2021 Jeep Cherokee 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, 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, it was a significant improvement over the original Compass model.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had evolved since its debut, with a more proportioned look despite the short grille opening and swept-back headlights. The exterior appearance varied significantly depending on the trim level. An entry-level Latitude with 17-inch wheels and FWD looked basic, while an 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding appeared more upscale. The Cherokee also featured an optional panoramic sunroof that covered the entire top surface, adding to its appeal.

The Cherokee stood out in a crowded field of crossover SUVs, bearing a striking resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front. Its design was practical and businesslike, with a cleanly designed cabin that didn't strive for luxury but offered a straightforward and functional layout. The interior quality varied by trim level, with the Latitude featuring rubberized black plastic, the Trailhawk offering suede seat inserts and contrasting stitching, and the Latitude Lux boasting perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

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. However, it was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and nearly non-existent passing power. The 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 make the air conditioning swampy 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 capability, especially in Trailhawk trim with added ground clearance, an Active Drive Low AWD system, and a Rock driving mode. The Compass Limited test vehicle had a simpler AWD system with a 50:50 Lock mode and Selec-Terrain traction system, handling moderately difficult trails without issues.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower, a 3.2-liter V-6 with 271 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter GMET4 turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. None of these engines provided outstanding acceleration, with the V6 and turbo-four achieving 0-60 mph times of about 7.2 and 7.4 seconds, respectively. All Cherokee models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission from ZF, which had improved over time and offered better behavior than CVTs used by competitors.

The Cherokee Trailhawk model excelled in off-road capability, with features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. Unlike the Wrangler, the Cherokee was available in FWD, making it more affordable for rental fleets and budget-conscious buyers.

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. 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, beating both the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Cherokee in volume. However, storage space inside the cabin was limited, and the cupholders were awkwardly positioned.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee filled a space between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee, competing with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. It offered 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 55 cubic feet with the seats folded, placing it at the bottom among compact SUVs. The Cherokee provided about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive in that metric. The interior layout was simple and businesslike, with quality varying by trim level. The Latitude featured rubberized black plastic, the Trailhawk had suede seat inserts and contrasting stitching, and the Latitude Lux offered perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured an excellent Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. It also supported SiriusXM Guardian connected services, offering emergency calling, a vehicle finder, remote engine starting, and more. The test vehicle included a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system. Uconnect was intuitive and easy to use, though some features were embedded in menus that should have been more accessible. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, but navigation required more specific prompts.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system was available with a 7-inch touchscreen on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, and Latitude LUX trims, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Trailhawk. Both screen sizes were well thought out and had minimal latency issues. The Cherokee supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired), a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa integration. Remote start was also available. The Cherokee's infotainment system was consistent across Stellantis brands, providing a familiar and user-friendly experience.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a range of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, available even on the base Sport trim level. These 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. The systems performed to average expectations, with some overreacting and causing confusion. The Compass earned Good ratings in most IIHS crash tests but received mixed ratings from NHTSA.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS but received Good scores in every crashworthiness category and a G+ score for LATCH child seat anchors. The Cherokee's headlights received mixed ratings, with upper trims rated Acceptable and others rated Marginal. NHTSA gave the Cherokee a four-star overall safety rating. The Cherokee offered advanced safety features as standard, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was available only on the Limited and Trailhawk trims.