2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic status with its timeless design, featuring circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. Its rugged appearance, reminiscent of a toy truck for adults, was unmistakable on the road. The Wrangler offered various trim levels, each with unique styling options, but all retained the core elements that defined its identity. Inside, the Wrangler prioritized charm over comfort, with an upright seating position, limited legroom, and manual seat adjustments. The trims ranged from the bare-bones Sport to the luxurious High Altitude, with the Rubicon catering to off-road enthusiasts.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, drew inspiration from the Wrangler with its boxy profile, circular headlights, and upright grille. It featured a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack for easy access to controls. The Renegade offered a variety of trims, including the adventure-focused Upland and the luxury-oriented Limited. The interior boasted ample headroom and legroom, with clever storage solutions and a foldable front passenger seat for added versatility. The Renegade's design changes from 2019 continued into 2021, with some previously optional features becoming standard.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and the powerful Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler featured three 4WD systems: Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the latter offering front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar for off-roading. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, transforming the Wrangler into an off-road powerhouse.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offering FWD or available 4WD. While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided better refinement and torque. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with a composed suspension and impressive maneuverability in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road suspension and terrain management system, offered surprising capability on trails.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top and the Freedom hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, providing a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with limited storage but effective cargo nets and drain plugs for easy cleaning. It provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with them in use. Its tall, boxy design provided ample headroom and decent legroom in both rows. The Renegade featured numerous storage solutions, including cubbies and trays, and a foldable front passenger seat for added versatility.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's base Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens featured crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by steering wheel radio toggles. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled in the front grille.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the user-friendly Uconnect system, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available for enhanced sound quality.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was unavailable. A backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system were included.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made several safety features standard, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control and parking sensors were optional. Despite these features, the Renegade received a four-star crash test rating from the NHTSA.