Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Jeep Wrangler 4xe

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 were the blue decals, 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 with black leather inserts and contrast stitching, alongside a lot of black plastic. The interior quality varied across the three available grades, with leather-faced seats and power-adjustable driver’s seats in the Unlimited Sahara and Unlimited Sahara High Altitude, while the Unlimited Rubicon came with standard unheated cloth seats. Heated seats were an optional add-on, which was surprising given the Canadian climate.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling cues from the Tacoma pickup, featuring a trapezoidal grille and upright fascia that gave it a rugged look. However, the design introduced some softness with a character line over the rear wheel arch, which added unnecessary visual weight. The rear echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall design felt disjointed compared to more cohesive competitors. Inside, the Highlander Hybrid had an asymmetrical dash with a metallic styling element that provided storage space. The Bronze Edition featured 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric seat upholstery with a triangle motif, which was prone to dirt and stains. The Softex synthetic leather substitute was less convincing compared to alternatives, and genuine leather was only available in the top trims. The rear seating area had more hard plastics, typical for family SUVs, but the third row was less comfortable with unyielding armrests.

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 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered various four-wheel drive settings, including a Rock-trac transfer case with a 4.0:1 ratio on the Rubicon. The Wrangler 4xe had a 35-kilometre electric-only range and allowed drivers to choose between hybrid, electric, and e-save modes. The Max Regen button enhanced regenerative braking, making one-pedal driving intuitive. While the electric operation was quiet, the Wrangler 4xe was not the quietest or best-handling vehicle for everyday driving, but it excelled in off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission and standard all-wheel drive, with an electric motor powering the rear axle. The Highlander Hybrid accelerated to 100 km/h in just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs. The electric motors provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as needed. The CVT resulted in an uninspired drone during acceleration, especially on hills. The ride quality was soft, with the suspension smoothing over bumps, and the cabin remained mostly free of wind and road noise on the highway.

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 compromised at 970 mm. The soft-top roof on the Rubicon provided more headroom at 1,082 mm. Cargo space was slightly reduced compared to other Wrangler models, 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 convenient feature, allowing drivers to open the roof on the fly.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with plenty of adjustments, though the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned. Storage options included a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats were spacious, with ample head- and legroom, and could slide and recline for versatility. The third row was less accommodating, with limited headroom and legroom, making it suitable for occasional use by children. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seatbacks folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured the Uconnect 4C system with navigation on an 8.4-inch touchscreen, offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The system was intuitive, with hard buttons and dials for critical functions. The Wrangler included off-road pages and Hybrid Electric Pages for efficiency settings. The instrument cluster had a traditional tachometer and a gauge for electric power usage, with a 7-inch colour information display. There were four USB ports, but no wireless phone charging pad, which was unexpected for a vehicle in this price range.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch option available on the top trim. The system was responsive, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging available on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio system were standard on the top trims.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe shared its structure with other Wranglers, receiving a Good rating in most IIHS crashworthiness tests, but a Marginal rating for the driver’s side small overlap front test. The NHTSA rated the Wrangler four stars overall for front crash tests and three stars for rollover resistance. Safety features included blind spot monitoring and rear park assist on the Unlimited Sahara High Altitude, with additional features available in optional packages.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid achieved a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. A surround view camera system and head-up display were available on the top trim. The safety systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist could use some fine-tuning.