2023 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of luxury and style, drawing clear design inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70. Its split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that curved from behind the rear window were notable features that connected it visually to the sedan. This chrome bar cleverly suggested a coupe-like SUV without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to Genesis's luxury credentials, featuring top-notch materials and an impressive fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash was equipped with a full touchscreen, a rotary dial, and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface that was superior to the touch capacitive controls found in some competitors.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a more refined and upscale look, moving away from the rugged design ethos traditionally associated with Jeep. The Compass shared design elements with the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families, offering a more grown-up appearance. The 2023 model introduced new wheel designs for the Sport, North, and Trailhawk models, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Compass Limited trim featured a two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents, sophisticated digital displays, and metallic trim, creating a sense of luxury. However, the high price point of the test vehicle raised questions about its value compared to other small luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two powertrains: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 excelled in blending comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined and well-rounded driving experience. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery pack, dual electric motors, and a combined output of 429 horsepower, with a Boost Mode increasing it to 483 horsepower for short bursts. It had a range of 383 kilometres and supported fast charging.

The 2023 Jeep Compass introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard Jeep Active Drive all-wheel-drive system. The Compass offered three driving modes: Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud, with the Trailhawk trim adding a Rock mode and a low range for off-roading. The new turbo engine transformed the Compass from gutless to gutsy, providing a more enjoyable driving experience. However, the engine's power was not as strong as it could be, prioritizing fuel economy and regular fuel requirements. The Compass's fuel economy was rated at 8.8 L/100 km in combined driving, with our test averaging 9.9 L/100 km. The Trailhawk's off-road capabilities were impressive, but the standard tires limited its performance in challenging conditions.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 818 litres with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. The GV70 featured a hands-free power liftgate, large cupholders in the centre console, and a helpful tray with a retractable lid. While the front seats were comfortable and easy to adjust, the rear seats had tighter legroom, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward for rear passenger comfort.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided a roomy interior for adults in both rows, despite its narrow design. Standard features included an air filtration system and a humidity-sensing dual-zone automatic climate control system. Higher trims offered leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Compass's rear seat provided enough space for adults, with generous foot room and supportive seat cushions. Interior storage was acceptable, though the centre armrest bin was small. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 1,693 litres with the seats folded. Some models featured a foot-activated power liftgate and a foldable front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. Genesis provided helpful buttons and a rotary dial for control, though the proximity of the rotary dial to the vehicle's shifter could cause confusion. The GV70 included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Optional features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The system received over-the-air updates and could be paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, embedded navigation, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in digital assistant. The Limited test vehicle had all these features, with the Alexa technology proving fast and accurate. The Alpine audio system was good but bass-heavy. The Compass also offered a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist with lane-keeping assist. The 2.5T Advance Plus added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system, while the Prestige grade included reverse automatic emergency braking. The Electrified GV70 came with much of this equipment as standard. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a standard drowsy driver detection system and a rear-seat reminder system. Standard advanced driving assistance systems included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were available on higher trims. The lane-keeping inputs were sometimes too obvious, and the adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2023 Compass, and the IIHS had incomplete results. The Compass was ineligible for a Top Safety Pick rating until further testing was complete.