Compact crossovers have the unenviable job of blending utility, fuel efficiency, and a carlike ride, but some handle this with class. Two that hit that sweet spot are the 2020 Nissan Rogue and 2020 Jeep Compass. Which one is the better option for our Bradenton area crossover-shopping families? Continue reading to find out.
Exterior
The 2020 Nissan Rogue hangs in the sportier regions of crossover styling with its bold V-motion grille, sharp body lines, sporty wheel options, and slick rear spoiler. It does, however, dip into the more premium look in its range-topping SL model with its additional chrome exterior bits and upscale wheels. Ultimately, though, the Rogue’s design is more sport than class, and that’s what makes it more popular with younger families.
The 2020 Jeep Compass goes the opposite route, for the most part. It draws a lot of design inspiration from the premium Jeep Grand Cherokee. This is especially true up front with its grille and headlight design. As you move into its higher trims, its class only enhances with sharp wheel options, additional chrome, and more.
There is one wrinkle in the Compass lineup, and that’s its rugged Trailhawk model. This includes a 1-inch raised ride height, off-road wheels and tires, a black hood accent, tow hooks, skid plates, and more that turn this soft-roader into a legit trail machine.
As for exterior features, the 2020 Nissan Rogue comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, automatic on/off headlights, LED taillights, LED daytime running lights, black outside door handles, body-color power mirrors, variable-intermittent windshield wipers, an intermittent rear wiper, a rear spoiler, and more.
The 2020 Jeep Compass’ standard exterior features include most of what the Rogue comes standard with, but it has only 16-inch steel wheels, lacks the LED lighting, and has only automatic-off headlights. Keep in mind, though, the Compass starts over $3,000 cheaper than the Rogue, to there is tons of value built into it.
Inch for inch, the Jeep Compass is significantly smaller than the Rogue, making it a better option for buyers who live in a busy city with a lot of traffic and tight parking spots.
| Measurement | 2020 Nissan Rogue | 2020 Jeep Compass |
| Length (in.) | 184.5 | 173 |
| Width (in.) | 72.4 | 73.8 (mirrors folded) |
| Height (in.) | 68 (FWD)/68.5 (AWD) | 64.6 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 106.5 | 103.8 |
| Ground Clearance (in.) | 7.8 (FWD)/8.4 (AWD) | 7.8 (2WD)/8.2 (4WD) |
| Curb weight (lbs.) | 3,463 to 3,670 | 3,184 to 3,633 |
Advantage: 2020 Nissan Rogue
- Sportier looks
- More standard features
- LED lighting cuts a striking nighttime look
Advantage: 2020 Jeep Compass
- Lots of value built into its low base price
- Easier to manage in tight traffic
- Rugged-looking Trailhawk trim
Interior
The 2020 Nissan Rogue offers a cabin that blends sportiness and upscale style. On the sporty side is the flat-bottom steering wheel that stands out in this class. Otherwise, though, the Rogue’s cabin focuses on value and delivering premium looks and features.
The 2020 Jeep Compass’ cabin is relatively simple in its base trim, but outside of that, it moves upscale quickly with leatherette and leather options, and color schemes that build a premium ambiance. Standing apart from the rest of the lineup is the more rugged Trailhawk model that includes exclusive leather seating with mesh inserts, more controls for its four-wheel-drive system.
As for standard features, the 2020 Nissan Rogue boasts air conditioning, rear air vents, power windows with driver’s side one-touch up/down, power door locks, remote keyless entry, illuminated vanity mirrors, overhead LED map lights, mood lighting, Divide-N-Hide cargo system, six-way manual driver’s seat, four-way manual passenger’s seat, 40/20/40 Split-folding rear seat, NissanConnect 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, hands-free text messaging, Bluetooth® connectivity with streaming audio, SiriusXM®, steering-wheel-mounted controls, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system with MP3/WMA playback, Two USB ports, and cruise control.
