2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler was instantly recognizable with its classic design cues—circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. This iconic appearance was further emphasized by its ability to fold down the windshield and remove doors, giving it an unmistakably industrial look. The vehicle's rugged persona was completed with the removable top, making it appear more like a “recreational utility vehicle” than a commuter car. Inside, Jeep worked hard to keep the cabin fresh while preserving its retro look with circular climate vents and gauges. Despite ergonomic shortcomings, the interior exuded a brutish utility with a touch of style.

Available in trims like the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, each level had its unique attributes. The basic Sport trim came with a 5-inch touchscreen, USB port, and manual windows and locks. The Sport S added conveniences such as power windows, air conditioning, and remote keyless entry. The Sahara trim was more upscale, featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, body-color fender flares, and larger brakes, including options for leather seating and a hardtop with an interior headliner to reduce road noise. The Rubicon trim offered a rugged, off-road-ready look with a power-dome hood, mud-terrain tires, and an elevated ride height, coupled with numerous mechanical upgrades for enhanced off-road performance.

In comparison, the 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out from the crowd with its bold design. It featured wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. From the side, a character line accentuated its profile, adding to its distinctive look. The taillights, reminiscent of a Lexus model, complemented the overall appearance. The Highlander looked longer and lower than its previous generation without sacrificing size, making it both stylish and practical.

The introduction of the XSE trim added a sportier look with restyled front-end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a more aggressive stance. The Limited trim level, which was just below the Platinum trim, exuded luxury with chrome roof rails and accents. Inside, the Highlander Limited trim featured a near-flawless fit and finish, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim, enhanced by wood details that looked fabulous despite not being real. The interior design leaned towards luxury and comfort, making it ideal for family-focused buyers.

Under the hood, the 2020 Jeep Wrangler offered a base 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. An 8-speed automatic was also available with the V6 and came standard with other engine options. A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine generated 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The new 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine delivered 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, making highway speeds and overtaking effortless. The diesel's high torque made it superior at lower speeds and off-road conditions.

However, driving the Wrangler on highways presented complications, such as high road noise, upright seating, unique blind spots, and off-road tires causing it to wander. The Wrangler's ride overall was rough compared to car-based SUVs like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, but it excelled off-road with features such as locking front and rear differentials, and a disconnecting front sway bar.

The diesel-powered Wrangler returned fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, which was an improvement over the 4-cylinder turbo variant. Though diesel power had limitations, including higher fuel costs and availability, it provided better fuel efficiency for those needing serious off-road capability.

On the other hand, the 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. This powertrain provided smooth and predictable performance, making it suitable for everyday driving without the need for high performance.

The Highlander's competitors, such as the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, offered similar horsepower and torque levels, while the Honda Pilot offered more horsepower but less torque. The Mazda CX-9 provided higher torque with premium fuel, and the Ford Explorer ST surpassed the Highlander in performance but at a higher price.

The XSE trim of the Highlander added suspension enhancements for a sportier driving feel without compromising the inherently comfortable and family-friendly ride. This trim included higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering adjustments, and a rear stabilizer bar, making it a more exciting option for those seeking a blend of practicality and some driving fun.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door variant, provided the traditional Wrangler experience with more practicality. Removing doors and folding down the windshield was made easy with a provided tool kit. The most popular feature was the removable roof, available in several configurations including soft, hard, and the new Sky One-Touch roof, which could be retracted with the push of a button.

Despite its rugged capabilities, the Wrangler Unlimited offered about 72 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat, which was less than other SUVs like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. This compromise in cargo space and comfort was accepted for its unparalleled off-road ability.

For the 2021 Toyota Highlander, interior space and convenience were crucial. Shelves ahead of the front seats offered storage space for large cell phones, with convenient pass-throughs for charging cords. Higher trims included features like a wireless charging pad. Second-row passengers enjoyed adjustable legroom, although accommodating adults in the third row required compromises.

The Highlander's cargo space was practical, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. Though minivans like the Honda Odyssey offered more cargo space, the Highlander's capacity was adequate for most needs.

The 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, along with an optional Technology package on the Sport S, included a 7-inch touchscreen with Uconnect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An 8.4-inch Uconnect system, available in higher trims, added features like navigation, HD radio, real-time updates, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an Alpine premium audio system.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on trims below the Limited, with an optional 12.3-inch screen available on higher trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims. The 12.3-inch screen impressed with its display quality but limited certain apps to smaller portions of the screen. The JBL audio system provided decent sound quality, but its added expense raised questions about its value.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler included standard safety equipment like airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera located on the spare tire hub. Optional safety packages were highly recommended, such as the $895 base package with rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection, and the $795 Advanced Safety Group with adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with TSS 2.5+, which included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The vehicle earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.