2023 Jeep Compass review by Edmunds.com

February 9th, 2023 by

2023 Jeep Compass

by Reese Counts

2023 Jeep Compass Red Outdoors

 

The 2023 Jeep Compass is a small crossover SUV positioned between the smaller Renegade and the larger Cherokee in Jeep’s lineup. Last year, Jeep gave the Compass updated interior and exterior styling, more in-car tech and additional standard features. For 2023, the Compass gets a new turbocharged engine to replace last year’s weaker motor. It promises not only quicker acceleration but also improved fuel economy. Other enhancements include a new eight-speed automatic transmission, standard all-wheel-drive for all models, and the addition of a drowsy driver monitor and rear seat reminder system.

For a while, there weren’t many other SUVs in this tweener segment, with most rivals being either smaller or larger than the Compass. Not so anymore. Rivals like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen Taos are some of Edmunds’ favorites, offering plenty of features and space for the price. We think they’re better buys overall, but the Compass is still worth a look, especially if the Compass Trailhawk’s above-average off-road capability suits your needs.

Which Compass does Edmunds recommend?

We suggest stepping up from the base Sport trim to the Latitude trim. For a little more money, the Latitude includes some niceties that make the Compass easier to live with day to day.

Jeep Compass models

The 2023 Jeep Compass is a subcompact crossover available in five trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited and Trailhawk. All come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (200 horsepower, 221 lb-ft of torque) that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives all four wheels.

Sport
Starting things out is the Sport trim. Standard equipment includes:

  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • LED headlights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Roof rails
  • 60/40-split rear bench seat
  • Cloth upholstery
  • 10.1-inch touchscreen
  • Six-speaker sound system
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
  • Satellite radio
  • First- and second-row USB ports
  • Adjustable load floor

The Compass Sport comes equipped with several advanced safety features. These include:

  • Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
  • Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn’t used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
  • Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
  • Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
  • Rear seat reminder (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle)

Latitude
Along with access to a few more option packages, the Compass Latitude adds:

  • Foglights and automatic high beams
  • Synthetic leather upholstery inserts
  • Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Keyless ignition and entry

Latitude Lux
The Latitude Lux trim adds:

  • 18-inch wheels
  • Remote engine start
  • Upgraded driver information display
  • Auto-dimming rearview mirror
  • Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Power driver’s seat
  • Heated front seats
  • Leather upholstery

Limited
The Compass Limited is the most comprehensively equipped. It builds on the Latitude Lux equipment by adding:

  • Black-painted roof
  • Automatic wipers
  • Windshield wiper de-icer
  • Ambient interior lighting
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

Trailhawk
The AWD-only Trailhawk is an off-road-themed model that is based on the Latitude Lux (though it does revert to the Latitude’s steering wheel and front seat configuration and doesn’t come with remote engine start). Other upgrades include:

  • Black-painted roof
  • 17-inch wheels
  • Automatic wipers
  • Off-road-oriented tires
  • Full-size spare tire
  • Raised suspension
  • Underbody skid plates
  • Tow hooks
  • Hill descent control
  • Unique AWD system with low range and Rock driving mode
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Premium cloth and leather seats with red stitching
  • Ambient interior lighting
  • Parking sensors

The Compass is available with a staggering number of option packages, many of which are named similarly to others and only available on one trim level. We’ve broken the important ones into their basic components below.

  • Convenience Group (Latitude and Trailhawk)
    • All upgrades from the Latitude Lux (except the 18-inch wheels and leather upholstery)
    • Windshield wiper de-icer
    • Dual-zone climate control
    • Hands-free liftgate (Latitude only)
    • 115-volt power outlet
  • Driver Assist Group I (Latitude) and II (Latitude Lux)
    • Convenience Group upgrades
    • LED foglights
    • Parking sensors
    • Automatic wipers
    • Wireless charging pad
    • Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Jeep and the car in front)
    • 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Compass and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
    • Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
  • Driver Assist Group III (Trailhawk and Limited)
    • Driver Assist I and II upgrades
    • Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) — available later in the model year
  • Elite Group (Trailhawk and Limited)
    • Convenience Group upgrades
    • 19-inch wheels
    • Upgraded LED headlights
    • LED foglights
    • Digital instrument panel
    • Driver’s seat memory settings
    • Heated and ventilated front-row seats
    • Heated rear seats
    • Premium leather upholstery
    • Navigation system
  • Sun and Sound Group (all models except Sport)
    • Panoramic sunroof
    • Nine-speaker Alpine audio system

There are also the Altitude and High Altitude packages, which primarily add enhanced styling elements to the Latitude and Limited trims, respectively.

-TJ

 

Posted in Jeep Model Features, Sales