2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe maintained the classic Wrangler aesthetic, with its rugged exterior features like 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 leather and cloth seating options across its three grades, with the top-tier Unlimited Rubicon featuring optional leather seats with the Rubicon logo. However, the lack of standard heated seats in Canada was surprising, and ventilated seats were not available. The interior was a blend of Dark Saddle brown leather, black leather inserts, and a lot of black plastic, staying true to the Wrangler's utilitarian roots.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus presented an attractive and balanced design, with enough detailing to give it character without being overly flashy. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence added a touch of elegance. The interior was luxurious, featuring light grey premium leather upholstery, with other colour options available. Despite its decadent feel, some elements like the centre console design and chrome-plated plastic pieces appeared less premium. The Nautilus Reserve, the only model available in Canada, started at an MSRP of $59,800, excluding destination charges. The test vehicle boasted optional Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, which were ideal for long drives.

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. The Wrangler 4xe delivered a burst of energy from a stop, though it wasn't the quietest or best-handling vehicle for everyday driving.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 engine offered 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behaviour, steering effort, and suspension. The SUV had a 68-litre fuel tank, with the V6 engine rated at 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Over a 1,400-kilometre trip, it averaged 9.4 L/100 km. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, with a quiet and comfortable ride, enhanced by a 19-speaker Revel audio system. In the mountains, the twin-turbo V6 and adaptive suspension provided impressive performance, though the steering lacked engagement.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe was designed to accommodate its battery pack under the rear seats, minimizing space loss for second-row occupants. Headroom for the Sahara grades was 1,023 mm, with legroom slightly reduced to 970 mm. The Rubicon's soft-top roof offered more headroom at 1,082 mm. Cargo capacity was 784 litres with the second-row seats upright and 1,908 litres with them folded, slightly less than other Wrangler models. The Wrangler's width of 1,875 mm made it manageable in urban settings. An optional power-retracting roof was available, enhancing the open-air experience. However, some quirks, like the centre stack power window controls, remained.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats offered exceptional comfort. Rear passengers had heated outboard seats and air conditioning vents, though legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. Storage space was adequate, with a hands-free power liftgate revealing 1,055 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,948 litres with the back seat folded.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured the Uconnect 4C system with navigation on an 8.4-inch touchscreen, offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system was intuitive, with hard buttons and dials for HVAC and audio controls. The Wrangler included off-road pages and Hybrid Electric Pages for efficiency settings. The instrument cluster had a traditional layout with a 7-inch colour information display. There were four USB ports, but no wireless phone charging pad.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. It offered over-the-air updates, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The test vehicle included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system was user-friendly, with physical stereo and climate controls. Phone as a Key technology allowed smartphone use as a digital key.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe shared its structure with other Wranglers, receiving a Good rating in most IIHS crashworthiness tests. However, the driver’s side small overlap front test was rated Marginal due to a tip-over, and rear passenger head protection was also Marginal. LED headlights were rated Marginal to Poor. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler four stars 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 Advanced Safety Group.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Black Label added adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, and a surround-view camera system. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. The driving assistance systems were effective and user-friendly.