2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, characterized by circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. However, it always maintained its core elements, making it unmistakable on the road. Inside, the Wrangler was not as comfortable as car-based SUVs, with upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted using somewhat awkward ripcords. Yet, for the right type of driver, these features added to its charm.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, launched in 2005 and in its second generation since 2014, received an interior and exterior refresh in 2018, which carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console that defined Land Rover interiors. The Range Rover Sport offered a variety of trims, each adding more luxury and performance features. The base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker Meridian sound system. Higher trims like the HSE Silver added quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition featured a more powerful V8 engine and performance-oriented seats.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, 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 powertrains 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 producing 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. 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 Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid variant, the 4xe, making 275 hp and offering up to 22 miles of electric range.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered several powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, making 355 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 powertrain, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid producing 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition had an even more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various 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 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 Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, though it offered only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the optional third row was best suited for children.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport 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 other trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, featuring crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts. 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.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen operated climate controls and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. The system had a pair of dials integrated into the lower screen, controlling fan speed, temperature, heated/ventilated seats, and off-road vehicle dynamics settings. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for switching between menus and accessing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, the system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive.

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. A backup camera with dynamic guidelines was standard, and a live tire-pressure monitoring system was available, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.