Jeep Renegade vs Subaru Crosstrek

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a clever adaptation of the Impreza hatchback, designed to meet the growing demand for crossovers with rugged aesthetics, AWD, and elevated driving positions. Subaru's strategy mirrored that of the Outback, which had successfully maintained its presence in the U.S. market. The Crosstrek distinguished itself from the Impreza with black body cladding, unique 17-inch wheels, and a higher ride height, offering 8.7 inches of ground clearance. This transformation allowed the Crosstrek to convincingly mimic an SUV, adding character and vibrant color options like Plasma Yellow Pearl. Despite its SUV-like appearance, the Crosstrek retained the Subaru Global Platform, ensuring a refined driving experience. The interior, while functional, remained largely unchanged from the Impreza, with some questionable design choices like clashing color accents and simulated carbon-fiber trim.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, drew inspiration from the iconic Wrangler, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and a seven-slat grille. The 2021 model continued the design updates from 2019, with some previously optional features becoming standard. Inside, the Renegade offered a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack reminiscent of the Wrangler. It came in various trims, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each with distinct features. The Sport trim included essentials like push-button start and a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims added luxury and off-road capabilities. The Trailhawk, in particular, stood out with its off-road enhancements, making it the most capable Renegade trim.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrains. The Sport and Limited trims featured a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The base and Premium trims retained the 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, delivering 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. Subaru's signature boxer engine design provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing handling. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while a CVT was optional and standard on Sport and Limited trims. All trims came with standard AWD, featuring torque vectoring and X-Mode for improved traction on loose surfaces. Despite its SUV-like stance, 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 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in FWD or 4WD. While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged option provided more torque and refinement. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with composed handling and maneuverability in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road suspension and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, excelled in off-road conditions. The Renegade's terrain management system offered various drive modes, enhancing its capability on different surfaces.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shared its interior dimensions with the Impreza hatchback, offering competitive passenger space but limited cargo capacity. It provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the 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 rivals like the Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos. The Crosstrek featured a rear-seat reminder system and a convenient cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports. However, rear-seat passengers had limited access to USB ports. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, but visibility remained excellent due to ample side glass.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with them in use. Its tall, boxy design provided ample headroom in both rows, with front seats offering generous legroom. The Renegade featured practical storage solutions, including foldable front passenger seats for added versatility. While its cargo space was above average for the segment, competitors like the Kia Soul and Honda HR-V offered more.

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, and a CD player. The top Limited trim offered an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation. Subaru's unique dual-screen setup displayed redundant information, but the 8-inch touchscreen was user-friendly. The Crosstrek also included large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions, enhancing usability.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a logical menu layout and easy-to-read graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and a Kenwood premium audio system was available.

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 tests. The IIHS awarded the 2020 model a "Top Safety Pick" rating, contingent on optional EyeSight features and Steering Responsive Headlights. EyeSight offered adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, the system's cameras could be obstructed by wipers or sunlight, limiting functionality.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors remained optional. Despite these additions, the Renegade received a four-star rating from the NHTSA. Parallel parking assist was also available.