2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches, all wrapped in a purposeful yet expressive design. It came in primary trim levels such as Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with special editions ranging from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport started at $25,210, while the High Altitude trim, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. The High Altitude trim 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 luxurious details, the interior's hard plastic and all-black color scheme made it look inexpensive and unimaginative.

The 2020 Jeep Compass, like the Grand Cherokee, was a handsome SUV with four core trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk. Prices started at $22,280 for a Compass Sport with FWD and a six-speed manual transmission, while the High Altitude upgrade for the Compass Limited with AWD was priced from $32,645. Our test vehicle, a Compass Limited with AWD, was loaded with options, bringing the total to $39,755. Despite lacking the optional 19-inch wheels, the Compass offered big discounts and appealing upgrades. It featured soft-touch surfaces, premium leather, and sophisticated technology, but also had low-rent glossy plastic pieces and flimsy-feeling parts that detracted from its overall appeal. Nevertheless, it was a significant improvement over the original Compass model.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade mostly featured 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. Our test vehicle had the turbo engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Active Drive AWD system, which disconnects the rear wheels to save fuel, was standard on higher trims. The turbocharged engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, making the Renegade feel energetic, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy resulted in 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. The Trailhawk trim offered the best off-roading capability with its Active Drive Low AWD system.

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 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. However, it was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and nearly non-existent passing power. The test vehicle averaged 23.1 mpg, below the EPA rating of 25 mpg. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly and resisted downshifts. 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. The Compass Trailhawk trim offered decent off-road capability with added ground clearance and an Active Drive Low AWD system. Our Compass Limited test vehicle had a simpler AWD system with a 50:50 Lock mode and Selec-Terrain traction system.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's interior felt larger than its competitors due to its far-away windshield, thick and curved pillars, and vertical side glass. The panoramic glass roof added to the spacious feel. 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. The Renegade had limited practical interior storage and cargo volume, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2020 Jeep Compass test vehicle featured the 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. The Compass's back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. Cargo space measured 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, beating both the Renegade and Cherokee. However, the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer housing took up some space. The Compass had limited interior storage and awkwardly positioned cupholders.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its technology, featuring the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. SiriusXM satellite radio provided connected services, and the new Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound quality. The Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

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. The system included SiriusXM Guardian connected services, a navigation system, and an Alpine premium audio system. Uconnect was intuitive and easy to use, though some features were embedded in menus. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, and drivers could adjust the stereo and climate controls using voice commands.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's Advanced Tech Group included 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. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS gave the Renegade commendable scores but did not award it a Top Safety Pick rating for 2020.

The 2020 Jeep Compass extended its driving assistance and collision avoidance technology to the base Sport trim level. The Safety and Security Group and Advanced Safety Group 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. The Compass earned Good ratings in most IIHS tests, except for headlight performance. The NHTSA gave the Compass a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings.