2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Jeep Compass was a handsome SUV, reflecting the more 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. 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 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design, adding character while maintaining recognizable Volvo features. Unlike Lexus, which opted for a radical styling revamp, Volvo kept its traditional boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille. The details made the difference, with softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights.

Our Inscription test car, the flashiest of the XC90 trim levels, sported extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels. The midlevel R-Design had a sportier look, while the base Momentum model lacked extra jewelry. The XC90 shared Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other "90" and "60" series models. Inside, the XC90 offered "Swedish minimalism" with nice-looking materials and thoughtfully arranged features. The matte-finish wood trim and wool upholstery option added to its unique appeal, though the Orrefors crystal shifter seemed out of place in the otherwise restrained interior.

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 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 capability, especially in Trailhawk trim with added ground clearance, an Active Drive Low AWD system, and a Rock driving mode. Our Compass Limited test vehicle, with a simpler AWD system, handled a moderately difficult trail without issues, offering Automatic, Snow, Sand, and Mud traction choices.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive, while AWD was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8.

Despite the 400 hp, the XC90 struggled to accelerate away from stops on electric power alone, requiring the gasoline engine's assistance. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure (all-electric), Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was only usable at low speeds with gentle acceleration. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to the optional air-suspension system, and kept body roll in check through corners. The cabin was impressively quiet, and most models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, except for the base FWD T5, rated at 4,000 pounds.

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. 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. 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 luggage room, and the cabin had scant storage space with awkwardly positioned cupholders.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were about average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in both the third and second rows felt hard and lacked support. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, giving the interior a more spacious feel. Standard four-zone climate control could be augmented with a filtration system designed to trap fine particulate matter.

Up front, the Inscription test car featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Finding a good driving position was easy, though forward visibility was less than optimal due to the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. Volvo offered a hands-free power tailgate.

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 was also ready for extra-cost SiriusXM Guardian connected services, including emergency calling, a vehicle finder, remote engine starting, and more. 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 that should have been more accessible. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, and drivers could adjust both the stereo and climate controls using voice commands.

The 2021 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system proved that less is more. The XC90 came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports were standard, with a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, allowing swiping across menus like a tablet. The lack of analog backup controls was not an issue, as the touchscreen worked well and complemented the interior’s minimalist design. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving, and the wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a commendable array of safety features, extending the availability of driving assistance and collision avoidance technology to the base Sport trim level. Optional in both 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 the adaptive cruise control overreacting to traffic changes and the lane-keeping assist occasionally being too insistent. The Compass earned Good ratings in all IIHS crash tests except for headlight performance, while the NHTSA gave it a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings.

The 2021 XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, offering smooth and quick reactions to other vehicles, though it struggled with gentle highway curves.