2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Audi Q3

The 2021 Audi Q3 showcased a design that fit well within the era of "postmodern automotive styling." Its massive corporate grille paired seamlessly with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling, while primarily delivering on the latter. Inside, the cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic, with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, highlighting one of the Q3’s top features. When this interior debuted with the redesigned Q3 in 2019, it was a standout design. However, Volkswagen's newer interiors have caught up, making the Q3's cabin feel modern and refined, but not as special.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, which had remained largely unchanged over the years. Key elements like the circular headlights, seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders made it unmistakable. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. However, it always retained those core elements that made it instantly recognizable. Inside, the Wrangler 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 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, tuned to deliver 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This optional power unit was previously the standard engine, but Audi lowered the base MSRP by $2,000, making the 228-hp engine a $2,000 option. The more powerful engine provided a lively feel and decent kick off the line, with solid power for passing, especially in Sport mode. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road drive modes, though the Off-Road mode was best suited for light dirt trails.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid power, and the 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, cranking out 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The 392 also included beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes, along with a dual-mode performance exhaust.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space with the rear seats folded was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for this with its passenger space. The front seats were comfortable and offered plenty of deep cargo pockets, while the rear seats provided impressive headroom and legroom. It could seat five, but four passengers could comfortably take a road trip, provided they packed light.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple options for its tops, 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, with optional insulated panels to reduce road noise. 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 Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the wheel-wells and roll-bars made it harder to fit larger items.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, featuring logical, ergonomic menu navigation, standard Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features included wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit was also available, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen for operating the radio and vehicle settings. The 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The sharp 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, featuring crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts. The Wrangler also included radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel and a color TFT screen in the center of the instrument panel. The Rubicon 392 featured a clever off-road camera nestled between the slats of the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead, with its own washer-sprayer for muddy or dusty trails.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Buyers could also select available features such as a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist for parallel and perpendicular parking spots.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered modern driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning and lane departure warning as optional, not standard. Available features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. The Wrangler also featured a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading. However, lane-departure warning was not available.