2022 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its familiar look since its last redesign in 2017. It resembled a smaller version of the Grand Cherokee, with our test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass Trailhawk Elite impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, enhancing its premium SUV appeal. The lineup offered various trims, starting from the base Sport to the top-tier Trailhawk Elite, with prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from its previous blocky exterior. The 2023 refresh introduced a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The Escape, along with the Bronco Sport, was the smallest in Ford’s SUV lineup. It offered a range of trims, from the base Active to the top-tier ST-Line Elite. Our test vehicle, the ST-Line Elite, featured 19-inch wheels and a sleek design, resembling a Mazda CX-5. Inside, it boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat provided ease of adjustment.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Dubbed the “Tigershark” engine, it lacked the power to compete with other SUVs, and a turbocharger would have improved its performance, especially at higher altitudes. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with the engine, was reluctant to downshift, resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement when accelerating. The Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes, and the Active Drive AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The Trailhawk trim provided enhanced off-road capabilities with a low range, hill descent control, and skid plates.

The 2023 Ford Escape stood out with multiple powertrain options. The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivered 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding twitchy inputs common in the segment.

The 2022 Jeep Compass shared similar interior dimensions with the Renegade and Cherokee, offering enough space for four adults and their luggage. The Trailhawk Elite trim featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof and redesigned dashboard with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system enhanced the premium feel. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,693 litres with the seats folded, surpassing the Cherokee.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The head-up display was easy to adjust, and the front-seat cupholders were conveniently arranged. The Escape offered 1,061 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, falling short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Rear-seat legroom was slightly less than competitors, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option on upper trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth pairing for two devices. Additional features included a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with specific requests.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology. Lower trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured a 13.2-inch screen. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native system. A WiFi hotspot was available with a subscription. The system was slightly slow to respond, and the volume knob was inconveniently placed. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen option on higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring available from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist was to be added later, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system gave false positives, and the engine struggled with adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA rollover resistance rating was three stars, and the IIHS needed to improve headlight performance.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side-crash tests. The IIHS did not grant a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centring technology, along with a surround-view camera.