There are tons of compact crossover models to pick from, including the traditional 2020 Chevy Equinox and the off-road friendly 2020 Jeep Compass. Which one will better suit you and your Saginaw area family? Continue reading to see how the 2020 Compass stands up against the 2020 Equinox to find out which will work best for you.
Exterior
The Chevy Equinox design rests on the sportier side of the compact crossover segment with its rearward-leaning grille, expressive headlights, swooping roofline, and lower ride height. In a class that focuses more on drivability and style than capability, this design caters to many buyers’ preferences. For those looking for something a little more rugged, the Equinox falls short.
The 2020 Jeep Compass has a pair of personalities. First, it pulls its nose from the popular Grand Cherokee, giving it a higher-class look and a popular style, but there is more to it. In the Trailhawk trim, the 2020 Compass boasts a rugged, off-road-ready personality with its higher ride height, black cladding, black hood decal, off-road wheels and tires, tow hooks, and more. Plus, as you’ll find later, the Trailhawk model is more than just rugged looks. It has the performance to match.
The 2020 Equinox and 2020 Compass are both quite simple in their respective base trims, but the Equinox leads by a hair with its standard 17-inch alloy wheels compared to the Compass’ 16-inch steelies. Moving up the trim ladder leads to both crossovers getting plenty of premium features, but the Compass’ off-road-ready Trailhawk model is something the Equinox has no match for.
| Measurement | Jeep Compass | Chevy Equinox | Difference |
| Length | 173 inches | 183.1 inches | -10.1 inches |
| Width | 73.8 inches | 72.6 inches | +1.2 inches |
| Height | 64.6 to 64.8 inches | 65.4 inches | -0.8 to -0.6 inches |
| Wheelbase | 103.8 inches | 107.3 inches | -3.5 inches |
| Ground Clearance | 7.8 to 8.5 inches | 7.6 to 8 inches | -0.2 to +0.9 inches |
| Curb weight | 3,184 to 3,633 pounds | 3,274 to 3,682 pounds | -498 to +359 pounds |
Advantage: 2020 Chevy Equinox
- Sportier styling
- Standard alloy wheels
Advantage: 2020 Jeep Compass
- Rugged-looking Trailhawk model
- Grand Cherokee-inspired styling
- Smaller and nimbler in heavy traffic
Interior
Inside, the 2020 Jeep Compass and 2020 Chevy Equinox share similar styling, as they both offer a car-like feel and tons of technology. The Compass sets itself apart with its variety of optional contrast stitching and colored accents. Opt for the Trailhawk model, and the 2020 Compass adds “Trailhawk” embossed seatbacks, red interior accents, and more.
While the equinox doesn’t have the anything to match the Trailhawk, its base cabin is clean and free of button clutter. As you move into the higher trims, like the Premier model, it goes toe-to-toe with the Compass in terms of premium features.
As for standard features, both interiors come standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi. Moving into higher trims, the Compass shows some superiority in tech with its 8.4-inch touchscreen and 7-inch digital gauge cluster.
Neither model blew away the competition in IIHS safety testing, as they performed equally in crash tests but lacked the Top Safety Pick designation due to unfavorable headlight ratings. The similarities end there, as the Jeep Compass’ automatic emergency braking system is optional, giving the Equinox a leg up because this feature becomes standard in all 2020 models.
In seating space, the Compass wins in front legroom and shoulder room, but the Equinox wins in all other measurements. The larger Equinox also takes the victory in cargo room.
| Measurement | Jeep Compass | Chevy Equinox | Difference |
| Front headroom | 39.2 inches | 40 inches | -0.8 inches |
| Front legroom | 41.8 inches | 40.9 inches | +0.9 inches |
| Front shoulder room | 56.7 inches | 57.2 inches | +0.5 inches |
| Front hip room | 54.1 inches | 54.2 inches | -0.1 inches |
| Rear headroom | 38.5 inches | 38.5 inches | – |
| Rear legroom | 38.3 inches | 39.7 inches | -1.4 inches |
| Rear shoulder room | 55.1 inches | 55.5 inches | -0.4 inches |
| Rear hip room | 49.2 inches | 51.7 inches | -2.5 inches |
| Cargo room (rear seats upright) | 27.2 cubic feet | 29.9 cubic feet | -2.7 cubic feet |
| Cargo room (rear seats upright) | 59.8 cubic feet | 63.5 cubic feet | -3.7 cubic feet |
Advantage: 2020 Chevy Equinox
- More rear-seat room
- Larger cargo area
- Tons of standard safety equipment
Advantage: 2020 Jeep Compass
- More front-seat legroom
- Unique colored accents
- Larger optional touchscreen
Performance
The Equinox drops its thrifty diesel option for the 2020 model year, but it still has two four-cylinder options. The standard powerplant is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This power routes through a six-speed automatic transmission and out to the front wheels or all four wheels for a pokey 9.2-second 0-60 stroll. Chevy does not recommend towing with the 1.5-liter engine.
