2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Jeep Compass was designed to reflect the more refined side of the Jeep brand, akin to the Grand Cherokee. It was available in four core trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with various packages and special edition upgrades. The base model started at $22,280, while a fully equipped Compass Limited with all-wheel drive and numerous options could reach $39,755. Despite its upscale aspirations, the Compass often revealed cost-cutting measures, such as low-quality plastic parts, which detracted from its overall appeal. However, it did offer some premium features uncommon in the small SUV segment, like soft-touch surfaces and sophisticated technology.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic rugged styling, with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and exposed bolts and hinges. The Wrangler was available in several trims, including Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, each offering unique styling elements. The Wrangler was not designed for comfort, with upright seating and limited legroom, but for many, this added to its charm. The Rubicon 392, with its Hemi V8 engine, stood out for its off-road prowess and powerful performance, making it a favorite among off-road enthusiasts.

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 Compass was criticized for its sluggish acceleration and lack of passing power. It averaged 23.1 mpg, falling short of the EPA's 25 mpg combined rating. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly, and the automatic engine stop/start system could be inconvenient. While the Compass's suspension controlled body roll well, it allowed too much vertical motion and impact harshness. The Compass excelled in off-road conditions, especially in Trailhawk trim, with features like added ground clearance and an Active Drive Low AWD system.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including a standard 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler's 4WD systems, such as Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, provided excellent off-road capabilities. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, transforming the Wrangler into an off-road powerhouse. The 392 also featured enhanced suspension, brakes, and a dual-mode performance exhaust.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a comfortable interior with the Luxury Seat Group, which included premium leather, ventilated front seats, and a power-adjustable front passenger seat. The back seat was spacious, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet. Cargo space was 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing the Jeep Renegade and Cherokee. However, storage space inside the cabin was limited, and the cupholders were awkwardly positioned.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler provided various top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top and the Freedom hardtop. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, offering a convenient open-air experience. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It also had drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the wheel-wells and roll-bars could limit space for larger items.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured an available Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. It also offered SiriusXM Guardian connected services, navigation, and an Alpine premium audio system. While Uconnect was intuitive and easy to use, some features were embedded in menus rather than accessible via buttons. The voice recognition system worked well for most functions, though navigation required specific prompts.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, but higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by radio toggles on the steering wheel. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled in the front grille, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

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. These systems performed adequately, though adaptive cruise control could be overly sensitive. The Compass received Good ratings in most IIHS crash tests but had mixed ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's safety features were mostly optional, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. Lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.