Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Subaru Crosstrek

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a clever adaptation of the Impreza hatchback, designed to capture the growing interest in crossovers. By incorporating rugged aesthetics, standard all-wheel drive, and a higher driving position, Subaru successfully transformed the Impreza into a more SUV-like vehicle. The Crosstrek stood out with its black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and increased ground clearance of 8.7 inches, which was impressive even for dedicated SUVs. The vibrant color options, such as Plasma Yellow Pearl, added to its appeal. Despite its SUV-like appearance, the Crosstrek retained the Subaru Global Platform, ensuring a refined driving experience. However, the interior remained largely unchanged from the Impreza, offering functionality but lacking in visual flair. The Sport trim's interior accents, like the clashing Plasma Yellow Pearl and Horizon Blue Pearl, were not universally appreciated, though the water-repellant StarTex upholstery was a practical touch.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer exuded traditional SUV styling with its tall hood, broad shoulders, and upright profile. It shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer but distinguished itself with a black roof, unique hood, front fascia, and grille. The Grand Wagoneer featured a new body-on-frame architecture, allowing for independent suspension and weight-saving materials like an aluminum hood and doors. Inside, it offered a luxurious experience with high-quality materials, 24-way power front seats, and Nappa leather upholstery. The Grand Wagoneer also boasted advanced convenience features, such as heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a range of interior styling differences from the standard Wagoneer. The attention to detail extended to the placement of seat controls and the dashboard's "Grand Wagoneer" inscription, ensuring a premium feel throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrain options. The Sport and Limited trims featured a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The Base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four, producing 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. Subaru's signature boxer engine design provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing handling, although the SUV-like stance somewhat negated this benefit. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while a CVT was optional. The Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only, offering the larger engine. All trims came with standard AWD, featuring torque vectoring and X-Mode for improved traction on loose surfaces. Despite its SUV aspirations, the Crosstrek excelled on pavement, offering predictable handling and a comfortable ride. The new 2.5-liter engine provided adequate acceleration, though the CVT's droning was noticeable.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for its 6,400-pound weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard 4WD with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system, standard on the Grand Wagoneer, allowed for adjustable ride height, enhancing off-road capability and highway efficiency. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer boasted impressive approach, departure, and breakover angles. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best suited for a leisurely pace, as its size and imprecise steering made it feel ungainly at higher speeds. While off-road performance was promising, its size limited its trail capabilities.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered similar front and rear legroom to the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. Cargo space was competitive among small crossovers, with 20.8 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with them folded. While it surpassed the Hyundai Kona and Jeep Renegade in cargo space, it lagged behind the Honda HR-V, Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and Nissan Rogue Sport. The Crosstrek included a rear-seat reminder system, though its effectiveness was debatable. Up front, a cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports provided convenient storage, but rear-seat passengers had limited access to USB ports. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, offering good outward visibility, though it didn't provide the commanding view of traditional SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain's chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, front-row space was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. Cargo space was generous, with 27.4 cubic feet with all rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats provided 94.2 cubic feet, slightly less than rivals. The Grand Wagoneer boasted a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, surpassing competitors. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and ample storage bins. Forward visibility was somewhat limited, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek featured the Starlink infotainment system with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. Subaru's unique dual-screen setup displayed some information above the main touchscreen, though it seemed redundant. The 8-inch touchscreen was user-friendly, and large analog knobs and buttons controlled vital functions. Steering wheel buttons managed EyeSight driver-assistance features, enhancing safety.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasted a comprehensive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones and offered a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot for up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, while an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer featured a second screen below the main one for seat massagers and other functions. A separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger controlled navigation and entertainment. Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto enhanced the entertainment experience. The Uconnect 5 system, with an Android-based OS and OTA updates, powered the infotainment. While the screen response was occasionally slow, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The IIHS awarded the 2020 model a "Top Safety Pick" rating, applicable to 2021 models with optional EyeSight features and Steering Responsive Headlights. EyeSight, using stereo cameras, offered adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The system's cameras were well-protected but could be blocked by wipers or sunlight. The optional blind-spot monitoring system was effective, with prominent warning lights on exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering, requiring hands on the wheel. A hands-free version was planned for future release, with driver monitoring for safety.