The 2020 Equinox’s optional engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot with 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine pairs with a more modern nine-speed automatic transmission and ships the power to the front wheels or all four wheels. With this powertrain, the Equinox boasts a 3,500-pound towing capacity and a 7.2-second 0-to-60 time.
The 2020 Jeep Compass has just one engine: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, but there is optional automatic engine stop/start. This engine puts down 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque via a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional nine-speed automatic. The powertrain combines for an 8.2-second 0-to-60 time and can tow up to 2,000 pounds with four-wheel drive.
Though the Equinox sounds better on paper, buyers who want to do more severe off-roading will not find what they need in this small Chevy. The Compass Trailhawk, however, delivers with its 1-inch-higher ride height, skid plates, advanced four-wheel drive, 20-to-1 crawl ratio, hill-descent control, and more.
| Jeep Compass | Chevy Equinox | Difference | |
| Standard engine | 2.4-liter 4-cyl | 1.5-liter turbo 4-cyl | – |
| Horsepower | 180 hp at 6,400 rpm | 170 hp at 5,600 rpm | +10 hp |
| Torque | 175 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm | 203 lb-ft at 2,500 to 4,500 rpm | -28 lb-ft |
| Standard transmission | 6-spd manual | 6-spd automatic | – |
| Optional transmission | 9-spd automatic | – | – |
| Driveline | FWD (std.)/4WD (opt.) | FWD (std.)/AWD (opt.) | – |
| 0-60 time | 8.4 seconds | 9.2 seconds | -0.8 sec |
| Towing capacity | 2,000 pounds (4WD only) | N/A | +2,000 poumds |
| MPG City | 22 to 23 mpg | 25 to 26 mpg | -4 to -2 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 30 to 32 mpg | 30 to 31 mpg | -1 to +2 mpg |
| MPG Combined | 25 to 26 mpg | 27 to 28 mpg | -3 to -1 mpg |
| Optional engine | – | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cyl | – |
| Horsepower | – | 252 hp at 5,500 rpm | – |
| Torque | – | 260 lb-ft at 2,500 to 4,500 rpm | – |
| Standard transmission | – | 9-spd automatic | – |
| Driveline | – | FWD (std.)/AWD (opt.) | – |
| 0-60 time | – | 7.2 seconds | – |
| Towing capacity | – | 3,500 pounds | – |
| MPG City | – | 22 mpg | – |
| MPG Highway | – | 28 to 29 mpg | – |
| MPG Combined | – | 24 to 25 mpg | – |
Advantage: 2020 Chevy Equinox
- More peak power
- Quicker with 2.0-liter
- Superior fuel economy with 1.5-liter
Advantage: 2020 Jeep Compass
- Quicker base model
- Superior off-roading in Trailhawn trim
- Available manual transmission
Pricing and Features
The 2020 Jeep Compass has four trim levels – Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited – and their prices range from $22,095 to $28,940.
There are four trim levels in the 2020 Chevy Equinox lineup, including the L, LS, LT, and Premier. Their starting prices range from $24,995 to $32,595.
2020 Jeep Compass Key Features and Pricing by Trim
Sport: $22,095
- 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine
- Six-speed manual transmission
- Front-wheel drive
- Electric parking brake
- 16-inch styled steel wheels
- Keyless ignition
- Electric power steering
- Rear skid plate applique
- Black door handles
- Chrome-slotted grille with a black surround and mesh
- Quad halogen headlights
- Daytime running lights
- Black-colored power mirrors
- Power windows with front-row one-touch up/down
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Anodized silver interior accents
- Gunmetal vent bezels
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Four cargo-area tie-down loops
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat
- 3.5-inch black-and-white driver-information center
- Front and rear floor mats
- Outside temperature display
- Silver shift knob
- Urethane steering wheel with anodized silver bezels
- Steering-wheel-mounted controls
- Black cloth seats with contrast stitching
- Manual six-way adjustable front seats
- Uconnect 4 infotainment system
- 7-inch touchscreen
- Six-speaker AM/FM audio system
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- Bluetooth connectivity
- One front USB port
- One rear USB port
- Keyless entry
- Rain Brake Support
- Hill-start assist
- Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines
Latitude: $25,345
- All Sport Feature, plus
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Auto engine stop/start
- 17-inch Tech Silver-painted aluminum wheels
- Body-color door handles
- Deep-tinted windows
- Cornering front fog lights
- Auto-on/off headlights
- Body-color mirrors
- Black roof rails
- Full-size spare tire
- Rear air vents
- Ambient LED lighting
- SiriusXM
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Leather-wrapped shift knob
- Premium-wrapped steering wheel with anodized silver bezels
- Premium vinyl seating with hex-pattern cloth insert
- Proximity key
Trailhawk: $29,445
- Nine-speed automatic transmission
- Four-wheel drive
- Jeep Active Drive Low
- Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock drive modes
- Hill Descent Control
- Off-road suspension
- 1-inch increased ride height
- Unique front and rear fascias
