2020 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2020 Jeep Compass was a handsome SUV, reflecting the refined side of the Jeep brand, much like the Grand Cherokee. It came in four core trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with various packages and special edition trim upgrades available. Prices started at $22,280 for a Compass Sport with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, while a fully loaded Compass Limited with all-wheel drive and numerous options could reach $39,755. Despite its upscale features, the Compass had some cost-cutting measures that detracted from its overall appeal.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, relied heavily on styling details to differentiate its trim levels, giving each a unique identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. The Traverse's restrained styling emphasized the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country model. The interior featured a Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof and materials that were fairly good, though not quite worthy of the car's roughly $50,000 MSRP.

The 2020 Jeep Compass was powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the Tigershark, producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Despite these figures, the engine was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and an average fuel economy of 23.1 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating of 25 mpg. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly and resisted downshifts, while the suspension allowed too much vertical motion and impact harshness. However, the Compass excelled in off-road capability, especially in Trailhawk trim with added ground clearance and an Active Drive Low AWD system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a new-for-2020 Luxury Seat Group, adding premium leather, ventilated front seats, and a power-adjustable front passenger seat. The back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. Cargo space was 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. However, storage room inside the cabin was scant, and the cupholders were awkwardly positioned.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse provided seating for seven or eight, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being above average. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate and a power 60/40 split-folding third row were available on higher trims. However, interior storage options were limited.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured an excellent Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4G LTE WiFi. The system was intuitive and easy to use, though some features were embedded in menus that could have been more accessible. The voice recognition system worked well, and the test vehicle included a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse's infotainment system was user-friendly, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a range of safety features, 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 Compass earned Good ratings in most IIHS crash tests but had mixed ratings from NHTSA.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. However, it had less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist being optional extras.