With so many automakers making new SUVs nowadays, there’s been more competition than ever before. Jeep makes some of the most popular SUVs on the market, such as the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler, but the Compass isn’t doing so well. Here’s why the 2020 Jeep Compass is lagging behind its competitors.

What’s great about the 2020 Jeep Compass

Unfortunately for the Compass, Motor1 says that most of its pros come with the territory of being a Jeep. What that means is that most of what’s good about the Compass can also be found on other Jeeps.

For example, Motor1 really liked the Compass’ style. But, as Motor1 also said, “all Jeeps look sort of similar.” Despite that, it’s still a good looking car, at least in Motor1’s eyes.

Additionally, Motor1 also liked the infotainment system on the Compass. The Compass’ infotainment system, which includes a 7-inch touch screen display, is linked to FCA’s Uconnect infotainment suite. Motor1 said that the Compass’ upgraded 8.4-inch touch screen “may be one of the best in the segment,” but still, other Jeeps have similar options.

Lastly, pretty much every Jeep is known for having great off-roading capabilities. Unsurprisingly, this is the same story for the Compass. Motor1 says that the Compass can handle off-roading just fine, even if you don’t want to pay for the most expensive off-roading option. That said, these pros are found in other Jeeps, but the cons of the Compass aren’t. 

What stinks about the 2020 Jeep Compass

One thing that Motor1 didn’t like about the Compass was its engine, which Motor1 says was weak and old. Worse yet, the Compass only has one engine, so there aren’t any upgrades available.

That engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, which gets just 180-hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. This weak engine doesn’t make the Compass very sporty, nor does it allow it to tow much. Motor1 says that the Compass can only tow about 1,000 lb of stuff.

Another thing that Motor1 didn’t like was the Compass’ interior. Motor1 didn’t test the basic trim of the Compass either. Motor1 tested a Compass that had thousands of dollars worth of upgrades and options, but they weren’t enough.

Simply put, other than the infotainment system, the Compass’ interior felt cheap and low-quality. Other FCA cars, which include Ram trucks, have great interiors by comparison.

Lastly, the Compass is one of the more affordable compact SUVs, but its cheap price tag means that it doesn’t come with much as standard. If you want to add options and upgrades to your Compass though, they’ll cost a lot.

Motor1 says that the Compass starts at $22,000, but since it has so few standard features, upgrading it can easily add thousands of dollars to its price tag. The Compass that Motor1 tested was worth $38,000 for reference, and Motor1 still didn’t like it.

Other compact SUVs to consider

Motor1 isn’t the only car reviewer to hate on the Compass. Consumer Reports also gave the Compass a negative review. The Compass received an overall score of just 51 out of 100. And, of the 16 compact SUVs in its segment, the Compass was in last place in terms of its overall score. 

This basically means that pretty much every other compact SUV on the market may be a better choice than the Compass is, according to Consumer Reports. At the top of the rankings, however, are three SUVs in particular. 

The Honda CR-V was in second place, and the Subaru Forester was tied with the Mazda CX-5 for first place. All three of these SUVs start at about $25,000, and according to Consumer Reports, will be a far better choice than the Compass.