2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

The fifth-generation 2022 Nissan Pathfinder took design cues from the new era of Nissan’s SUV design. It featured a new take on the V-motion grille, similar to the Rogue and Armada, with the new Nissan logo on its three-slot grille, paying homage to the first-generation Pathfinder. LED headlights flanked the grille, and slim LED daytime running lights added a modern touch. The vehicle was available in 14 paint jobs and color combinations, with a black roof option that extended to the C-pillar. The side panels and hood gave the SUV a beefier look, more in line with the Kia Telluride than the Toyota Highlander. The rear featured sleek, thin taillights wrapping around a large liftgate with bold badging.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe announced its presence with unique sounds and looks. Aside from a “4xe” badge and sky blue accents, it looked similar to a regular Wrangler, with the power port at the left base of the windshield being the main difference. When the battery had enough charge, the SUV moved silently except for the pedestrian notification system. The Rubicon trim test vehicle, painted Firecracker Red, had over $13,000 in options, bringing its price to $66,690. Inside, it retained the classic Wrangler look with blue seat stitching and special PHEV gauges. The interior had more soft-touch materials than expected, with leather seats and padded door panels. Controls were laid out functionally, with robust grab handles hinting at its off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old CVT. The Pathfinder was available in FWD and AWD configurations, with FWD models featuring a five-position drive mode selector and AWD models offering seven drive and terrain modes. The FWD Pathfinder had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, while the AWD version slightly improved highway mileage. The Pathfinder had a 6,000-pound towing capacity and a stable ride, with a tight turning radius making it easy to maneuver.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. It offered 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving and a 49 MPGe combined efficiency rating. The EPA rated its hybrid fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe had three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save. In Hybrid mode, it could accelerate to 60 mph in six seconds. Electric mode allowed for gas-free driving, while e-Save preserved battery power for specific situations. The Wrangler 4xe performed well on a road trip to Yosemite, averaging 19.1 mpg over 757 miles.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder’s interior was designed for comfort and flexibility. Improved insulation and acoustic laminated glass reduced road noise. The rear door Intelligent Key, wide-opening doors, and optional second-row captain’s chairs made loading and unloading easy. The EZ Flex Latch and Glide second-row seat technology allowed for easy third-row access. The removable second-row center console and spacious front center console added to the vehicle’s practicality. The Pathfinder offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 45.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 80.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. The front and second-row seats were spacious and comfortable, with heated and ventilated options available.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s interior was comfortable but required some effort to enter and exit due to high door sills. The driving position was classic Wrangler, with a high seating position and clear view over the hood. The center console had limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat space was adequate, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and MOLLE-style storage straps. The cargo area measured 27.7 cubic feet, with a storage bin under the load floor for the charging cord. Folding the back seat down increased the cargo volume to 72.4 cubic feet.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder came with a wealth of standard technology, including a six-speaker audio system, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and more. Upper trim levels offered a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a 13-speaker Bose Premium Audio system. The Pathfinder Platinum featured a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel and head-up display.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available, and the Alpine sound system could overcome wind noise on the freeway. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed signs of aging in terms of load time and responsiveness. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard showed charging status at a glance.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. It also featured a driver alertness monitor, rear door alert, and forward-collision warning. Upper trim levels offered a surround-view monitor, and the Pathfinder Platinum had 11 airbags.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group packages. These included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Wrangler’s LED headlights received a Marginal rating from the IIHS, while the standard headlights were rated Poor. The Wrangler had a Marginal rating for small-overlap, frontal-impact protection for the driver, and a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating from the NHTSA.