2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It had a purposeful yet expressive design that appealed to many. The primary trim levels included Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with the latter being the best for off-roading. Special editions ranged from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim level started at $25,210, while the High Altitude model we tested was loaded with extras, bringing the MSRP to $36,515, including the destination charge of $1,495. This version featured extra-cost paint, trendy dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, despite the fancy details, the interior's hard plastic and all-black color scheme made it look inexpensive and unimaginative.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation, had a familiar and fun design. Its curvy, car-like lines and family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup gave it a modern family transportation look. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials. While pricier models had nice wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these clashed with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that an expensive CR-V was still a pricey upgrade of a commodity car. The base CR-V LX trim started at $26,270, with four trim levels in total: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Each trim came with Honda’s standard three-year or 36,000-mile warranty, and AWD was a $1,500 option on all trims. The CR-V featured standard 17-inch alloy wheels, with larger wheels available on higher trims, and a retractable moonroof on all but the LX trim. Roof rails were only fitted on the top-of-the-line Touring model.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade mostly came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine was available on higher trims, generating 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. We tested the turbo. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with FWD on base models and AWD on higher trims. Our test vehicle had the Active Drive AWD system, which disconnected the rear wheels to save fuel and activated when the front wheels slipped. The turbocharged 1.3-liter engine felt energetic, with peak torque arriving at just 1,750 rpm. However, turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy rather than performance led to a lack of response and uneven power delivery. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank, resulting in a real-world range of about 250 miles. The Trailhawk trim was the best version for off-roading, with a more capable AWD system.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, making 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. This powertrain was well-matched to the CR-V, providing quick acceleration, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s road manners were excellent, with a car-like demeanor, nicely weighted steering, and nimble handling. It had a firm yet comfortable chassis with minimal body roll and a low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model. The CR-V’s light weight helped with acceleration, handling, and fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 30 mpg combined and AWD models at 29 mpg. These figures put the CR-V at the top of its class. Honda also introduced a hybrid version for 2020, offering even higher fuel economy.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade’s boxy exterior design made the interior feel larger than many competitors. The panoramic glass roof added to the sense of space, making it feel wider, taller, and more open. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat made it easy to get comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, but padded front seatback trim and good foot room made it acceptable for shorter trips. However, the Renegade had few practical interior storage spots, and cargo volume was limited to 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in packaging, offering a roomy cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan. Head- and legroom were good in both the driver’s and passenger seats, thanks to an excellent seating position and low cowl for great front visibility. The cargo compartment matched the Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor allowing for 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions included a deep center console bin with a sliding cover and large door pockets. The CR-V was easy to live with, accommodating all your stuff efficiently.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its technology, featuring the familiar Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Despite showing its age, Uconnect remained user-friendly with volume and tuning knobs and logically arranged menu buttons. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. SiriusXM satellite radio provided connected services, and a new Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound. The Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with the base LX trim featuring a 5-inch screen lacking in features. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which seemed small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on. The CR-V Touring trim added a wireless phone charger for 2020. However, Honda did well to include plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group with adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. These features added less than $2,000 to the price of the Renegade High Altitude. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. IIHS awarded it commendable scores but did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were standard, with blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with the Touring trim’s LED headlights improving nighttime visibility. NHTSA issued one safety recall for a possible rear subframe failure, affecting only 358 vehicles.