They say competition improves the breed, and that certainly is the case with the heavily revised 2023 Jeep Compass. For years, the Compass was the only game in town for those who wanted a small, reasonably inexpensive SUV with serious off-road chops. But for the 2021 model year, Ford introduced the Bronco Sport, its heads-up competitor to the Compass, and Jeep has responded by improving the Compass markedly over the past two years.
From a size point of view, the Jeep Compass and Ford Bronco Sport play in the lower reaches of the giant compact SUV segment. The two models are about 173 inches long and significantly shorter than the compact SUV segment sales leader, the Toyota RAV4. In fact, they are shorter overall than the recently introduced all-new version of the Honda HR-V, although industry observers traditionally regard it as a subcompact SUV. It demonstrates that size creep is an ongoing trend in the crossover SUV segments.
The 2023 Compass' Jeep heritage and serious off-pavement capabilities are key differentiators from the run-of-the-mill small SUVs that now flood the market. In 2022, Jeep set about making the Compass more competitive with the well-received Ford Bronco Sport by giving the interior a complete makeover. For 2023, Jeep completed the transformation by substituting a new, more powerful, and more sophisticated turbocharged engine for the lackluster 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that previously occupied space under the Compass' hood. At the same time, Jeep made 4-wheel drive standard across the Compass lineup. The improvement the new powertrain offers is nothing short of amazing.
For 2023, Jeep makes the Compass available in five trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk. In addition to these trims, the Compass also gives buyers the choice of three special editions and add-on packages: Altitude, (RED), and High Altitude.
The Sport is the least expensive trim, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $31,590, including the $1,595 destination charge. That's about $2,000 more than the base 2022 Compass Sport, equipped with front-wheel drive. The mid-level Latitude Lux has niceties like leather seats and a starting MSRP of $35,785. The Trail-Rated Compass Trailhawk, fitted with an array of worthwhile off-road gear, has a base price of $37,340. Options can take it up another $10,000 for those who want even higher levels of equipment and capability.
The subject of this driving impression is the luxuriously equipped Limited trim, with a base price of $37,090. Jeep fit the test vehicle with three option packages: Driver Assist Group, Elite Group, and Sun and Sound Group. The as-tested price was $45,800, including the destination charge.
The driving took place in the hills above and around Malibu, California. The 2023 Compass began arriving at Jeep dealerships in the first quarter of 2023.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
Jeep Director of Product Scott Tallon describes the interiors of many compact SUVs as a "black hole." Getting away from that was just what the Jeep designers sought to do with the interior makeover of the Compass. They succeeded by creating an upscale interior that, in the high trim levels, rivals that of luxury-brand compact crossovers.
Combining several interior colors plus soft-touch materials gives the Compass' interior a fresh feel. The four-spoke steering wheel has well-integrated controls and sports the Jeep logo front and center. A sizable infotainment screen springs from the middle of the dash, positioned above the easy-to-use climate controls. The controls are well-marked and don't require a learning curve.
The leather-trimmed seats in the Limited test vehicle offered 8-way power adjustment and optionally available ventilation. Seat comfort and adjustability are praiseworthy. While the rear seat has safety belts for three, Jeep shaped the seat to best accommodate two adults, which is the wiser course. Jeep also equipped the test vehicle with the available 10.25-inch digital instrumentation and driver information display. One of the largest in the segment, it delivers crisp, colorful graphics.
The 2023 Jeep Compass welcomes occupants with 99.6 cubic feet of passenger space—roomier than the Toyota RAV4 and Honda HR-V. It has 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats—less than the Bronco Sport but still quite ample for a vehicle of its size. With the rear seat folded, the Compass provides 59.8 cubic feet of cargo space.
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
One of the joys of the 2023 Jeep Compass is its standard Uconnect 5 infotainment system and 10.1-inch touchscreen. The display delivers excellent graphics that are easy to see and select while driving. Uconnect 5 is Jeep's most current infotainment system. The automaker says its computing power makes it five times faster than the previous system.
Uconnect 5 features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AM/FM/SiriusXM radio, Sirius Guardian, Bluetooth voice activation, and voice text reply capabilities. It supports over-the-air updates and has dual phone connectivity. A similar system that adds integrated navigation and Amazon Alexa Built-in is available optionally on the Trailhawk and Limited trims.
The standard audio system in the 2023 Compass plays through six speakers. Buyers of all but the base Sport trim can choose the optional 9-speaker Alpine audio system with a subwoofer. All 2023 Compass SUVs feature at least three USB ports, including one for second-row passengers. A wireless device charging pad is optional on all trims except the Sport.
For 2023, Jeep adds a driver monitoring system, a rear-seat reminder system, and a security alarm to the already robust list of standard safety equipment. The Limited and Trailhawk trims offer the availability of the Highway Assist semi-autonomous driving system. The system operates well and could be a boon during long-distance Interstate travel. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability is standard on Limited and Trailhawk trims, and it, too, is a welcome partner on the highway.
The Compass' active lane management includes lane-departure warning and (happily gentle) lane-keeping assistance. Forward-collision warning detects pedestrians and cyclists and deploys automatic emergency braking when needed. Parallel and perpendicular parking assistance is available on Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk trims, even though the compact Compass is easy to park "manually."
Photo: Jack R. Nerad
If you want to understand the benefits of a better engine, drive a 2022 and 2023 Jeep Compass back-to-back. The 2022 Compass has a 177-horsepower, normally aspirated 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. The 2023 model gets a 200-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. The difference is immediately apparent. While the added horsepower is welcome, the increased peak torque and broader torque curve are even more telling. The 2023 Compass offers 221 pound-feet of peak torque, available in a much wider band than the 2022 model, which has just 172 pound-feet. The result is much better drivability. Whether you're climbing a rock face at 2 miles per hour or seeking to accelerate from 40 mph to 65 mph onto a freeway, torque is there to get the job done.
The 2023 Compass' acceleration and road-holding abilities impressed me during my test drive in the hills above Malibu. While it's not a sport sedan, the Compass can deliver plenty of driving fun. In addition to the solid horsepower and torque of the fuel-efficient turbocharged engine, the SUV's compact size and good visibility from the driver's seat contribute to its pleasant on-road demeanor.
Beyond that, while at the wheel of a 2023 Compass Trailhawk, I witnessed the vehicle's impressive off-road abilities firsthand. The Trailhawk's standard Active Drive Low 4x4 system with a 20:1 crawl ratio, higher ride height, and hill-descent control endow it with top-notch all-terrain capabilities. With Active Drive, the Limited trim doesn't share all those abilities, but it will still deliver good off-pavement performance and excellent poor-weather traction.
The most important lesson from this driving impression is the superiority of the 2023 Jeep Compass over the 2022 model. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, added safety equipment, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system are solid reasons to pick the newest Compass. It is hard to argue against a model that provides improved drivability, better acceleration, upgraded entertainment, and enhanced fuel economy. The 2023 Jeep Compass does all of that and more. It is a significant advance over the previous year's model.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine and Kelley Blue Book and is currently the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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