Jeep Wrangler vs Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, first launched in 2015, drew its design inspiration from the legendary Jeep Wrangler, although it shared its architectural base with the Jeep Compass. While the Compass echoed the styling of the Grand Cherokee, the Renegade embraced a more rugged aesthetic, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and the iconic upright seven-slat grille. In 2019, the Renegade underwent a subtle refresh, and those alterations carried over to the 2021 model. Some features that were once optional became part of the standard package.

Inside, the 2021 Renegade flaunted a modern, functional cabin design. The upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, ensured all controls were within easy reach. Buyers could select from a variety of trims and special editions, each offering unique features and equipment. These included the Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. The Sport trim came standard with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Jeepster trim added keyless passive entry, remote start, 19-inch alloy wheels, and unique badging. The Latitude trim included an additional USB port and 17-inch alloy wheels, and the Upland trim, designed for adventurers, featured beefed-up skid plates and exclusive 4WD.

On the other side of the spectrum, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler provided a truly unique experience. Prospective buyers had to start by choosing between the classic two-door and the more practical four-door models. They could also opt for a variety of powertrains: turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or a plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler’s design remained true to its rugged roots, providing unmatched versatility.

The 2022 Wrangler came in four primary trims: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions offering varied configurations like fabric soft tops, black hardtops, body-color hardtops, and the Sky One-Touch Power-Top. Our focus was on the new High Tide special edition, based on the four-door Sport S trim and enhanced with LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, Gorilla Glass windshield, sand-and-slush floor mats, and unique hood decals. The Xtreme Recon Package set it apart even further, featuring a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 35-inch tires, and reinforced off-road components.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine choices: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder making 177 horsepower but a more robust 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or 4WD. While the 2.4-liter engine sometimes struggled and felt harsh under heavy acceleration, the turbocharged 1.3-liter was more refined due to its added torque. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, and its suspension managed rough road surfaces well. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road setup, was particularly notable for its off-road capabilities, featuring a terrain management system with various drive modes.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine featuring eTorque mild-hybrid electrification. This powertrain delivered 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission, a $4,000 option, paired with the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system, proved advantageous in poor weather conditions. The Wrangler's eTorque system aimed to enhance fuel economy, but real-world figures lagged behind expectations, averaging 16.8 mpg over a week of driving.

The Wrangler’s driving experience was unique, often necessitating frequent gas station stops. The ride could be loud with vague steering, touchy brakes, and an overall rough feel. This off-road vehicle excelled in delivering an immersive driving experience, connecting drivers with their surroundings through open-top and open-door configurations.

The 2021 Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in place, positioning it above average in the subcompact SUV segment. Its boxy design afforded ample headroom in both rows, and though rear seat legroom lagged behind that in the front, it remained comfortable for adults. The interior was filled with effective storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays.

In comparison, the 2022 Wrangler’s raised suspension made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter passengers. Inside, the Wrangler offered a manually adjustable driver’s seat and durable cloth upholstery. The driving position was close to the steering wheel, which could take some getting used to. Visibility was mixed; the massive 35-inch spare tire blocked part of the rear view, though the reversing camera and additional safety features helped. The Wrangler Unlimited boasted 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 72.4 cubic feet with the seat folded, accommodating larger loads than the Renegade.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen, upgradeable to an 8.4-inch screen on some trims. Both screens operated the user-friendly Uconnect infotainment system, which was intuitive, with easy-to-read graphics and a helpful dock at the screen's bottom. Both screens also supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2022 Wrangler, particularly the High Tide model based on the Sport S trim, was equipped with a basic 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While an 8.4-inch Uconnect system and Alpine premium sound system were optional, the fundamental tech provided was sufficient. Additional features like remote engine starting, a passive keyless entry system, and single-zone automatic climate control with an advanced air filtration system were included. The Cold Weather Group also added heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

For the 2021 Renegade, Jeep standardized several previously optional safety features, such as automatic emergency braking (excluding Trailhawk), forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. While adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors remained options, the Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2022 Wrangler High Tide included the Safety Group and the Advanced Safety Group. The Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors, beneficial for the Wrangler’s tall structure and limited rear visibility. The Advanced Safety Group featured adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Despite these features, the Wrangler received poor crash-test ratings, including a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and marginal ratings from the IIHS due to its tendency to roll over in specific tests.