2022 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe

The 2022 Kia Sportage featured a tiger-nose grille that, while successful on other Kia models, seemed out of place on the Sportage. The grille, positioned under oversized headlights and above a chrome trim, resembled a fake mustache, detracting from the SUV's overall appearance. Despite this, Kia nailed other design elements, such as the four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and the symmetrical rear fascia. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels added to its stylish and planted stance.

Inside, the Sportage boasted a Germanic design with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and plain white markings on a black background. The SX Turbo trim included metal pedal covers and offered a choice of black, gray, and beige interiors, enhancing its upscale feel. The interior was user-friendly, with buttons and knobs for easy adjustments, and the transmission shifter's solid operation added a sense of quality.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe made its presence known through both its appearance and sound. Aside from a "4xe" badge and sky blue accents, it looked like a regular Wrangler, with the power port at the windshield base being the only notable difference. When running on battery power alone, the Wrangler 4xe was silent except for its pedestrian notification system, which drew attention as it moved quietly through Yosemite National Park.

Our Firecracker Red test vehicle, equipped with Rubicon trim and over $13,000 in options, had a price tag of $66,690. The Wrangler 4xe was also available in Sahara and High Altitude trims, with the Sahara starting at under $50,000 before incentives. Inside, it was similar to other four-door Wranglers, with blue seat stitching, charging indicator lights, and PHEV-specific gauges. The interior featured more soft-touch materials than expected, including leather seats and padded door panels. The layout was functional, with controls for the transmission, emergency brake, and transfer case lever, as well as differential controls and auxiliary switches. The Wrangler 4xe's interior retained its rugged simplicity while offering better outfitting than previous models.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, which was competitive but unremarkable. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided ample power, especially beneficial for those living at higher elevations.

Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with the option of Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system, which included a locking center differential. The SX Turbo's acceleration was quick, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, giving it a lively personality, especially in Sport mode. The Sportage's suspension, featuring a MacPherson strut front and independent multi-link rear, provided a smooth and compliant ride, similar to the larger Kia Telluride. The SX Turbo also had upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels. While the Sportage felt athletic and sporty, it wasn't as refined as competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's powertrain was based on a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It included two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack under the back seat. All trims featured skid plates, low range, and Dana 44 axles, with the Rubicon getting an upgraded 4WD system with electronic lockers.

The battery provided an estimated 21 miles of electric driving with a 49 MPGe combined efficiency rating. As a hybrid, it achieved 20 mpg combined, offering a total range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe had three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save. Hybrid mode maximized power or efficiency, providing 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach 60 mph in six seconds. Electric mode ran solely on battery power, while e-Save preserved battery power for specific situations.

During a weekend trip to Yosemite, the Wrangler 4xe demonstrated its capabilities. It traveled 20 miles on electric power before switching to the gas engine. On the return trip, it averaged 20.8 mpg. The Wrangler's regenerative braking helped recharge the battery during downhill driving. Despite its noisy freeway ride and susceptibility to cross-winds, the Wrangler 4xe covered 757 miles, averaging 19.1 mpg with 120.9 miles on electricity.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though smaller in the compact crossover segment, offered a roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided comfort with perforated leather upholstery, ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger. Heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard.

Rear seat space was generous, with ample legroom and comfort, along with air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. However, the wide top frame of the back doors required caution when opening. Interior storage was plentiful, but cargo space was limited, with 60.1 cubic feet with the seats folded and 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The Sportage's smart liftgate technology allowed hands-free access, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe required some effort to climb into due to high door sills and narrow rear openings. Shorter passengers used grab handles to hoist themselves in. Once inside, the Wrangler offered a classic driving position with a high seat and clear view over the hood. Manual front seat height adjusters helped find the best position, though seats tended to lower over time. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were available with the Cold Weather Group.

The center console's storage was limited due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat space was adequate if passengers sat upright, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, a power outlet, and storage straps. Loading cargo was challenging due to the swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear window. Cargo volume was 27.7 cubic feet, with a storage bin under the load floor for the charging cord. Folding the back seat increased volume to 72.4 cubic feet.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system lacked advanced features like a WiFi hotspot and wireless smartphone mirroring.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon's technology focused on its plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4WD system. It featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian services. A WiFi connection was available, and the Alpine sound system could overcome freeway noise. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed its age in load time, responsiveness, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the dashboard's charging indicator lights showed charging status at a glance.

The 2022 Kia Sportage included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available on higher trims. The SX Turbo also had adaptive cruise control. The Sportage received high safety ratings, with the SX Turbo earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group (blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors) and Advanced Safety Group (adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights). The blind-spot warning system was particularly useful due to narrow side mirrors. The Wrangler's LED headlights were effective but rated Marginal by the IIHS. The Wrangler received mixed safety ratings, with a Marginal rating for small-overlap frontal-impact protection and a four-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA.