2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Land Rover Defender

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, which had remained largely unchanged over the years. Key features included circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders, giving it a toy truck-like appearance. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches, but it always maintained its unmistakable look. Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort, with upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted using somewhat awkward ripcords. However, for the right type of driver, these quirks added to its charm.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender aimed to echo the vibe of its predecessors while bringing the SUV into the modern era. It featured half-round LED headlights, a structural-looking grille, flat-topped fenders, and a floating roof. The spare tire was mounted on the side-hinged tailgate, and the vehicle had short overhangs front and rear, giving it a planted and capable look. Inside, the Defender's theme of exposed structure was prominent, with a dash held between horizontal beams, exposed Allen-head bolts, and beefy controls. The leather-upholstered seating was both tough and luxurious, and the digital instrument panel and center touchscreen interface were crisp and clean.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of powertrains, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Rubicon 392 also had beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S.: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 518 hp was announced for 2022. All Defender models used an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response. The Defender had impressive off-road specs, including a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and 35.4 inches of wading depth. On the road, the Defender was quick, with the 2.0-liter model going from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter model in 5.8 seconds. The Defender also had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Sky one-touch power top, featured on the Rubicon 392, was a power-retractable canvas panel. 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 rear seats folded.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender rode on a unibody platform with four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension, enhancing both on-road and off-road performance. The Defender offered a jump seat between the front seats for three-across seating and a third-row seat for two in the long-wheelbase 110. The Defender 110 had 34-34.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The three-door model had 58.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen, while the 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the slats of the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender used Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing for remote software updates. The Defender featured the new Pivi Pro system with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with multiple camera views, including a "transparent hood" view. The Defender's audio system could be upgraded to 10 or 14 speakers plus a subwoofer, with Meridian sound systems available. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler came with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had an extensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing and had front and rear recovery points capable of withstanding up to 10 tons of pull.