle settings. The 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on higher trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, offering crisp graphics and intuitive layouts. The Wrangler featured radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel, enhancing usability. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, providing a clear view of the trail ahead and equipped with its own washer-sprayer.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS but received top "Good" scores in every crashworthiness category and a G+ score for the ease of use of the LATCH child seat anchors. The Cherokee's headlights received mixed ratings, with upper trims rated "Acceptable" and others rated "Marginal." The NHTSA gave the Cherokee a four-star overall safety rating, with a slight demerit for front driver side crash protection. Standard safety features included lane departure warning, lane keep assist, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was available only on the Limited and Trailhawk trims.

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 included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. The Wrangler's safety features were basic, especially in the base configuration, but the live tire-pressure monitoring system was a valuable addition for off-road enthusiasts.