2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid marked a return to a more rugged and adventurous design, reminiscent of Toyota's classic trucks. The front featured a bold, trapezoidal grille and flexing surfaces, while the fenders and wheel wells had hard creases. The side glass was large, echoing the original RAV4's design. The XSE trim, exclusive to the Hybrid, boasted glossy black trim on the roof, A-pillars, mirrors, fender flares, and 18-inch wheels, giving it a sporty and upscale appearance. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid featured high-quality materials, including padded dash and door trim with blue stitching, silver trim around the center stack, and snug front seats with blue-striped cloth inserts.

In contrast, the 2020 Jeep Compass aimed to blend ruggedness with refinement, drawing inspiration from the Grand Cherokee. It came in four core trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with various packages and special editions available. The Compass Limited AWD test vehicle was loaded with options, including a power panoramic sunroof, navigation system, premium sound system, and a spare tire, totaling $39,755. Despite its premium features, the Compass had some cost-cutting measures, such as low-rent glossy plastic pieces and flimsy-feeling parts, which detracted from its overall appeal.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a 1.6-kilowatt battery, producing 219 horsepower. This setup provided a surge of torque and better handling compared to the gasoline counterpart. The RAV4 Hybrid's nickel-metal hydride batteries were reliable and maintained a consistent state of charge, especially in cold weather. The vehicle offered a smooth and quiet driving experience, with stable handling and connected steering. The XSE trim featured sport-tuned dampers and springs, enhancing ride quality. The RAV4 Hybrid achieved impressive fuel efficiency, averaging 36 mpg over 400 miles, with an EPA rating of 41 mpg city, 38 highway, and 40 combined.

The 2020 Jeep Compass, powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (Tigershark), produced 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. However, it was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and poor passing power. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly and resisted downshifts. The test vehicle averaged 23.1 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating of 25 mpg combined. The Compass's suspension controlled body roll but allowed too much vertical motion and impact harshness. The steering was heavy and vague, and the brake pedal was sensitive. Off-road, the Compass Trailhawk trim offered decent capability, but the Limited trim's simpler AWD system was less impressive.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered excellent sightlines and generous cargo space, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 70 cubic feet with the seats folded. The second-row legroom was ample, and the air conditioning was effective even on hot days. The large knobs and switches improved ergonomics, though the controls for windows, locks, and mirrors were not illuminated at night. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear menus and customizable shortcuts, but the maps looked dated. Apple CarPlay was standard, but Android Auto was not. The JBL stereo was adequate, and the lane-keep assist was not designed for semi-automated operation.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured the Luxury Seat Group, adding premium leather, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a memory function for the driver. The back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer housing took up some space. Interior storage was limited, and the cupholders were awkwardly positioned.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's infotainment system was better than Lexus models, with a user-friendly touchscreen interface. The menus were clear, and the screen accepted swiping and pinching gestures. However, the maps looked dated, and Toyota's Entune 3.0 required a smartphone connection for apps. Apple CarPlay was standard, but Android Auto was not. The JBL stereo was only adequate. Safety Connect offered standard stolen-vehicle alerts, automatic crash notifications, and SOS assistance for three years. WiFi and Remote Connect were available with a 6-month trial.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. The system was intuitive, with appealing graphics, though some features were embedded in menus. The voice recognition system worked well for most commands, but navigation required specific prompts. The test vehicle also had a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system. Primary stereo and climate controls were separated from the display, rendered as knobs and buttons.

The 2019 RAV4 Hybrid earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with 4 stars for the driver's-side frontal crash test and rollover resistance. The IIHS rated the RAV4 (not the Hybrid) as Good in all six crash tests and Superior for its collision-avoidance system. Toyota Safety Sense was standard, including forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, traffic-sign recognition, and auto high beams. Unique safety features included a front passenger seat cushion airbag and a driver's knee airbag. Rear emergency braking was optional.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered optional driving assistance and collision avoidance technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. The adaptive cruise control overreacted to traffic changes, and the lane-keeping assist was occasionally too insistent. The IIHS rated the Compass as Good in all tests except for headlight performance. The NHTSA gave the Compass a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings.