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| 252 | Horsepower (HP) | 180 |
| 260 | Torque (lb-ft) | 175 |
| 3,500 | Maximum Towing Capacity (LBS) | 2,000 |
Choosing an SUV gives you a fantastic combination of functionality, performance, and spaciousness, but selecting the right model can be tricky. The field of small SUVs has become pretty crowded over the last decade, so comparing a couple of models against each other is critical for finding the right vehicle for your needs. When you consider the 2020 GMC Terrain vs 2020 Jeep Compass, for example, you can quickly see that while these are both fine vehicles, the Terrain comes out on top time and again.
For example, the 2020 GMC Terrain has two different engines available, compared to the single engine offered on the Compass. While the starting engine on the GMC Terrain is pretty comparable to what you get on the Compass, the second available engine simply blows it away. Thanks to this more powerful engine option, you can also get much greater towing capacity with the 2020 GMC Terrain than you can with the 2020 Jeep Compass, which can make a big difference if you have a boat, trailer, or camper you need to take with you.
Inside, the Terrain rises to the top once again. It has a number of available features that are equal to or better than what the Jeep has to offer. While these are both safe vehicles with a lot of great safety features available on them, the 2020 GMC Terrain proves itself superior again. Thanks to great active safety features, including a Teen Driver system, the Terrain is ideal for when you have a young person just starting behind the wheel. Visit us at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, a short drive from Atlanta, GA, today to see the Terrain and the rest of the fantastic GMC lineup for yourself.
The 2020 GMC Terrain has two different engines available, while the 2020 Jeep Compass has only one. That already gives the Terrain an advantage, but the actual performance of its engines pushes it over the top.
The one engine you can get in the 2020 Jeep Compass is a 2.4L Tigershark I-4 engine that offers up to 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Depending on the trim and configuration you choose, this can come with a 6-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed automatic, or a 9-speed automatic transmission.
By comparison, the 2020 GMC Terrain starts with a 1.5L Turbo 4-Cylinder engine that provides up to 170 hp and up to 203 lb-ft of torque. As you can see, this starting engine gives you nearly as much horsepower as the Jeep Compass’s engine and significantly more torque. There is also an available 2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder engine, however, which delivers up to 252 hp and up to 260 lb-ft of torque. As you can see, it is not even close in terms of raw engine power here; if you choose a trim with this engine, then the Terrain has far more power to offer than the 2020 Jeep Compass.
It is also worth noting that every trim and configuration of the Terrain comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission, no matter which engine you choose. This means you get a smooth, responsive ride with either engine in any model of the 2020 GMC Terrain. While the Jeep Compass has a manual transmission to offer, you are otherwise only going to get a 9-speed automatic in it if you choose the highest trims available.
Although neither of these small SUVs can deliver towing potential like a full-size pickup, they can still haul some cargo behind them. The 2020 Jeep Compass has a maximum towing capacity of up to 2,000 lbs if adequately equipped for it. On the other hand, if you configure the 2020 GMC Terrain for optimal towing, then it can pull up to 3,500 lbs behind it. That is a significant difference and can certainly be important if you have a large trailer, boat, or other items that you want to haul with you.
While the 2020 Jeep Compass has some good things to offer inside, a lot of it is optional and costs extra even at the highest trim. For example, the Compass Limited comes with a standard 6-speaker sound system, an 8-inch infotainment display, and ambient LED lighting all standard. Even though this is the highest trim, features like an Alpine Premium sound system, navigation functionality, and a power liftgate for the back are still only available upgrades and not standard.
By comparison, the 2020 GMC Terrain Denali, the highest trim for it, really knocks the standard features out of the park. With the Denali, you get an 8-inch infotainment display with navigation, a Bose premium audio system, and ambient interior lighting all standard. The Terrain Denali features a hands-free, power programmable liftgate, and a wireless charging pad for your compatible devices is standard as well. While you can get some of these features in the 2020 Jeep Compass Limited, you will need to pay extra for them and get them as available options rather than as standard features.
Inside, the 2020 GMC Terrain also comes out on top with more room for your cargo. The 2020 Jeep Compass has up to 27.2 cu.ft. of cargo capacity behind the rear seats and up to 59.8 cu.ft. of cargo capacity behind the front seats with the rear seats folded down. With the 2020 GMC Terrain, however, you get up to 29.6 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the rear seats, which is a bit more. With the rear seats down, you get up to 63.3 cu.ft. of cargo volume behind the front seats, which is significantly more than the Compass can fit. That can make a big difference when you are loading up for a weekend of camping, getting ready for a long road trip, or helping a friend move across town.
Both of these small SUVs are very safe and have a lot of great features to offer. As is the case with many of the details on these vehicles, however, the 2020 GMC Terrain simply gives you more. Even looking at the highest trims for these two vehicles, you can see the Terrain has more to offer.
With the 2020 Jeep Compass Limited, there are useful safety features, but many of them are optional, and some are not available at all. For example, a full airbag system and hill start assist are standard. Other features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear park assist are available but not standard. You also have to choose two different additional safety packages if you want both blind-spot monitoring and a forward collision warning and a lane departure warning.
The 2020 GMC Terrain Denali gives you automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, and a comprehensive airbag system. It also has a rear cross-traffic alert, front, and rear park assist, a lane change alert with side blind zone alert, and a safety alert seat all standard. You get an HD rear vision camera and a Teen Driver system, which lets you indicate that a key is for a teen driver and will activate and deactivate certain features to encourage safe driving and help teach them good habits behind the wheel. Some of these features are in or optional for the Jeep Compass, but many, like a safety alert seat and a Teen Driver system, are not available on the Jeep Compass at all. Clearly, if safety is important to you, the 2020 GMC Terrain is the way to go.
Although there are plenty of great things about the 2020 Jeep Compass, in the end, the 2020 GMC Terrain proves its worth time and again. With more engines available, including a far more powerful engine, which gives you the potential for much greater towing capacity, the performance of the Terrain cannot be beaten and really lets you take everything you need with you. Inside, the 2020 GMC Terrain is a work of art with fantastic options and features, especially with the luxurious Denali trim, as well as more interior cargo space for packages, sports equipment, or camping supplies.
The 2020 GMC Terrain is one of the finest small SUVs on the road and simply gets everything right. Of course, you do not have to take our word for it; you can come to visit us and see the 2020 Terrain and the rest of the fantastic GMC lineup for yourself. Whether you know exactly what you want, or you are still trying to figure it out, we are here to help and make the search for your next vehicle as easy as possible. Call or visit us at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth in Duluth, GA, today, and we will make sure you drive away in the perfect vehicle.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.