People buying compact sedans aren’t generally looking for a vehicle that will take home beauty awards. They tend to want something functional and practical and affordable.

Nissan competes in this segment with the Sentra, and saw a need to step things up for the 2020 redesign. And it turned out quite nicely.

With the 2020 Nissan Sentra SR Premium, Nissan has managed to meet all the criteria listed above, plus offer a beautiful looking ride that will turn heads. It looks like a sports car, and drives much better than you’d expect from an entry-level sedan out of a non-luxury automaker’s stable.

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The 2020 Nissan Sentra I tested featured a two-tone Monarch Orange and Super Black color scheme which was sharp and among the best looking vehicles I’ve seen this year. The design up front is especially bold and attractive and jumps out at you in a good way.

In a class not known much for its looks, this may be among the best-looking options available in 2020. I got more feedback on this car than I've gotten on vehicles that cost twice as much, and it was all positive.

This is a compact sedan, so legroom and headroom are tight in the rear, but the front seats are quite comfortable. The quality of materials used inside the Sentra were higher than you might expect for this price point, too.

Standard on the SR trim level are 18-inch alloy wheels, dark chrome grill, LED headlights and fog lamps, heated exterior mirrors, a rear spoiler, leather shift knob, and sport cloth interior.

The Premium package (well worth its $2,170 cost) will get you thin lens LED headlamps, power sliding glass moonroof, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, leatherette seats, Intelligent Around View Monitor, and auto-dimming rear view mirror.

Among the sea of available compact SUVs, every entry has its strong points.
And when we’re talking about Jeep, one word comes to mind: Rugged.

I recently tested a 2020 Jeep Cherokee, a compact SUV that offers an edge in off-road capability over the competition — which includes the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and many more.

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For 2020, there are few major changes, and much of the Cherokee design dates back several years. It’s still a sharp exterior look though, with an attractive side view and the usual seven-slot grille up front, complemented by nicely-shaped headlamps.

The interior is very welcoming and comfortable, and more upscale than you would expect from a Jeep. My test vehicle featured premium leather-trimmed bucket seats, dual-zone automatic temperature control, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.

Spacewise, keep in mind this is a compact SUV, so the rear will be a bit tight for passengers in terms of leg room. Front seats are very comfortable and you get good head space all around. Cargo space is decent but less than some competitors.

First introduced with the 2018 model year, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is what I’ll call an in-betweener offering. Some people would call it a subcompact crossover, others a compact crossover, depending how they define the segments.

Either way you look at it, the coupe-styled vehicle derived from one of their more famous nameplates is Mitsubishi’s attempt to get in on the crossover action and take away share from the long-established crossover offerings on the market. I recently spent some time in an Eclipse Cross, and I’m back with a full report.

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Both the front and rear ends of the Eclipse Cross feature unique looks and lighting setups that stand out in the segment. Add in a sharp look on the sides of the vehicle, and this is an extremely attractive compact crossover that competes well design-wise.

Inside, the materials were not ultra high-end, but were at least equal to competitors in terms of comfort and material quality. Among the highlights are a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-wrapped shift knob.

Even base models offer standard heated front seats, which is wise. Optional are heated rear seats, and speaking of rear seats, they also have a reclining feature. Note that this is a compact vehicle, so space for legroom will be limited for rear passengers. Storage room is decent for the segment.

A panoramic sunroof and roof rails are offered. The base vehicle comes with 16-inch wheels, and my test vehicle (an SEL trim level) had 18-inch wheels. The Eclipse Cross features LED low and high beam headlights, fog lights, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, LED tail lights, power folding side mirrors and front rain-sensing wipers.