2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was instantly recognizable on the road with its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. Its industrial look was accentuated by exposed hinges and bolts, and the removable top and doors added to its rugged persona. Inside, the Wrangler's cabin maintained a retro look with circular climate vents and gauges, emphasizing utility over luxury. The various trims, from the basic Sport to the off-road king Rubicon, offered a range of features, from manual windows to advanced infotainment systems and heated seats.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester, despite a redesign in 2019, retained a familiar look with its boxy, upright shape. The styling was clean and unpretentious, appealing to SUV shoppers who preferred functionality over flash. The Forester Sport added some flair with orange striping and black alloy wheels. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense mix of materials promised durability, and the Sport trim added a splash of color. The interior was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom, and the cargo space was generous, making it practical for both daily commutes and outdoor adventures.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine was also available, delivering 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The new 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine, with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, provided impressive low-speed performance and better fuel economy, achieving 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. However, the Wrangler's on-road experience was noisy and rough, with unique blind spots and a tendency to wander on the highway. Off-road, the Wrangler excelled, navigating rocks and ruts with ease, thanks to its locking differentials and disconnecting sway bar.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, but power felt merely adequate, especially when merging onto highways. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll and bounce on uneven pavement. Standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode enhanced its capability on different surfaces, and the Forester's 8.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle mud and dirt better than many competitors.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was available in two-door and four-door Unlimited versions. The four-door model, which was more popular, offered the ability to remove the doors and fold down the windshield. The Wrangler's most notable feature was its droppable and removable roof, available in soft and hardtop versions. The Sky One-Touch roof provided a retractable cloth option for convenience. With the rear bench lowered, the Wrangler Unlimited offered about 72 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some less-capable SUVs but sufficient for its rugged purpose.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. This design also allowed for excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was not offered.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's Sport and Sport S trims came with a basic 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara trims upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available as an option on the Sport S. The Sahara and Rubicon could also be equipped with an 8.4-inch Uconnect system, adding navigation, HD Radio, real-time traffic and weather updates, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an Alpine premium audio system.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. The Sport trim added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while the Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. Additional displays in the dashboard and instrument cluster provided secondary information, though the setup felt overly complex.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler came with standard safety features like airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera. Optional safety packages included rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, and full-speed forward-collision warning. These features were particularly helpful given the Wrangler's awkward sightlines.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Subaru's EyeSight suite, with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also offered a driver-monitoring system, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. EyeSight's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs felt jerky.