2021 Jeep Renegade 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 some 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 Renegade, introduced in 2015, was inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade received a subtle refresh for 2019, and for 2021, those design changes continued. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin design with an upright center stack, putting controls within easy reach. It offered various trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk.

The Sport trim came standard with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Jeepster added keyless passive entry, remote start, 19-inch alloy wheels, and unique badging. The Latitude trim included an additional USB port and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Upland trim was adventure-minded, with beefed-up skid plates and a unique front bumper. The 80th Anniversary trim featured 19-inch alloy wheels, HD radio, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Islander was a limited-edition model with exclusive hood graphics, white roof panels, and a dual-panel panoramic moonroof. The Limited trim provided luxury features, while the Trailhawk represented the peak of the Renegade’s capability with off-road enhancements.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured 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 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 or resisted downshifts, and 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 conditions, 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 with Automatic, Snow, Sand, and Mud modes.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive or 4WD. The turbocharged engine provided added motivation with its extra torque and was more refined under hard acceleration. However, the automatic transmission sometimes struggled with smooth shifts.

The Renegade had a solid ride quality, remaining composed over rough road surfaces. Its short wheelbase made it maneuverable in tight spaces, and its impressive visibility made it a great city car. The Renegade’s terrain management system included Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock drive modes, with the Trailhawk trim leveraging this system for off-road capability. The Trailhawk had 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an off-road suspension, making it the only trim with Jeep’s “Trail Rated” designation.

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. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a maximum of 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. However, the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer housing took up some cargo space, and the cabin had scant storage room with awkwardly positioned cupholders.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These specs were above average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Renegade’s tall, boxy design provided plenty of headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and suitable rear seats for adults. The Renegade had helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold completely forward for added space.

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 SiriusXM Guardian connected services, a navigation system, and an Alpine premium audio system. The Uconnect system was intuitive and easy to use, though some features were embedded in menus. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, and drivers could adjust the stereo and climate controls using voice commands.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both touchscreens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system with a logical menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and a helpful dock at the bottom of the screen. Both screens also came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered optional driving assistance and collision avoidance technology, available in the Safety and Security Group and the Advanced Safety Group. 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 overreactions and insistent corrective actions. The Compass earned Good ratings in IIHS crash tests, except for headlight performance, and received mixed ratings from NHTSA.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard across the lineup, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were available as options. Despite the newly standard features, the Renegade received a four-star rating from NHTSA in crash tests. Parallel parking assist was also available as an option.