2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, built on a new platform, was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front showcased Hyundai's new design language, featuring a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When lit, these lights formed a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings. The Tucson's side profile borrowed design cues from the Hyundai Elantra, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson sported LED-illuminated toothy taillights, except for the base model, giving it a standout appearance among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim, the Tucson rode on 17- or 19-inch wheels, with high-end models featuring premium fascias, skid plates, and a panoramic sunroof. Inside, the Tucson's cabin was well-appointed, offering stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, with sport combination and leather-trimmed options available on higher trims. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered design contributed to a spacious feel.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe made its presence known through its unique sound and appearance. Aside from a "4xe" badge and sky blue accents, it closely resembled a regular Wrangler, with the power port at the left base of the windshield being the primary distinction. When the battery had sufficient charge, the Wrangler 4xe operated silently, except for the pedestrian notification system's whine, which drew attention during a trip to Yosemite National Park. The test vehicle, painted in Firecracker Red, featured Rubicon trim and over $13,000 in options, totaling $66,690, including destination charges. Inside, the Wrangler 4xe retained the classic Wrangler look, with blue seat stitching, charging indicator lights, and PHEV-specific gauges. The interior offered more soft-touch materials than expected, with leather seats and padded door panels. The layout was functional, with a transmission shifter, emergency brake, and manual transfer-case lever in the center console. The Wrangler 4xe's interior maintained its purposeful simplicity while offering improved outfitting compared to previous models, though luxury and refinement were not its focus.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain options: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. While not particularly exciting, it was competent and efficient, with a targeted 28 mpg combined. The hybrid powertrain, with 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, provided a more engaging driving experience. The Tucson Hybrid outperformed competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. All-wheel drive was standard on the hybrid and available on ICE models, performing well in off-road testing. The ICE-powered Tucson achieved an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined, while the hybrid boasted 37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, though range specifications were not yet available.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured a powertrain based on a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It incorporated two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, providing an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving and a 49 MPGe combined efficiency rating. In hybrid mode, the EPA rated it at 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe offered three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save. Hybrid mode provided 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, allowing the 4xe to reach 60 mph in six seconds. Electric mode enabled electric-only driving, while e-Save preserved battery power for specific situations. During a road trip to Yosemite, the Wrangler 4xe demonstrated its capabilities, with regenerative braking helping recharge the battery. Over a four-day loan, it covered 757 miles, with 120.9 miles on electricity, averaging 19.1 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, a budget-friendly compact SUV, offered a well-appointed interior that rivaled its competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims, along with lumbar support. Heated and ventilated front seats, memory settings, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The Tucson's new platform allowed for increased passenger and cargo space, with more rear legroom than the RAV4 and comparable headroom to other compact SUVs. The cabin comfortably accommodated a family of four, with a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area that surpassed the Escape and was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models, with a hands-free liftgate available on mid-grade trims and up.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe required some effort to enter and exit due to its high door sills and lack of side steps on the Rubicon trim. Once inside, occupants found the classic Wrangler driving position, sitting high and close to the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield, providing a clear view. Manual front seat height adjusters helped find the best position, though repeated use could cause the seats to lower. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were part of the optional Cold Weather Group. The center console offered limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever, with a small bin under the armrest and a modest glovebox. Rear-seat space was adequate, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, a power outlet, and MOLLE-style storage straps. Cargo loading was challenging due to the swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window, but the Wrangler's charm made up for it. Cargo volume measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a storage bin under the load floor for the charging cord. Folding the back seat down increased the volume to 72.4 cubic feet.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a robust set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was positioned in front of the driver. Upgrading to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, though this required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit, with touchpoints for climate control and media functions. While responsive, the touchpoints lacked physical differentiation, making steering wheel controls and voice commands more essential.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon featured technological advancements related to its plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4WD system, along with a well-equipped Uconnect infotainment system. The 8.4-inch touchscreen display, encased in a waterproof rubber surround, offered Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available, and the Alpine sound system could overcome freeway wind noise, though it made conversation difficult. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed signs of aging in terms of load time, responsiveness, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and five blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard displayed charging status at a glance.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning. The blind-spot warning system was recommended due to the Wrangler's narrow side mirrors. The LED headlights with automatic high beams were effective but rated Marginal by the IIHS. The Wrangler received a Marginal rating for small-overlap, frontal-impact protection for the driver, with the vehicle tipping over in tests. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler Unlimited a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.