2021 Chevrolet Trax vs 2020 Jeep Compass

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 the High Altitude upgrade for the Compass Limited with all-wheel drive was priced from $32,645. Our test vehicle, a 2020 Compass Limited with AWD and numerous options, totaled $39,755, including the destination charge.

Despite its attractive features and premium upgrades, the Compass had its drawbacks. While it offered soft-touch surfaces, premium leather, and sophisticated technology, it also had low-rent glossy plastic pieces and flimsy-feeling parts that detracted from its overall appeal. Nevertheless, compared to the original Compass, the 2020 model was a significant improvement.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax was based on the same vehicle introduced for the 2015 model year, with design updates from 2017 carrying over. The 2017 model was the first to include standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and in 2020, the infotainment system was updated. For 2021, the Premier trim level was dropped, leaving the LS and LT trims. The LS came equipped with 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, remote keyless entry, cloth upholstery, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The LT trim added features like heated, power-adjustable side mirrors, roof rails, and upgraded seats.

The LT trim also offered several styling packages and driver assistance features through the Driver Confidence Package and LT Convenience Package. Despite these updates, the Trax's design and features remained largely unchanged from previous years, making it a practical but unremarkable choice in the subcompact SUV segment.

The 2020 Jeep Compass was powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the Tigershark, producing 180 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 175 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Despite these figures, the engine was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and poor passing power. Our test vehicle averaged 23.1 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating of 25 mpg in combined driving. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly and resisted downshifts, while the automatic engine stop/start system could be deactivated to avoid swampy air conditioning on warm days.

On the road, 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 until acclimated. However, the Compass excelled in off-road conditions, especially in Trailhawk trim with added ground clearance and an Active Drive Low AWD system. Our Compass Limited test vehicle, with a simpler AWD system, handled a moderately difficult trail without issues, offering a decent off-road capability.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax featured a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission routed power to either front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. While the engine sufficed for city driving, it struggled to provide additional power for highway speeds and passing, making plenty of noise in the process.

The Trax had a firm ride that could be harsh over potholes and bumps, but its tight turning radius provided solid maneuverability in tight spaces, making it a sensible choice for city dwellers. However, rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 offered more comfortable rides and were more fun to drive. Chevrolet planned to introduce a retuned engine for the 2022 Trax, making 155 horsepower while maintaining 177 pound-feet of torque.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a new-for-2020 Luxury Seat Group, adding premium leather, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a memory function for the driver's settings. This upgrade enhanced comfort for both the driver and passengers. The back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, beating both the Jeep Renegade and Cherokee in terms of volume. However, the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer housing took up some luggage room, and the cabin had scant storage space with awkwardly positioned cupholders.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax offered respectable headroom and legroom in both rows. While the front seats were supportive, the rear seats had poor bolstering and were uncomfortable over long distances. The Trax had multiple storage trays in each door, and the low cupholder placement accommodated large water bottles without interfering with the driver's elbow. The Trax provided 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat folded flat to accommodate larger items. These cargo figures were mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment, and there was no option for a power liftgate or hands-free power liftgate.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured an excellent available Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. It also offered extra-cost SiriusXM Guardian connected services, including emergency calling, a vehicle finder, remote engine starting, and more. Our test vehicle included a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system. Uconnect was intuitive and featured appealing graphics, though some features were embedded into menus that should have been more accessible. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, but navigation required more specific prompts. Overall, Uconnect impressed for the segment.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax came with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, a highlight of the Trax. The system had easy-to-follow menus, vivid graphics, and was complemented by hard buttons and dials surrounding the screen. It came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available WiFi hotspot.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a commendable array of safety features, with driving assistance and collision avoidance technology available even on the base Sport trim. Our test vehicle included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. These systems performed to average expectations, with some overreacting and being more insistent than desired. The Compass earned Good ratings in all IIHS crash tests except for headlight performance, while the NHTSA gave it a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax received five out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests but did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The Trax came standard with an array of airbags and a backup camera, but additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors were only available through the LT Convenience Package. Many rivals offered more comprehensive safety features as standard or optional, which were lacking in the Trax.