2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was a stylish SUV that struck a balance between the sleek Evoque and the boxy Range Rover. Its low roof and steeply-raked windshield gave it a unique profile, distinct from the traditional upright Range Rover design. The Velar's broad front end maintained the intimidating presence typical of Land Rovers, while its short overhangs improved off-road capabilities. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier touches, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips, enhancing its aggressive look. Inside, the Velar featured high-quality leather and metal trim, creating a luxurious, cockpit-like feel that was more suited to urban environments than rugged terrains.

In contrast, the 2020 Jeep Compass was a handsome SUV that mirrored the refined styling of the Grand Cherokee. Available in four core trims—Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk—the Compass offered various packages and special editions to enhance its appeal. Starting at $22,280 for the base model, the Compass could be upgraded to the High Altitude version for $32,645 with AWD. The test vehicle, a Compass Limited with AWD, was loaded with options, bringing the price to $39,755. Despite its premium features, the Compass was marred by cost-cutting measures, such as low-quality plastics, which detracted from its overall appeal. However, it was a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a more refined driving experience.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar saw a performance boost with the introduction of the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite these impressive figures, the Velar was not the fastest in its class, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering quicker acceleration. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined ride, but its large size made it less agile on tight roads. The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup remained unchanged, with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 available.

The 2020 Jeep Compass, on the other hand, was equipped with a 2.4-liter Tigershark 4-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, this engine was loud, slow, and fuel-thirsty, with the test vehicle averaging 23.1 mpg, below the EPA's 25 mpg combined rating. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly, and the automatic engine stop/start system was inconvenient in warm weather. While the Compass's suspension controlled body roll well, it allowed too much vertical motion and impact harshness. The steering was heavy and vague, and the brake pedal was overly sensitive. However, the Compass excelled off-road, especially in Trailhawk trim, with features like added ground clearance and an Active Drive Low AWD system.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was an in-betweener in terms of size, larger than small luxury SUVs but smaller than midsize counterparts. Despite its size, the Velar did not offer more interior space, with competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3 providing more legroom and headroom. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's avant-garde styling, including a chopped roof, limited headroom and visibility, creating a claustrophobic feel inside. The cockpit-like front seating area was cramped, with limited legroom. The Velar's towing capacity was respectable, with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models capable of towing 5,511 pounds.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a comfortable interior, especially with the Luxury Seat Group, which added premium leather, ventilated front seats, and a power-adjustable front passenger seat. 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 decent, with 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with it folded, surpassing both the Jeep Renegade and Cherokee. However, storage space inside the cabin was limited, and the cupholders were awkwardly positioned, causing inconvenience for those carrying personal items.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. Despite high-quality graphics and a well-organized menu layout, the system was slow to respond. Additional tech included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, which fit the minimalist cabin design but were prone to glare.

The 2020 Jeep Compass boasted an excellent Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. The system was intuitive and featured appealing graphics, though some functions were buried in menus. The test vehicle included a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system. Uconnect's voice recognition worked well with natural speech, but navigation required specific prompts. Overall, Uconnect impressed with its user-friendly interface and functionality.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were not prioritized for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. However, Land Rover's driver-assist tech offerings were less sophisticated than competitors, with only lane-keep assist available, while other automakers offered more advanced systems.

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