2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019, continued to carry over its rugged design inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, offering trims like Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. Each trim provided a unique set of features, from push-button start and dual-zone climate control in the Sport to leather upholstery and heated front seats in the Limited.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned for the 2019 model year, maintained a boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Forester Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its clean and unpretentious look. Inside, the Forester offered a no-nonsense mix of materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange interior accents, while Base, Premium, and Sport models featured cloth upholstery, and Limited and Touring trims offered leather upholstery. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The turbocharged engine provided better torque and refinement, while the 2.4-liter engine was less spirited and noisier under hard acceleration. The Renegade offered a solid ride quality, good maneuverability, and a terrain management system with various drive modes, making the Trailhawk trim particularly capable off-road with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance and upgraded 4WD system.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with a manual mode and paddle shifters on certain trims. The Forester's boxer engine provided a lower center of gravity, contributing to its stability. However, the engine's power felt adequate but not thrilling, especially during highway merging or overtaking. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll and bounce on uneven surfaces. Standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and X-Mode enhanced its capability on different terrains, with Sport models offering Dual X-Mode for more challenging conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use. Its tall, boxy design provided ample headroom in both rows, with great front legroom and adequate rear legroom for adults. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for additional space.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. It offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear bench down. The Forester's cargo space was generous, though it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on Limited and Touring trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was not available.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a Kenwood premium audio system available. The Uconnect system was praised for its intuitive menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and helpful dock for major functions.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured the Subaru Starlink infotainment system with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and dual USB ports in the rear center console. The Forester's infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. Additional displays in the dashboard and instrument cluster provided secondary information, though the setup seemed overly complex.

The 2021 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 optional. Despite these features, the Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester also featured a unique driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction.