2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, and the comfortable third-row seating ensured that additional passengers, like grandparents, could travel without hassle. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering the same capacity as a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded down and the second-row seats were removed. Despite the minivan's practicality, its image was less appealing to some consumers compared to the more stylish crossover SUVs. However, the Odyssey did have a sense of style, with its kinked sliding doors and dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim, which added a touch of flair to its classic minivan design.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler was known for its rugged and adventurous spirit. Buyers had to choose between the classic two-door or the more practical four-door body style, and a variety of powertrains, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline-powered V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler's design was iconic, with its removable roof and doors, allowing for an open-air driving experience. The High Tide model, based on the Wrangler Unlimited Sport S trim, featured LED exterior lighting, a body-colour hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, and a Gorilla Glass windshield upgrade. Despite its high price, the Wrangler's interior was basic, with durable cloth upholstery and plastic and rubber materials. The driving experience was unique, offering a sense of freedom and adventure, but it came with compromises in comfort and refinement.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine that produced 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls on the dashboard. While it lacked all-wheel drive and an electrified powertrain, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During a test drive, the Odyssey averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The minivan was quick when merging onto highways and responsive on twisty roads, but its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and an audible grumble. Despite this, the Odyssey remained enjoyable to drive, offering a balance of performance and practicality.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, delivering 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. The Wrangler's fuel consumption was higher, with a Natural Resources Canada estimate of 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, but it averaged 13.4 L/100 km on the evaluation route and 14.0 L/100 km over a week of driving. The Wrangler's driving experience was unique, with its loud cabin, vague steering, and touchy brakes. It offered an immersive experience, especially with the top open and doors removed, but it required frequent stops at the gas station and came with compromises in comfort and refinement.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height compared to most SUVs. Inside, the Odyssey Touring featured quality leather upholstery, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan provided ample storage space, with shelving in the front door panels and a handy floor tray. The second-row seats were comfortable, with plenty of legroom and the option to remove the centre section for more space. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, making it easier to tend to children or create a pass-through to the third-row seat. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered 929 litres of cargo space behind it, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third-row seat folded and 3,984 litres with the second-row seats removed.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit, especially with a raised suspension. The interior featured comfortable seats with durable cloth upholstery, but plastic and rubber materials dominated the cabin. The driving position was close to the steering wheel and dashboard, requiring some acclimation. Visibility was mixed, with some areas offering excellent views and others being compromised. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry and exit difficulties but found agreeable accommodations once inside. Storage was limited, with netting on the door panels and small compartments. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 898 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,050 litres with the rear seat folded.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Touring trim added on-board navigation, HondaLink connected services, and a WiFi hotspot. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display screen with media playback options, but it was considered behind the times. The Touring trim also featured an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. Overall, the Odyssey's infotainment and technology package needed a major upgrade.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler, based on the Sport S trim, featured a 7-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While it lacked the optional Uconnect infotainment system with a larger 8.4-inch touchscreen, the basic setup provided essential features. The Wrangler offered remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, and single-zone automatic climate control with a new air filtration system. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, extending the open-air driving season. Despite its basic technology, the Wrangler provided a functional and straightforward experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which encompassed adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. The Odyssey Touring added a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, adding blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. Despite these features, the Wrangler's safety ratings were lacking. The NHTSA gave it a three-star rating for rollover resistance, and the IIHS rated it Marginal in crash tests. The Wrangler's safety features were optional rather than standard, and its ratings suggested the need for extra caution when driving.