2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2020 Jeep Compass

Both the 2020 Jeep Compass and the 2021 Nissan Rogue presented distinctive styling that catered to different aspects of SUV aesthetics. Reflecting the rugged spirit of the Wrangler, the Compass also mirrored the refinement seen in the Grand Cherokee, resulting in a handsomely balanced SUV available in four core trims: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk. Various packages and special editions, including the Sun & Wheel and North Edition, fleshed out the lineup, offering plenty of customization options. Starting at $22,280 for the Compass Sport with FWD and a six-speed manual transmission, prices escalated up to $32,645 for a well-equipped Compass Limited with AWD. Our top-shelf test vehicle came in at a hefty $39,755, denoting a fully-loaded model featuring a black-painted roof, power panoramic sunroof, navigation, premium sound, and luxury seating.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Rogue showcased stylish, modern aesthetics with a technical appearance, promoting a more SUV-focused look. Featuring bold elements like dark gray plastic cladding, a striking V-Motion grille, and clean LED lighting, the Rogue added a custom flavor with available two-tone paint jobs. The Rogue offered four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum, priced from $25,650 to $35,430, plus destination charges. Our test Rogue SL, equipped with added options, totaled $35,195. Inside, it included a light and airy Almond leather interior, complete with a panoramic sunroof and a host of luxurious touches, underlining its refined appeal.

Under the hood, the 2020 Jeep Compass housed a 2.4-liter Tigershark 4-cylinder engine, producing 180 hp at 6,400 rpm and 175 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. Unfortunately, despite its predatory name, the engine’s performance was lackluster, hampered by sluggish acceleration, limited passing power, and a disappointing fuel economy of 23.1 mpg, below the EPA rating of 25 mpg combined. The nine-speed automatic transmission added to the woes with harsh shifts and stubborn downshifts that ultimately soured the driving experience. Off-road, the Compass rekindled some of its Jeep spirit, particularly in the Trailhawk trim with its advanced AWD system and Rock driving mode.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 hp at 6,000 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, offered adequate daily-driving performance. Despite its competent CVT, the Rogue felt underpowered, especially on adventurous terrains. The AWD option, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new drive modes like Snow and Off-Road made it moderately capable off the beaten path. Fuel economy averaged 27.5 mpg during testing, slightly under the EPA rating of 29 mpg combined. The SUV's rigid new architecture and well-tuned suspension ensured a smooth and predictable ride, highlighted by significantly refined steering dynamics.

The interior of the 2020 Jeep Compass, especially with the optional Luxury Seat Group, emphasized comfort with ventilated front seats, high-grade leather, and a memory function for the driver. Its rear seat was notably roomy for a small SUV, with amenities like air conditioning vents, a USB port, and a 115-volt outlet. Cargo capacity stood at 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and expanded to 59.8 cubic feet with the seat folded, though the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer encroached on space.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue upgraded comfort with new Zero Gravity seats, now roomier and more supportive. Available in cloth or various leather grades, these seats provided enhanced comfort across all trims. Rear-seat accommodations improved with more generous headroom and legroom, nearly 90-degree-opening rear doors, and Triple-zone automatic climate control in higher trims. Cargo space ranged from 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV trims to 36.5 cubic feet in SL and Platinum trims, with a maximum capacity of 74.1 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded, positioning it as a leader in cargo volume for the segment.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured the commendable Uconnect infotainment system, boasting an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. Enhanced with SiriusXM Guardian services, a navigation system, and an Alpine premium audio system, Uconnect impressed with intuitive use and clear graphics, though some functions were buried in menus.

With the 2021 Nissan Rogue, the infotainment suite began with an 8-inch touchscreen, integrating Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant on S trim. Higher trims added features like a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, premium voice recognition, and Bose audio. The top-tier Platinum trim included advanced features like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a reasonable suite of safety features, extending advanced driving aids to the base Sport trim through optional packages. These included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, some features like lane-keeping assist were overly insistent. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were mixed, reflecting areas for improvement.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Rogue excelled in safety, with every model equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, encompassing automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and a standard blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist, improving adaptive cruise control with lane-centering and Navi-link technology. While crash-test results were pending, the robust architecture hinted at strong safety performance.