2020 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

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, tallied up to $39,755, including the destination charge.

Despite its upscale 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. However, compared to the original Compass, the 2020 model was a significant improvement, offering big discounts and appealing upgrades unusual in the small SUV space.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a rugged-looking exterior, with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end that contrasted sharply with previous generations and most other compact crossovers. This aggressive styling helped the RAV4 stand out and added to its perception as more than just an ordinary vehicle. Underneath, it was based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with other Toyota models, providing a solid foundation.

Toyota offered several options to enhance the RAV4's appearance and functionality. The RAV4 Adventure model added a retro look with an Ice Edge roof and orange interior accents, while the TRD Off-Road model featured matte black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and red interior accents. The interior had rugged styling touches, such as large rubberized knobs and door handles, but material quality did not elevate with higher trims. Our TRD Off-Road test car had SofTex upholstery, which was lighter than leather and durable, but real leather was not available, even on the range-topping RAV4 Limited trim.

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 nearly non-existent 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 compromised air conditioning performance 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. Our 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 Toyota RAV4 featured a "Dynamic Force" 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency and loved to rev, with power peaking at 6,600 rpm. However, the transmission hesitated to shift, and the steering lacked feel, making for a videogame-like experience. The RAV4 offered a "Sport" driving mode, but it only added weight to the steering without improving responsiveness.

On the highway, the RAV4 was more comfortable, with low cabin noise levels and a suspension that absorbed road imperfections. Toyota focused on off-road capability, with Adventure and TRD Off-Road models featuring a torque-vectoring rear axle, 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The TRD Off-Road also had model-specific suspension tuning and all-terrain tires, allowing it to handle rougher terrain than the average crossover.

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. This upgrade made the Compass comfortable 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. Cargo space was 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, though the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer housing took up some space. Interior storage was limited, with awkwardly positioned cupholders.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had a tall, upright roof providing good headroom and outward visibility. However, legroom in both rows was a bit behind competitors. The front seats in our RAV4 TRD Off-Road tester were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions, making long road trips less appealing. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat did not slide fore and aft like in some competitors. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, above average but behind the Honda CR-V. The wide aperture made loading cargo easier, but the cargo area lip was higher than in the Honda. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were easy to use, but the center-console storage bin and space ahead of the shifter squeezed out storage space on the console itself.

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

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trim levels had a 7-inch touchscreen, while Limited models had an 8-inch screen, and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid had a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system was optional. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a well-positioned touchscreen and easy-to-read graphics. However, it wasn't very flashy, and the gasoline RAV4 didn't get the head-up display available on the RAV4 Prime.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a range of safety features, with driving assistance and collision avoidance technology available on all trim levels. Our test vehicle had 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 the adaptive cruise control overreacting to changes in traffic and the lane-keeping assist occasionally being too insistent. The Compass earned Good ratings in all IIHS crash tests except for headlight performance and received a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings from NHTSA.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. It missed the highest rating due to mixed headlight scores. NHTSA gave the RAV4 a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side crash tests. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trim levels added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist. A 360-degree camera system was also available.