2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced as part of a mid-cycle refresh, closely resembled its gasoline counterpart in terms of dimensions and design. Measuring 182.1 inches in length, 73.0 inches in width, and 66.5 inches in height, it featured the same 19-inch alloy wheels and interior layout, including the dash and multi-function center console. The hybrid model was distinguishable by its blue-outlined Honda emblems, "Hybrid" badging, and a rear lower bumper with a hidden exhaust. Inside, the gear shifter was replaced with a push-button selector, and paddle shifters were repurposed to adjust brake regeneration.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, characterized by circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could feature painted or exposed fenders, soft or hard tops, and other unique styling touches. The Wrangler's interior was functional but less comfortable than car-based SUVs, with upright seating, limited legroom, and manual seat adjustments. The Wrangler Unlimited offered various trims, including the bare-bones Sport, the more comfortable Sport S, the street-oriented Sahara, and the off-road-ready Rubicon.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, an electric generator/starter motor, and a propulsion motor, delivering a total of 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system provided all-wheel drive and was tuned with four fixed-ratio gear sets and a lock-up clutch. The CR-V Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 40 mpg city, 35 highway, and 38 combined, significantly better than the gasoline model's 27/32/29 mpg. During a test drive in Tucson, Arizona, the CR-V Hybrid Touring AWD achieved nearly 41 mpg in city driving. The hybrid system's EV mode allowed for electric-only operation for up to a mile under specific conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a range of powertrains, including a standard 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler's 4WD systems included Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the Rubicon featuring front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar. The Rubicon 392, with a 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, offered exceptional off-road performance and a thrilling driving experience.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, while maintaining the same exterior dimensions as its gasoline counterpart, sacrificed some cargo capacity to accommodate the battery pack. It offered 33.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 68.7 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Despite this reduction, the CR-V Hybrid still provided more cargo volume than the Ford Escape Hybrid. The CR-V Hybrid also featured a low cargo floor for easy loading and unloading and offered more passenger space than its direct competitors, with superior front headroom and rear legroom. The configurable center console bin added to its practicality, although the armrest's adjustability was somewhat problematic.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, a tan soft top, and the Freedom top, a three-piece hardtop with removable panels. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that provided a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets, and featured drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, comparable to smaller crossovers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with Bluetooth connectivity, Pandora compatibility, and a single 1.0-amp USB connector. Higher trims, starting with the EX, included a 7-inch touchscreen display, Honda Link, smartphone integration, SiriusXM and HD radio, a 180-watt stereo, and additional USB ports. The top-of-the-line Touring trim offered navigation, wireless device charging, and a 330-watt premium audio system. However, the infotainment system's touchscreen lacked haptic feedback, and navigating through the settings was cumbersome, requiring multiple steps to disable the automatic beep sound and access various menus.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport featured a basic 5-inch screen for radio and vehicle settings, while the Sport S and higher trims offered a 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The sharp 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, providing crisp graphics and an intuitive layout. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, offering a clear view of the trail ahead. The camera also had its own washer-sprayer, useful for off-roading in muddy or dusty conditions.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a 5-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies, including automatic braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic high beams, and a multi-angle rearview camera. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler came standard with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. The Wrangler's safety features were basic, especially in the base configuration, and did not match the advanced safety technologies found in other vehicles.