The 2020 Jeep Compass’ standard goodies are very similar to the Nissan’s, but it gets a leg up with its six-speaker audio system and dual-zone automatic climate control. It’s not all good for the Jeep, though, as it comes up short with no mood lighting, illuminated vanity mirror lights, LED lighting, or equivalent to the Divide-N-Hide cargo system.
If you’re looking for roominess, the Rogue offers more space overall, including tons more front legroom and headroom, and cargo room. The Compass does, however, match the Rogue’s rear headroom and beats it in rear legroom.
| Measurement | 2020 Nissan Rogue | 2020 Jeep Compass |
| Front headroom (in.) | 41.6 (w/o moonroof)/39.5 (w/ moonroof) | 39.2 (w/o moonroof)/38.6 (w/ moonroof) |
| Front legroom (in.) | 43 | 41.8 |
| Front shoulder room (in.) | 56.6 | 56.7 |
| Front hip room (in.) | 54 | 54.1 |
| Rear headroom (in.) | 38.5 (w/o sunroof)/36.6 (w/ sunroof) | 38.5 |
| Rear legroom (in.) | 37.9 | 38.3 |
| Rear shoulder room (in.) | 55.9 | 55.1 |
| Rear hip room (in.) | 52.1 | 49.2 |
| Cargo room (cu. Ft.) | 39.3 (rear seats upright)/70 (rear seats folded) | 27.2 (w/ rear seats upright)/59.8 (w/ rear seats folded) |
Advantage: 2020 Nissan Rogue
- Roomier front seats
- Tons more cargo room
Advantage: 2020 Jeep Compass
- More spacious rear seats
- More upscale-looking cabin
- Larger optional touchscreen
Performance
The 2020 Nissan Rogue has a relatively simple powertrain lineup that includes a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a contiuously variable transmission. This sends power to the front or all four wheels, resulting in a nine-second 0-to-60 time and up to 29 mpg combined.
The 2020 Compass also has just one engine option, a 180-horsepower 2.4-liter. There are three transmission options, though, including a standard six-speed manual on front- and four-wheel-drive models, an optional six-speed automatic on front-wheel-drive models, and an optional nine-speed automatic on four-wheel-drive models.
The 2020 Compass’ powertrain boils down to a 10.1-second 0-to-60 time and up to 26 mpg combined.
If towing if your thing, neither of these small crossovers are great at it, but the compass has an 898-pound advantage at up to 2,000 pounds with four-wheel drive.
| 2020 Nissan Rogue | 2020 Jeep Compass | |
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cyl | 2.4-liter 4-cyl |
| Horsepower | 170 hp at 6,000 rpm | 180 hp at 6,400 rpm |
| Torque | 175 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm | 175 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm |
| Standard transmission | CVT | 6-spd manual (FWD/4WD) |
| Optional transmission | N/A | 6-spd automatic (FWD) |
| Optional transmission | N/A | 9-spd automatic (4WD) |
| Driveline | FWD (std)/AWD (opt) | FWD (std)/4WD (opt) |
| 0-60 time | 9 seconds | 10.1 seconds |
| Towing capacity (lbs) | 1,102 | 2,000 (4WD) |
| MPG City | 26 (FWD)/25 (AWD) | 22 (FWD 6MT, 4WD 9AT, 4WD 6MT)/23 (FWD 6AT) |
| MPG Highway | 33 (FWD)/32 (AWD) | 30 (9AT 4WD)/31 (6MT 4WD, 6AT FWD)/32 (6MT FWD) |
| MPG Combined | 29 (FWD)/27 (AWD) | 25 (9AT 4WD, 6AT FWD, 6MT 4WD)/26 (6MT FWD) |
Advantage: 2020 Nissan Rogue
- Huge fuel economy advantage
- Quicker to 60 mph
- Smoother ride
Advantage: 2020 Jeep Compass
- Available manual transmission
- Legit off-road prowess in Trailhawk model
- Superior peak towing
Pricing and Features
The 2020 Nissan Rogue has three trim levels – S, SV, and SL – and their starting prices range from $25,300 to $31,690.
