Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys ’41 Special Edition stood out even in a region filled with Wranglers, thanks to its unique design elements like the unusual colour, terrific wheel design, and tan fabric top. While the overall look might have felt a bit like World War II cosplay, the wheels were a standout feature that Jeep could offer as an accessory upgrade. The Willys ’41 could be equipped with either a standard tan soft top or an optional body-colour hardtop, with the latter recommended for those not regularly driving in dry climates. Inside, the Heritage Tan cloth seats matched the soft top, paired with an Olive Drab cloth dashboard insert and an exclusive ’41 shifter knob. Despite improvements in the infotainment system, the interior remained raw and unrefined, which is typical for a Wrangler, emphasizing durability over luxury.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, pursued a conservative and familiar design path, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This resulted in a vehicle that looked like a larger RAV4 with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While the glossy hard plastic and unlined storage surfaces explained the impressive value, the controls were logically laid out with matte black surfaces and white iconography. The climate system was simple and user-friendly, but the infotainment interface had its quirks, such as a tiny volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, providing an estimated 35 kilometres of electric-only driving range. The powertrain produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in Hybrid mode, offering a significant boost over the gas-only turbo four and the available 3.6-litre V6 engine. The Wrangler 4xe could be recharged in 12 hours using a standard household outlet or in 2.5 hours with a Level 2 home charging station. Despite its impressive off-road capabilities, the Wrangler 4xe's on-road performance was hindered by a noisy interior, rudimentary ride, modest handling, and vague steering.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max, with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, delivered 362 net horsepower. This powertrain allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate quickly, with the traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel economy, rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined, it offered a towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a level route and 10.1 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. The Grand Highlander provided a soft, isolating ride, though handling was secure only up to a modest point.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe accommodated four adults comfortably, with the option to squeeze a fifth person into the back seat. The interior featured manual front seat adjusters and cloth upholstery, with premium options available on higher trims. Storage space was limited, requiring creative solutions for stowing items. The soft top allowed for quick and easy access to open-air driving, but loading cargo was more challenging compared to the hard top. The Wrangler 4xe offered 784 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,908 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating in all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum-trim test vehicle featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, offering a smart and upscale appearance. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row. The Grand Highlander offered 586 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 1,640 litres with the third-row seats folded, and up to 2,761 litres with the second row folded.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services. However, navigation was not available on the Willys ’41, requiring reliance on Apple CarPlay. The optional nine-speaker Alpine sound system effectively mitigated ambient noise, with speakers in the overhead sound bar.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and access to various connected services. The system was easy to use, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The Platinum test car included a colour head-up display, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered limited safety technologies, with forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control as standard. The optional Active Safety Group included additional features like blind-spot monitoring, but required purchasing the Convenience Group. The Wrangler 4xe received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and had unimpressive scores from the IIHS.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies. While the Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, it fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to “Acceptable” ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.