Jeep Renegade vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019, continued to carry over its rugged design inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, offering easy access to controls. The Renegade came in various trims, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each with unique features and equipment.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, despite its high MSRP of $42,083, looked like a standard RAV4. It lacked the larger wheels found on the non-hybrid RAV4 Limited and didn't offer an Adventure trim level. However, the RAV4 Hybrid had a tough appearance, needing only bolder wheels to enhance its look. Inside, it was stylish, functional, and practical, though quality varied with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastics. A rattle from the license plate on the tailgate was noted during testing.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The turbocharged engine provided better torque and refinement, while the 2.4-liter engine was noisier under hard acceleration. The Renegade had a solid ride quality, good cornering stability, and impressive maneuverability in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road capabilities, was the only trim with Jeep’s “Trail Rated” designation.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, producing 219 horsepower. The hybrid system provided standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and several driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV. The RAV4 Hybrid weighed between 3,690 and 3,780 pounds, offering lively acceleration and an EPA-rated 40 mpg in combined driving. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) operated smoothly, and the regenerative braking system was effective. The RAV4 Hybrid had a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension, and a brake-based Active Cornering Assist system, though the all-season tires limited grip. The SUV handled well on roads and had 8.1 inches of ground clearance for light off-roading.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use. Its tall, boxy design offered ample headroom in both rows, with good front legroom and adequate rear legroom for adults. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for additional space.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats. Rear-seat passengers had decent legroom, good foot space, and reclining backrests, though the seat felt a bit low. The RAV4 Hybrid had clear instrumentation, well-placed controls, and large climate control knobs. Storage was ample, with useful shelves and a roomy 37.5 cubic-foot cargo area, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. Both screens featured the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The top-tier system included an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, and voice recognition. The RAV4 Hybrid also featured a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a rearview camera mirror.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made several safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high beams, and road-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning were standard on all but the Hybrid LE trim. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for its headlights.