2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2021 Jeep Renegade was a compact SUV that drew inspiration from the iconic Wrangler, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. It shared its underpinnings with the Jeep Compass but maintained a distinct identity with its rugged design. The 2021 model carried over the subtle refresh from 2019, making some previously optional features standard. Inside, the Renegade offered a modern and functional cabin with an upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, and a variety of trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. Each trim level provided unique features, from the adventure-ready Upland with beefed-up skid plates to the luxury-focused Limited with leather upholstery and heated seats.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold reinterpretation of its design, with a grille that spanned the entire width of the front end, dividing opinions among shoppers. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim level, with body-colored vertical strakes at each edge. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile featured unique faceted and angular fender sculpting, while the rear view adopted a different style with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on the buttons was difficult to read. The seats were covered in synthetic leather and suede, with excellent material quality throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine 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). While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged engine provided added motivation with its extra torque. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with a composed suspension over rough surfaces, though the Trailhawk's off-road setup was less refined. The Renegade's short wheelbase made it maneuverable in tight spaces, and its terrain management system offered various drive modes for different conditions.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid version added electric motors, increasing output to 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid delivered a smooth and quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim offered off-road capabilities, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, with a soft brake pedal effort that required some adjustment.

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 great legroom in the front seats. The Renegade featured helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for added space.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation in the Hybrid SX Prestige trim. The Telluride provided 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, increasing to 48.7 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded. All trims featured buttons to remotely fold the second-row seatbacks flat, offering up to 89.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, with the Hybrid models slightly less.

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

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with dual wireless phone chargers. The system was easy to use, though there were occasional delays and hard taps required. The Telluride offered a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system on higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. The Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor had operational issues, but the highway driving assist was particularly helpful.