2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

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. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches, but it always maintained its unmistakable look. Inside, the Wrangler was not as comfortable as car-based SUVs, with an upright seating position, limited legroom, and seats adjusted using somewhat awkward ripcords. However, for the right type of driver, these quirks added to its charm.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender, while not undergoing major exterior changes, remained distinctive with its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood, visually tying it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Modern touches included rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights. The interior was more spacious and ergonomic than the original, with generous headroom and legroom, and a comfortable driving position. The design emphasized rugged character without seeming cheesy, featuring a mix of leather upholstery and suede, bare metal, and exposed screws, making it practical for off-road adventures.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of powertrains, 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 options included a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, and a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6. 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's 4WD systems included Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with features like front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar for off-roading.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 models featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. The Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires.

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, and with insulated panels to reduce road noise. The Sky one-touch power top 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, and 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 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, with the Defender 90 offering limited cargo space but greater off-road nimbleness. The four-door Defender 110 was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard, a sizable center-console storage bin, and optional refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

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, featuring crisp graphics and intuitive layouts. The Rubicon 392 included 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 Land Rover Defender's standard Pivi Pro infotainment system included a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, with an 11.4-inch touchscreen newly available for 2022. The interface featured distinctive graphics and menu layouts, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, including 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 and a live tire-pressure monitoring system were standard.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.