2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that could blend into any suburban setting. Compared to its predecessor, it featured a more slanted tailgate glass and pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various elements, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. Most trims, except the base L, came with projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, while the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, boasted prettier LED running lamps and new 20-inch wheels. The interior was where the Highlander truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash. The Limited trim offered a three-tone interior with rich textures and padded surfaces, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, recognizable by its circular headlights, seven-slat grille, exposed bolts, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could sport different looks, with options for painted or exposed fenders, soft tops, or hardtops. The Wrangler's interior was all about function, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and effective in-door cargo nets. The cabin also featured drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it comparable to smaller crossovers.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, requiring adjustments at highway speeds, and the suspension was soft with too much rebound. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander offered a smooth and quiet ride, ideal for long road trips. Fuel economy was impressive, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined, while the AWD model managed 20/27/23 mpg.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with either 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 also introduced a plug-in hybrid, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivering 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The 392 also boasted a beefed-up frame, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous fore/aft and reclining adjustments, and easy access to the third row. The Highlander offered exceptional ingress and egress, with wide-opening rear doors and a comfortable seat height. Three-zone climate control was standard, with upper trims featuring a 120-volt outlet, side window shades, and a heated second row. Cargo space was generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Highlander also featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for added convenience.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and effective in-door cargo nets. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured an outdated infotainment system, with low-resolution maps and screens, and a convoluted process for using connected phone apps. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. However, the Highlander came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. Upper trims featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster. The semi-automated driving system was effective, with adaptive cruise control, road sign detection, and automatic high beams. The optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers, and the Highlander offered SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and a clever off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats. This camera provided a clear view of the trail ahead and had its own washer-sprayer for muddy or dusty conditions.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander also had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Highlander a 2020 Top Safety Pick for its top ratings in all six crash tests and effective emergency braking.

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 compared to other modern vehicles.