2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Subaru Outback

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 for adults. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could sport different looks with painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. However, the core elements that made the Wrangler unmistakable on the road remained consistent.

Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort. The upright seating position, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments using ripcords were all part of its charm for the right type of driver. The 2021 Wrangler Unlimited came in various trims, including the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, along with special editions like the Willys, 80th Anniversary, Freedom, Islander, and High Altitude. Each trim offered different levels of features and creature comforts, from the bare-bones Sport to the near-luxury High Altitude.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, maintained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior featured analog gauges with familiar typefaces, colors, and spacing, and a steering wheel with more buttons but similar shapes and angles. The seats had a similar form, but the interior was fresher compared to the smaller 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The base trim had two 7-inch touchscreens in the center stack, while higher trims featured an 11.6-inch portrait display that was bright, sharp, and surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim.

Quality was evident in the Outback's interior, with substantial window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. Limited and Touring trims offered two-tone leather upholstery with contrast stitching, giving a luxury car impression. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex, a soft and water-resistant synthetic material with lime green contrast stitching. The exterior of the Outback had gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, with smooth and plain styling. The 2021 model introduced a new brown paint option and standard adaptive LED headlights.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and the 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. All engines routed power to one of three four-wheel-drive systems: Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the latter featuring front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar for off-roading.

The Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid variant, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392, with a 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turned the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. It featured beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes. The dual-mode performance exhaust emitted an incredible rumble, adding to the driving experience.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This powertrain struggled to move the Outback, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo. The XT trim, available on Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing a significant performance improvement. The turbocharged engine was quieter, smoother, and more powerful than the older 3.6-liter flat-six it replaced.

The Outback's handling was squishy, and the steering imprecise, but it excelled as a long-distance cruiser with a comfortable ride and tranquil behavior. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance and long-travel springs allowed it to handle rough roads and off-road conditions effectively. Subaru's electronically-variable all-wheel drive (AWD) system was proactive, always driving all four wheels and reacting quickly to varying torque splits. The X-Mode optimized the throttle, CVT ratio, stability control, and torque split for tougher road conditions, making the Outback more proficient off-road than many crossovers and SUVs.

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 with optional insulated panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It also featured 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 Subaru Outback offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive wheel arches. The Outback provided ample headroom and legroom in all seating positions, with comfortable and supportive seats. Outward visibility was superb, thanks to thin pillars, a low shoulder height, and lots of glass. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console and passenger-side dash.

However, some features were only available on higher trims. Push-button start and rear climate vents were standard on Limited and above trims, with push-button start optional on the Premium. The Outback's best feature was the standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls, but the large screen made it easier to adjust vehicle settings and scroll through stereo presets.

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, 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 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the optional navigation was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system offered good semi-automated control on marked highways but relied on forward-looking cameras without radar, which could degrade functionality in certain conditions.

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 with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.