2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

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 options for 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 consistent.

Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort but rather for rugged charm. The upright seating position, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments were all part of its appeal. The trims ranged from the bare-bones Sport with manual features to the more luxurious High Altitude with leather seats and a larger touchscreen. The Rubicon trim, especially the Rubicon 392, was tailored for off-road enthusiasts, featuring beefed-up suspension and a powerful Hemi V8 engine.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, on the other hand, marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the original Ioniq. It was the first vehicle in Hyundai's new Ioniq sub-brand, dedicated solely to electric vehicles. The Ioniq 5 featured a sleek, polished exterior with minimal character lines and a unique Parametric Pixel design that gave it a futuristic look. The extensive use of LED pixels in the lighting elements added to its concept car-like appearance.

Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin was a stark contrast to its exterior, offering a calm and relaxing environment. The interior was available in black, gray, and dark green hues, with a design theme called "Living Space." This theme was evident in features like the "Relaxation" mode for the driver's seat, which provided a zero-gravity resting position. The use of sustainable materials, such as recycled fibers and bio-materials, further emphasized the Ioniq 5's eco-friendly focus.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a powerful Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine 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 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 Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered an impressive 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, making it an off-road supercar.

The Wrangler's 4WD systems included Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, each offering different levels of off-road capability. The Rubicon trim featured front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar for enhanced off-road performance. Jeep also introduced a plug-in hybrid variant, the Wrangler 4xe, which offered 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came in three trims (SE, SEL, and Limited) and offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The base SE Standard Range model featured a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor with 168 hp and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range models, available in RWD and AWD, offered a larger 168-kW rear motor producing 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 303 miles for RWD and 256 miles for AWD. The AWD variant featured a dual-motor system with a total power output of 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque.

The Ioniq 5's performance was middle-of-the-road for a midsize crossover, with a focus on comfort and efficiency rather than sporty driving dynamics. The vehicle featured four drive modes, including Sport mode, which added excitement by re-tuning the torque split and adding weight to the steering wheel. The Ioniq 5 also offered paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative braking levels and a single-speed transmission for seamless power delivery.

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, provided a convenient way to enjoy the open-air experience with a power-retractable canvas panel.

Inside, the Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. 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 cabin also featured drain plugs for easy cleaning after off-road adventures.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 sat on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which offered a longer wheelbase and maximized interior space. The Ioniq 5 had a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Hyundai Palisade, measuring 118.1 inches. The Ioniq 5 offered a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, with a passenger volume of 106.5 cubic feet, making it roomier than competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4.

The Ioniq 5's interior featured soft touch points and a "Living Space" design theme. The center console was a moveable island that slid 5.5 inches fore and aft, and the shifter was mounted on the steering wheel, allowing for a modern take on the retro front bench seat. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, providing a pleasant driving and relaxing experience.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen for operating the radio and vehicle settings. Higher trims offered a 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the top trims featured an 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with crisp graphics and intuitive layouts. The Rubicon 392 also had a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and a clever off-road camera nestled in the front grille.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured next-generation high-voltage, energy-dense technology with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80 percent battery capacity in 18 minutes and gaining 68 miles of range in 5 minutes with a 350-kW charger. Hyundai partnered with Electrify America to offer unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years.

The Ioniq 5 also offered a redesigned Blue Link connected car app, a digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, compatibility with virtual assistants, and over-the-air updates. The vehicle featured beautifully designed 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, finished with an anti-glare coating for clear visibility.

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 also featured a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also featured Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control.

The Ioniq 5 offered a head-up display (HUD) with augmented reality overlays, providing information like animated turn-by-turn navigation. While impressive, the HUD could be distracting depending on the seating position. The Ioniq 5 was expected to earn high safety ratings, given Hyundai's track record with IIHS Top Safety awards.