- 17-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels with black-painted pockets
- Off-road tires
- Skid plates
- Two front and one rear tow hook
- Signature red accents
- Trailhawk badges
- Neutral Gray slotted grille with a gloss-black surround and black mesh insert
- Black hood decal
- Mirror-integrated turn signals
- Neutral Grey mirror caps
- Black roof
- Neutral Grey roof rails
- Anodized Ruby Red shifter boot accent ring and large cluster ring
- K-Black radio bezel, outer vent bezels, and center console ring
- Illuminated front cup holders
- 7-inch LCD cluster display
- All-season rubber floor mats
- Ambient LED lighting on front dor handles, overthead console, and front map pockets
- 115-volt power outlet
- Luxury leather seating with Ombre Mesh Cloth inerts
- Ruby Red accent stitching
- Embroidered Trailhawk logo
- Uconnect 4 with 8.4-inch touchscreen
Limited: $28,940
- All Latitude features, plus
- 18-inch aluminum polished-face wheels with Tech Grey pockets
- Dual bright exhaust tips
- Bright chrome exterior accents
- Mirror-integrated turn signals
- Bright chrome roof rails
- Piano black radio bezel, outer vent bezels, and center console ring
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with anodized silver bezels
- Heated steering wheel
- Luxury leather trim with Axis II leather perforated inserts
- Accent stitching
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Six-way manual passenger’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Remote ignition
- Security alarm
2020 Chevy Equinox Key Features and Pricing by Trim
L: $24,995
- 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Automatic engine stop/start
- Electronic parking brake
- LED daytime running lights
- 17-inch aluminum wheels
- Acoustic laminated windshield
- Automatic on/off headlights
- Black lower window trim
- Black mirror caps
- Body-color door handles
- Halogen headlights
- Heated, power mirrors
- Tire-inflator kit
- 3.5-inch monochromatic driver information screen
- Four-way manual front seats
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi
- Six-speaker audio system
- Active noise cancellation
- Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming
- Two rear charge-only USB ports
- Chevrolet Connected Access capable
- Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System
- 7-inch touchscreen
- Voice command through phone
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Cruise control
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat
- Carpeted front floor mats
- Keyless open and ignition
- Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
- OnStar
- Power door locks
- Power windows with express-up/down driver’s side
- Express-down passenger’s side window and rear windows
- Premium cloth seating
- Chrome-trimmed shifter leverl
- Single-zone manual climate control
- Deluxe steering wheel
- Steering-wheel-mounted controls
- Two front USB data ports
- Rearview camera
- Automatic emergency braking
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Forward collision alert
- Lane-kep assist
- Lane-departure warning
- Front pedestrian braking
- Teen Driver
- Rear-seat reminder
LS: $27,495
- All L features, plus
- 16-inch compact spare tire
- Carpeted rear floor mats
LT: $28,695
- Body-color mirror caps
- Bright lower window trim
- Deep-tinted rear glass
- HID headlights
- 4.2-inch multi-color driver-information screen
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Overhead sunglasses storage
- Power driver’s seat lumbar control
- Rear seat release levers
- SiriusXM radio
Premier: $32,595
- All LT features, plus
- 18-inch bright machines aluminum wheels with Sparkle Silver pockets
- Body-color door handles with chrome surrounds
- Chrome mirror caps
- Chrome roof-mounter side rails
- Hands-free gesture tailgate
- Auto-dimming outside mirrors
- LED headlights
- LED taillights
- 120-volt power outlet
- Ambient interior lighting
- Navigation
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- High-definition rear-view camera
- Heated front seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Remote ignition
- Two USB data ports in the center console
- Universal home remote
- Wireless charging pad
- Perforated leather seating
- Blind-zone monitoring
- Lane-change alert
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear park assist
Who Should Buy the 2020 Chevy Equinox
Do you just need a roomy crossover that delivers great fuel economy and a car-like ride? The Chevy Equinox may be a great buy with its spacious back seat and cargo area.
Who Should Buy the 2020 Jeep Compass
Want a crossover with a more upscale look or one that can handle real off-road driving? The 2020 Jeep Compass delivers on both fronts with its Grand Cherokee-inspired styling and rugged Trailhawk model.
Ready to see what the 2020 Jeep Compass can offer your Saginaw area family? Swing by the Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram showroom serving the Saginaw, Frankenmuth, Midland, and Bay City areas today to test drive the 2020 Jeep Compass and see what it offers in person. If you can’t make it by today, you can check out our online inventory page, find a few 2020 Compass models that suit your needs, and schedule a test drive at your convenience.
