2020 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover was a testament to luxury and ruggedness, a legacy that began with the original Series I off-roader. Over the years, it evolved into a luxury SUV with robust 4x4 capabilities, appealing to affluent British landowners. By 2012, the current-generation Range Rover was introduced, offering various trims like HSE, Autobiography, and SVAutobiography Dynamic, available in both Standard Wheelbase (SWB) and Long Wheelbase (LWB) configurations. Standard features included leather seating, heated front seats, tri-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof, with options for heated rear seats and a 19-speaker Meridian audio system. The Autobiography trim added semi-aniline leather and massaging front seats, while the SVAutobiography boasted nearly every available feature, emphasizing its unique styling.

The 2020 Jeep Compass, inspired by the Grand Cherokee, was a stylish SUV available in four core trims: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk. It offered various packages and special editions, with prices starting at $22,280 for the base Sport trim. The Compass Limited, with AWD and numerous options, could reach $39,755. Despite its attractive upgrades, the Compass had some cost-cutting measures, like low-rent plastic pieces. However, it offered a comfortable interior with soft-touch surfaces and premium leather. The Compass was a significant improvement over its predecessor, providing a balance of style and functionality.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover offered a diverse range of powertrains. The base engine was a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HSE trim featured a non-hybrid version of the same engine, delivering 395 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. A turbodiesel V6 was also available, rated at 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The P525 and Autobiography trims came with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, generating 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid powertrain was an option, combining a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with electric motors for a combined 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, with an electric range of 19 miles. The SV Autobiography Dynamic trim, the performance variant, boasted a 5.0-liter V8 tuned to 557 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Range Rover excelled in comfort and off-road capability, featuring an electronic air suspension and Terrain Response System with multiple drive modes.

The 2020 Jeep Compass was powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the Tigershark, producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Despite its name, the engine was loud, slow, and fuel-thirsty, with a test vehicle averaging 23.1 mpg, below the EPA rating of 25 mpg. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly, and the automatic engine stop/start system affected air conditioning performance. 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. However, the Compass excelled off-road, especially in Trailhawk trim, with added ground clearance and an Active Drive Low AWD system. The Limited trim offered a simpler AWD system with a 50:50 Lock mode and Selec-Terrain traction system.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover offered two wheelbase options: LWB and SWB, with standard seating for five. The optional second-row captain’s chairs reduced seating to four but enhanced comfort, especially in the LWB version. The SWB model provided 70.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, while the LWB offered 77.5 cubic feet. Both versions had 34.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up. The Range Rover featured a hands-free power liftgate with a unique two-piece configuration, facilitating easy loading and tailgating. The front row had a convenient center-console compartment and decently sized door compartments and cupholders.

The 2020 Jeep Compass, with the Luxury Seat Group, offered premium leather, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a memory function for the driver. The back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded, surpassing the Jeep Renegade and Cherokee in volume. However, the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer reduced luggage space. The cabin had limited storage and awkwardly positioned cupholders, which could be inconvenient for carrying personal items.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo system, consisting of two touchscreens. The top screen managed navigation, phone, stereo, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, while the lower screen controlled climate, seat settings, and Terrain Response. Integrated dials in the lower screen changed functions based on the menu. The system had a learning curve and occasional lag issues, but a volume knob was available. The Range Rover also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. It supported SiriusXM Guardian services, including emergency calling and remote engine starting. The test vehicle had a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system. Uconnect was intuitive, with appealing graphics, though some features were embedded in menus. Primary stereo and climate controls were separate from the display. The voice recognition system worked well, but navigation required specific prompts. Overall, Uconnect impressed for the segment.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover came with standard safety features like low-speed automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional features included a 360-degree parking camera, blind-spot monitoring, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Range Rover also offered a system to alert rear-seat passengers when it was safe to exit. While it had a solid list of standard safety features, some optional features were standard in other vehicles.

The 2020 Jeep Compass extended its driving assistance and collision avoidance technology to the base Sport trim. Optional in the Safety and Security Group and Advanced Safety Group, the test vehicle included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. The 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 IIHS crash tests, except for headlight performance, while NHTSA gave it mixed ratings.