2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe maintained the classic Wrangler aesthetic, with its rugged exterior features such as the exterior-mounted spare tire, removable doors, rounded headlights, and the iconic seven-slot grille. The only noticeable differences indicating its plug-in hybrid nature were the blue decals, specific badging, and the charger port on the driver’s side front quarter panel. Inside, the Wrangler 4xe offered a mix of Dark Saddle brown leather seats and black leather inserts with contrast stitching, complemented by a dramatic front passenger grab handle. However, the interior was dominated by black plastic, a reminder of its utilitarian roots.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood, reminiscent of the original Defender and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro elements, the design was thoroughly modern, with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The Defender was larger than its predecessors, offering more interior space and better ergonomics. The interior design emphasized ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, while still incorporating luxury elements like leather and suede upholstery, making it both practical and stylish.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total system output of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This setup was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Wrangler 4xe was trail-rated, featuring a Selec-trac two-speed transfer case for the Sahara grades and a Rock-trac transfer case for the Rubicon, along with solid front and rear axles, locking differentials, and a fully articulating suspension. It offered up to 27.4 cm of ground clearance and could ford up to 76 cm of water. The plug-in hybrid drivetrain provided an electric-only range of 35 kilometres, with hybrid, electric, and e-save modes available for optimal efficiency.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower, a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 horsepower, and a new 5.0-litre V8 engine producing 518 horsepower. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 engine could propel the Defender 90 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 240 km/h. The Defender was comfortable on-road, with a suspension that absorbed bumps effectively and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. Off-road, it boasted impressive capabilities, including a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 29 cm of ground clearance with the optional air suspension.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe was designed to accommodate a battery pack under the rear seats, resulting in minimal loss of second-row space. Headroom for the Sahara grades was 1,023 mm, while legroom was slightly reduced to 970 mm. The Rubicon's soft-top roof provided more than 2 cm of additional headroom. Cargo capacity was slightly compromised, with 784 litres available with the second-row seats upright and 1,908 litres with them folded. The Wrangler's width of 1,875 mm made it manageable in urban settings, and a home charging cable was included. The optional power-retracting roof was a notable feature, allowing for easy operation at speeds up to 96 km/h.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, with the Defender 90 providing limited cargo space due to its two-door design. The four-door Defender 110 was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, with cargo capacities ranging from 160 litres to 1,875 litres, depending on the seat arrangement. The interior emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious centre-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with navigation on an 8.4-inch touchscreen, along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system was intuitive, with hard buttons and dials for critical functions. The instrument cluster included a 7-inch colour information display, but lacked some modern tech features like a wireless phone charging pad. The Wrangler also included off-road pages and Hybrid Electric Pages for efficiency settings.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all but the base model, and an 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available. The interface was user-friendly, though the screen required a firm touch. A surround-view camera system was standard, with optional features like a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe shared its structure with other Wranglers, receiving a Good rating in most IIHS crashworthiness tests, but a Marginal rating in the driver’s side small overlap front test. The NHTSA rated it four stars overall for front crash tests and three stars for rollover resistance. Safety features included optional blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic detection, and advanced safety features in the $1,450 Advanced Safety Group.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control as an option. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.