2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 GMC Terrain

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic status with its timeless design, featuring circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could sport different looks, such as painted or exposed fenders and various top options, but it always retained its unmistakable identity. Inside, the Wrangler was not built for comfort but for charm, with upright seating, limited legroom, and manually adjusted seats. The trims ranged from the bare-bones Sport to the luxurious High Altitude, each offering unique features and styling.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level added a bolder grille, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. Our test vehicle came loaded with various packages, including the Tech Package and Infotainment Package II, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. The Terrain offered more affordable trims like the SLE and SLT, as well as the luxurious Denali. However, the quality of materials and execution reflected its entry-level status, with some design choices like the head-up display and pushbutton transmission controls feeling less intuitive.

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 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered an impressive 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Wrangler also featured three 4WD systems: Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, each catering to different off-roading needs.

The 2022 GMC Terrain, on the other hand, came with a single engine option: a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offered decent performance but lacked the power of the previously available 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The Terrain could switch between FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system available for tougher terrains. However, the Terrain's performance was less inspiring, with issues like torque steer in FWD mode and a lack of power for rapid acceleration. The Terrain AT4's ground clearance and off-road capabilities were also limited compared to competitors.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, premium black cloth soft top, and the Freedom top, a three-piece hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a convenient way to enjoy the open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with small storage spaces and drain plugs for easy cleaning. It provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the wheel-wells and roll-bars could make fitting larger items challenging.

The 2022 GMC Terrain, in contrast, offered a roomy interior with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. Our Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat was spacious, with plenty of legroom and a rear USB charging port. The Terrain also featured various storage slots and spots, though the storage tray forward of the cupholders was disappointingly narrow. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat could also fold down for longer items.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's 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 had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel. The Rubicon 392 also 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 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for the SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. Our test vehicle had the larger screen with the Infotainment Package II, which added connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Terrain also featured a new head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Tire Fill Alert system.

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

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The optional GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Terrain received mostly "Good" crash-test scores from the IIHS, though it earned a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not yet evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness.