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The 2023 Jeep Compass is an off-road-capable crossover with a plethora of technological appointments. But should you buy a used one or opt for a new model?
Jeep Compass
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The Jeep Compass entered its third generation for the 2023 model year. This small, but capable, crossover has won its share of fans over the years, and those fans are just as passionate as Wrangler owners – maybe just not as extreme. You can still expect to receive plenty of Jeep waves when you drive one around for a while.
The Jeep Compass is made for families that want an affordable crossover SUV that won’t break the bank. The low starting price is one of the main attractions. After all, you get a lot of features – including AWD. It offers comfort and function for families that don’t want (or need) a ton of space.
The 2023 model year brings a new powertrain to the Compass. It now has a 200-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L inline four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also comes with standard AWD across all trim levels including the Sport trim.
So, which is better: new or used? We’ll see how the 2023 Jeep Compass compares to the 2020 Jeep Compass to help you make a decision.
Specs
The 2023 Jeep Compass’ new powertrain gives it a boost over the previous 2.4L engine that it had before. The new powertrain puts out 200 horsepower and 221 lbs.-ft of torque. The Trailhawk trim gives you more off-road features such as a low “crawler” mode and a Rock mode.
The 2020 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4L engine and either a 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, or 9-speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission was only available on the Sport and Latitude trims while the 9-speed automatic is only available on 4WD models. Regardless of the transmission, the powertrain makes 180 horsepower and 175 lbs.-ft. of torque. FWD was also standard, and 4WD was available as an option.
The 2023 Jeep Compass is also more efficient. It is rated at 24 MPG city/32 MPG highway. The 2020 Jeep Compass was rated at 21 MPG city/30 MPG highway.
Driving and Performance
There is a definite boost in performance to the new 2023 Jeep Compass when compared to older models. The turbocharged engine offered enough thrust to bring the little SUV from zero to 60 MPH in 7.5 seconds during our test. Do not let its boxy stature fool you; it is much more agile than it appears. You don’t get much feedback from the steering wheel but rest assured that it is weighted well and responds precisely.
It handles well in the corners with only a little lean. It is remarkably well-behaved and feels solid in the turns. Off-road, the Compass was able to conquer normal obstacles with a very component AWD system.
The 2020 Jeep Compass, however, faired worse in performance. The engine was lethargic at best, and the nine-speed automatic transmission shifted slowly. It took 9.1 excruciating seconds to crawl from zero to 60 MPH in our test. However, the handling and ride quality was right up there with the 2023 Jeep Compass.
Neither model is suitable for towing more than 2,000 lbs., but that is to be expected with a four-cylinder engine.
Comfort and Interior
The interior of the 2023 Jeep Compass wasn’t overly luxurious, but it wasn’t a slum either. The material selections were adequate for the price of the vehicle, and there was plenty of room for four adult passengers. The back seats are merely average – not the biggest we’ve seen but not the smallest either.
The seats are comfortable and provide plenty of support even on long rides. Cargo space is limited despite its spacious appearance. You get 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
The used 2020 Jeep Compass’ interior is nearly identical in quality to the new model. It features the same cargo space and passenger comfort as well. Both models even have an available 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment display that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2023 model offers a new 10.1-inch unit that is available.
Trims and Features
The 2023 Jeep Compass is available in five trim levels.
The Sport trim is the base model and comes with features such as LED headlights, roof rails, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a six-speaker sound system, 60/40-split rear bench seat, cloth upholstery, a 7-inch gauge cluster display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, front and rear USB ports, an adjustable load floor, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, driver attention warning, and a rear seat reminder.
The Latitude trim gives you everything in the Sport trim plus faux leather upholstery, keyless ignition and entry, fog lights, and automatic high beams.
The Latitude Lux gives you luxury appointments such as a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, leather upholstery, remote engine start, 18-inch wheels, a power driver’s seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The Limited trim gives you everything in the Latitude Lux trim plus automatic wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, parking sensors, ambient interior lighting, windshield wiper deicer, and a black painted roof.
The Trailhawk is the off-road specialist of the lineup. It is based on the Latitude Lux trim and adds features such as 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, raised suspension, tow hooks, under-body skid plates, a full-size spare tire, hill descent control, a special AWD system including low range and Rock driving modes, automatic wipers, parking sensors, cloth and leather seats with red stitching, ambient interior lighting, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
There are also many packages available to add even more to your Jeep Compass. These include a Convenience Group, Driver Assist Group, Elite Group, and Sun and Sound Group. A special Jeep Compass (RED) Edition and a High Altitude package are also available. They add additional styling elements to the Compass.
The 2020 Jeep Compass is available in four trim levels. The Sport trim is the base level and comes with features such as a 7-inch touchscreen, front and rear USB ports, a six-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, height-adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split rear bench seat, dual-zone automatic climate control.
The Latitude trim gives you everything in the Sport trim plus rear air vents, upgraded faux leather and cloth seats, roof rails, alloy wheels, a faux leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry and ignition, and satellite radio.
The Limited trim gives you everything that the Latitude trim offers and adds an 8.4-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a 115-volt household-style outlet, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a digital information display, and remote engine start.
The Trailhawk is based on the Latitude model and offers features specific to off-road performance. These include skid plates, a special AWD system including low range and Rock settings, raised suspension, and tow hooks.
There are also additional packages that you can add on such as a Safety and Security Group, an Advanced Safety Group, and a Sun and Sound group. Appearance packages include the Altitude package on the Latitude and the High Altitude package on the Limited.
The Verdict
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There are a lot of things to consider when choosing between a new or used Jeep Compass. The biggest change may also be the best change, and that is the powertrain upgrade. The difference in performance is night and day when compared to the used model. The new powertrain offers so much more power while being more fuel efficient.
Everything else is pretty much identical. You just have to decide whether you want a big performance boost or not. The bigger infotainment system is also nice, as is the standard AWD.
The Jeep Compass is priced affordably enough to win over budget-minded buyers right from the start. The price does start to climb toward Wrangler territory as you climb up the trim levels, but we recommend going with the Sport trim anyway because it is a great value.
With this in mind, we say spring for the new model and get the powertrain upgrade. It is worth the extra money, and you’ll also have a brand-new warranty. If you insist on buying used, be sure to go over our used car buying checklist.
