2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar design with subtle updates to modernize its appearance. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert across the taillights. The Touring trim introduced a new 19-inch wheel design, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The interior boasted perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, ambient lighting, and tri-colour floor mats, elevating the minivan's luxury feel. The Odyssey's design changes aimed to reduce brightwork, giving it a more refined look.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler offered a rugged and adventurous aesthetic, with options for both two-door and four-door body styles. Buyers could choose from various powertrains, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions available. The High Tide model, based on the Sport S trim, featured LED exterior lighting, a body-colour hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, and a Gorilla Glass windshield. The Wrangler's design emphasized off-road capability and customization, appealing to adventure enthusiasts.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This combination provided smooth and effortless power delivery, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Eco, and Snow. The Odyssey's fuel efficiency was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and it averaged 10.8 L/100 km during testing. While the Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, it featured an electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response. The minivan's ride and handling were well-balanced, offering a pleasurable driving experience, though the brakes showed signs of fade under heavy use.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It was equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. The Wrangler's fuel consumption was rated at 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, but it averaged 14.0 L/100 km during testing. The Wrangler's driving experience was unique, with a rough-and-tumble feel, loud cabin noise, and touchy brakes. Despite its quirks, the Wrangler offered an immersive and adventurous driving experience, appealing to those seeking off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a spacious and well-organized interior with legible instrumentation and logical controls. It featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in higher trims. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with seats removed. However, removing the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler's interior was rugged and functional, with comfortable seats and durable cloth upholstery. The driving position was close to the steering wheel and dashboard, requiring some acclimation. Visibility was mixed, with challenges at intersections and rear visibility partially blocked by the spare tire. Rear-seat passengers faced entry and exit difficulties but found agreeable accommodations once inside. Cargo space was 898 litres behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,050 litres with the rear seat folded. The Wrangler's interior emphasized practicality and durability, catering to off-road enthusiasts.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and satellite radio. Higher trims added navigation, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Touring trim offered an 11-speaker premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray player, and streaming apps.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler's infotainment system was relatively basic, with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional Uconnect 8.4 system offered upgrades like satellite radio, connected services, and a premium audio system. The Wrangler included remote engine starting, satellite radio, and single-zone automatic climate control. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, enhancing comfort during open-air driving.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, as standard. It included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rollover resistance rating. The Touring trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler offered optional safety features through the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group. These included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning. However, the Wrangler's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and Marginal ratings from the IIHS. Safety features were optional rather than standard, and the Wrangler's design required extra caution while driving.