This post was originally published on this site
Pros
- Good off-roader
- Modern tech features
- Standard turbo engine
Cons
- Small cargo hold
What’s new?
- New turbo engine
- Standard AWD
- More standard safety tech
The rugged 2023 Jeep Compass gets a welcome update with a new turbocharged engine, standard all-wheel drive, and more standard features. Pricing starts at $29,995.
The 2023 Jeep Compass is something a little different in small SUVs. It’s a practical daily commuter that’s easy to drive, but it also has the off-road chops to live up to the Jeep name. The Compass gets some significant updates for the 2023 model year, namely a turbocharged engine, standard all-wheel drive, and more standard driver assistance tech features to keep it competitive in the subcompact SUV class. Its chief rivals in off-road-ready small SUVs are the Ford Bronco Sport and the Subaru
FUJHY,
Crosstrek.
Read: The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek: The quirky little SUV is a sensible car that’s not afraid to get dirty
2023 Jeep Compass pricing
The 2023 Jeep Compass starts at $29,995. The most popular Latitude trim starts at $32,295, the off-road-ready Trailhawk begins at $35,745, and the loaded High Altitude model starts at $38,340. The pricing of the Compass is similar to its closest rival, the Ford
F,
Bronco Sport.
- Compass Sport: $29,995
- Compass Latitude: $32,295 | Popular
- Compass Latitude Lux: $33,695 | Popular
- Compass Altitude: $34,090
- Compass Limited: $35,495
- Compass Trailhawk: $35,745
- Compass (RED) Edition: $37,440
- Compass High Altitude: $38,340
These are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and don’t include the $1,595 ($1,645 in Hawaii) factory-to-dealer delivery fee.
Before buying a Compass, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Jeep Compass resale values are just shy of average for the segment.
Don’t miss: Car quality is slipping: These are the brands with the most and least complaints, study finds
What’s new?
The Jeep Compass
Jeep
The big story with the 2023 Jeep Compass is the new turbocharged engine. On paper, it’s a significant upgrade over the engine it’s replacing with an extra 23 horsepower and 49 lb-ft of torque. Also, all-wheel drive now comes standard on every model.
The Compass also gains more standard safety features this year. Newly standard features include drowsy driver detection, a rear seat reminder alert, and a security alarm. Automatic high beams now come standard on all but the base Sport trim.
Driving the 2023 Jeep Compass
We anticipate the new turbocharged engine to bring the Compass to life in a way that the outgoing engine lacked. The discontinued 4-cylinder engine was a bit pokey, and we expect the extra power and torque from the turbo engine to put some pep in the step of this small SUV.
In our experience driving the Compass with the old engine, it’s one of the best off-roaders in its class when equipped with all-wheel drive. Now that AWD comes standard, every 2023 Compass will be a good off-roader. The Trailhawk is especially rugged, thanks to extra ground clearance, off-road tires, skid plates, and Rock mode.
As for on-road refinement, the Compass is agreeable and easy to drive. It’s an SUV that drives like a compact car on the pavement, and its small footprint makes it easy to park.
Modern interior
The interior of the Jeep Compass still feels fresh after it was updated for the 2022 model year. The design is sleek and modern, the centerpiece being the user-friendly 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The quality of the interior materials is about what you’d expect for this price point, and it gets pretty nice in the Limited trim and up with leather seating, automatic climate control, and more tech features.
The Compass has ample space in both rows of seats with pretty good rear legroom for an SUV this size. The cargo space in the Compass is a little tight, but it has more cargo room than the Subaru Crosstrek.
Rugged exterior
The Jeep Compass benefits from the recognizable aesthetic of the iconic Jeep brand. It has the traditional 7-slot grille, and its look changes throughout the model range with the rugged Trailhawk trim and the (RED) Edition and High Altitude models bringing unique appearance packages to the well-appointed Limited trim.
In terms of size, the Compass is on the bigger side of subcompact SUVs. In the Jeep lineup, the Compass is slotted between the smaller Renegade and the bigger Cherokee.
Also see: The 9 things that are most likely to affect your auto insurance rates
Our favorite features and tech
Turbo engine
We’re excited to see a turbocharged engine under the hood of the compass. Compared to the outgoing engine, the new turbo engine improves this SUV’s performance on-road and off.
Jeep Active Drive 4×4
The standard Jeep Active Drive 4×4 system is the foundation of what makes the Compass such a good off-roader. It’s a fully-automatic system that delivers torque to the wheels that need it most.
Selec-Terrain
The standard Selec-Terrain system lets you optimize the AWD system for whatever terrain you encounter. You’ll probably leave it in Auto mode most of the time, but it also has Snow and Sand/Mud modes, plus the Trailhawk trim adds a Rock mode for more serious off-roading.
Uconnect 5
This 10.1-inch infotainment system is user-friendly and packed with features. It has wireless Android Auto and Apple
AAPL,
CarPlay, and it’s available with a wireless charging pad and an Alpine premium audio system.
Highway Assist
The available Highway Assist system does what its name implies. Available on the Limited and Trailhawk models, this semi-autonomous driving system uses features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to help lighten the driver’s load during highway driving.
Trailhawk
The Compass Trailhawk is more than just an appearance package. It has Trail Rated off-road capabilities thanks to a 20:1 crawl ratio, a Rock mode, an extra inch of ground clearance, off-road tires, and skid plates.
Also read: What California’s ban on gas cars could mean for you—even if you don’t live there
Engine and transmission
The Jeep Compass gets a new turbocharged engine for 2023. It brings a welcome performance upgrade to the Compass, and we expect the fuel economy to be better than the outgoing engine. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive comes standard.
2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
200 horsepower
221 lb-ft of torque
EPA fuel economy: TBD
More Compass fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.
See: 2023 gas prices will average 50 cents per gallon below 2022, but expect to pay this much come May
3-Year/36,000-mile warranty
The Jeep Compass is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is par for the course in the subcompact SUV segment.
KBB’s car review methodology.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