There are four main trim levels in the 2020 Jeep Compass lineup, Sport, Latitude, Trailhawk, and Limited. These trims’ starting prices range from $22,095 to $29,445.
2020 Nissan Rogue Key Features and Pricing by Trim
S: $25,300
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine
- Front-wheel drive
- CVT
- Eco/Sport modes
- Brake assist
- Active ride control
- Electric power steering
- 17-inch steel wheels with hubcaps
- Halogen headlights with automatic on/off
- LED taillights
- LED daytime running lights
- Black outside door handles
- Body-color power mirrors
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Intermittent rear wipers
- Rear spoiler
- Air conditioning
- Rear air vents
- Power windows with driver’s side one-touch up/down
- Power door locks
- Remote keyless entry
- Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Overhead LED map lights
- Mood lighting
- Overhead sunglasses storage
- Front center console
- Four cargo-area tie-downs
- Divide-N-Hide cargo system
- Six-way manual driver’s seat
- Four-way manual passenger’s seat
- 40/20/40 Split-folding rear seat
- Cloth seating
- Gunmetal interior door finishers
- Multi-information display
- NissanConnect 7-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay®
- Android Auto™
- Hands-free text messaging
- Bluetooth® connectivity with streaming audio
- SiriusXM®
- Steering-wheel-mounted controls
- Four-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system
- MP3/WMA playback
- Two USB ports
- Cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rearview camera
- Automatic high-beam assist
- Lane tracing
- Intelligent engine brake
- Hill-start assist
- Rear door alert
SV: $26,720
- All S features, plus
- 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
- Chrome exterior door handles
- Heated mirrors with LED turn signal indicators
- Roof rails
- Hands-free power liftgate
- Tinted rear glass
- Keyless ignition
- Remote engine start with intelligent climate control
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Leather-wrapped shifter knob
- Chrome interior door handles
- Six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system
- Rear sonar system
- Rear automatic braking
SL: $31,690
- All SV features, plus
- 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
- Fog lights
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- HomeLink® universal home remote
- Four-way power passenger’s seat
- Two-position memory for driver’s seat and power mirrors
- Leather seating
- Heated steering wheel
- Geometric metallic interior door finishers
- Navigation
- Voice recognition
- NissanConnect services powered by SiriusXM®
- SiriusXM® Traffic and Travel Link®
- Bose® nine-speaker audio system with dual driver woofers
- Electronic parking brake
- ProPilot Assist
- 360-degree camera
2020 Jeep Compass Key Features and Pricing by Trim
Sport: $22,105
- 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine
- Six-speed manual transmission
- Front-wheel drive
- Electric parking brake
- Electric power steering
- 16-inch black styled steel wheels
- Daytime running lights
- Halogen quad headlights
- Auto-off headlights
- Heated mirrors
- Lower bodyside cladding
- Manual-folding mirrors
- Power mirrors
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Black grille with chrome rings
- Body-color roof
- Body-color fascia
- Rear fascia skid plate applique
- Six-way manual front seats
- Cloth seating
- Flat-folding front passenger’s seat
- 60/40 split-folding rear seats
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Cargo tie-down loops
- Front and rear floor mats
- Outside temperature display
- Keyless ignition
- Power windows with one-touch up/down front
- Rear armrest with cupholders
- Rear seat heat ducts
- Remote keyless entry
- Silver shift knob
- Cruise control
- Power door locks
- Steering-wheel-mounted controls
- Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
- Vehicle information center
- Cargo area light
- Second-row USB charge port
- Six-speaker audio system
- 7-inch touchscreen
- Bluetooth® connectivity with audio streaming
- 3.5-inch black-and-which cluster display
- Android Auto™
