2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Lexus RX

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. Despite these variations, the core elements that made the Wrangler unmistakable on the road remained intact. Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort but rather for rugged charm, with upright seating, limited legroom, and seats adjusted using somewhat awkward ripcords.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus RX showcased a modern design aesthetic with a large grille, angular headlamps, a shapely body, and a floating roof. The interior featured sumptuous seating, perforated leather upholstery, and a somewhat bland center console. The RX was available in five variants: RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid. The RX F Sport was the most performance-focused, while the RXL and RXL Hybrid offered extended bodies and a third row of seating. The RX's design changes from 2020, including elongated headlights and a refined front end, carried over into 2021.

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, paired 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 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler's 4WD systems included Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the Rubicon featuring front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, resulting in 308 hp managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). The RX's fuel efficiency varied, with the FWD RX 350 achieving 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. The RX Hybrid models managed up to 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. The RX F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and other performance enhancements, making the RX a comfortable cruiser with a bit more pep for spirited driving.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, premium black cloth soft top, and classic tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, 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 Lexus RX was incredibly functional, seating five in the two-row RX 350, RX F-Sport, and RX 450h, and six or seven in the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid. Front and second-row seating offered ample space, while the third row was tight. The RX's cargo space was limited, with 18.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row RX provided just 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second, and 58.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free liftgate available.

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, offering crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and a clever off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hot spot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, navigation, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system. The touchpad controller for the infotainment system was functional but took up valuable center console space. The RX did not offer wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

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 came with a backup camera and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Lexus RX received the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation and scored well in crashworthiness tests. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall. Standard safety features included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist. The RX had two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the rear outboard seats.