- Apple CarPlay®
- USB and auxiliary inputs in front media hub
- Uconnect® 4 infotainment system
- Hill-start assist
- Rearview camera
- Rain brake support
Latitude: $25,355
- All Sport features, plus
- Automatic engine stop/start
- Six-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick®
- Premium cloth and vinyl seats
- Rear climate control vents
- Leather-wrapped shift knob
- Proximity key
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Ambient LED interior lighting (front door handles and overhead console)
- Premium-wrapped steering wheel with silver bezels
- SiriusXM®
- 17-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels
- Automatic-on/off headlights
- Fog lights
- Cornering lights
- Black fog light bezels
- Body-color exterior mirrors
- Black roof rails
- Deep-tinted rear glass
- Body-color door handles
Limited: $28,405
- All Latitude features, plus
- 18-inch polished aluminum wheels with Tech Gray pockets
- Black roof
- Chrome roof rails
- Chrome fog light bezels
- Chrome-accented mirrors
- Mirror-integrated turn signals
- Remote ignition
- Windshield wiper de-icer
- Bright-chrome exterior accents
- Single exhaust with dual bright tips
- Four-way power lumbar
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with silver bezels
- Leather upholstery with Axis II perforated seat inserts
- Contrast stitching
- Embossed “Jeep” logo on seats
- Illuminated front cup holders
- 115-volt power outlet
- Heated steering wheel
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Expanded ambient LED lighting (front door handles, overhead console, and front map pockets)
- Piano-black interior accents
- 8.4-inch touchscreen
- 7-inch color instrument cluster display
- Security alarm
Trailhawk: $29,445
- All Latitude features, plus
- Four-wheel drive
- Nine-speed automatic transmission
- Jeep Active Drive Low w/ 20-to-1 crawl ratio
- Selec-Terrain® system with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock mode and hill-descent control
- Off-road suspension with 1-inch-higher ride height
- 17-inch wheels with polished face and black pockets
- All-terrain tires
- Unique front and rear fascias
- Skid plates for the fuel tank, transfer case, transmission, and front suspension
- Red tow hooks (two front and one rear)
- Signature red accents
- Trailhawk badging
- Gloss-black grille surround
- Neutral Grey grille slot surrounds and black grille mesh
- Black hood decal
- Mirror-integrated turn signals
- Neutral Grey mirrors
- Black roof
- Neutral Grey roof rails
- Anodized Ruby Red speaker bezels
- K-Black radio and outer vent bezels, and center console ring
- Illuminated front cup holders
- 7-inch LCD cluster display
- All-season rubber floor mats
- Expanded ambient LED lighting (front door handles, overhead console, and front map pockets)
- 115-volt power outlet
- Leather trim with Ombre mesh cloth inserts on seats
- Ruby Red accent stitching
- Trailhawk logo embroidered on the headrests
- 8.4-inch touchscreen
Who Should Buy the 2020 Nissan Rogue
Families who plan to haul a lot of cargo will find all the space they need in the 2020 Rogue. Also, its superior fuel economy will help keep more cash in your pockets on those long road-trips. The Rogue is the better option as a do-it-all crossover for the average Saginaw area family.
Who Should Buy the 2020 Jeep Compass
Shoppers looking for a compact crossover with legit off-road prowess have few options other than the Compass Trailhawk. This rugged beast not only looks the part, but it plays the part too with its great four-wheel-drive system, higher ride height, and more. Also, those seeking a more upscale look have more premium options in the Compass and can get it all at a lower price.
Ready to make the Nissan Rogue the newest addition to your family? Stop by the Nissan of Bradenton showroom serving Bradenton, Sarasota, and the surrounding areas today to take it for a spin and see what it offers your family. Can’t make it to our Sarasota area Nissan showroom today? Check out our online inventory page, choose a few in-stock Rogue models that suit your needs, and schedule a test drive around your busy life.
