2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Ford Escape

The 2023 Jeep Compass presented a more refined and upscale design, moving away from the rugged aesthetic traditionally associated with Jeep. It shared design elements with the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families, offering a sophisticated look with new 17-inch wheel designs for the Sport and North models, and gloss black wheels for the Trailhawk. In Canada, the Compass was available in seven trim levels, with the Trailhawk trims being ideal for off-road adventures. The base prices ranged from just over $35,000 to more than $45,000, making it a pricier option in the small SUV segment. Our test vehicle, a Limited trim with several additional packages, had a Canadian MSRP of $54,775. The interior, with its two-tone black and gray cabin and caramel accents, exuded a sense of luxury, though the high price tag seemed excessive.

In contrast, the 2024 Ford Escape underwent a significant restyling in 2023, which carried over into the 2024 model, giving it a more aggressive front-end appearance. The SUV retained a soft and generically appealing look overall. Ford offered the 2024 Escape in several trims, including Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, ST-Line Elite, and Plug-in Hybrid, with prices ranging from $33,049 to $46,999. Our test vehicle, an ST-Line Elite, featured extra-cost paint, black 19-inch wheels, and a panoramic roof, bringing the price to $49,924. The interior, while initially appearing upscale with diamond-stitched leather, revealed excessively glossy surfaces and stiff upholstery, raising questions about its value. Despite these issues, the Escape's updates made it more appealing, though it seemed unlikely Ford would address these concerns given the model's uncertain future.

The 2023 Jeep Compass finally addressed its long-standing powertrain issues with a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The engine's peak torque was available from 1,750 to 4,250 rpm, with maximum horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep Active Drive AWD, the Compass offered improved performance. The Trailhawk version featured a more advanced AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, making it suitable for off-road adventures. Despite the improvements, the engine prioritized fuel economy over power, resulting in a combined fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km. The Compass's handling was better than previous models, but it still exhibited significant body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite offered a choice between a 192-horsepower hybrid powertrain and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Our test vehicle had the turbo engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD, achieving an average fuel economy of 9.8 L/100 km. The Escape's AWD system featured a driveline disconnect for improved fuel economy, and drivers could select from Eco, Normal, Sport, and Slippery driving modes. While the turbo engine provided quick acceleration, the Escape's driving dynamics didn't match its sporty appearance. The ride was soft, and the handling allowed too much body motion. The Escape's brake pedal was responsive, but the steering felt sluggish. Overall, the Escape offered a comfortable driving experience but lacked the performance to match its sporty design.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided a comfortable interior for adults in both rows, despite its narrow design. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. The Limited trim added luxury touches, though the hard plastic edge of the centre console was uncomfortable. The rear seat offered decent space, and the Compass provided competitive cargo space with 770 litres behind the back seat and 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line featured a black interior with cloth inserts and artificial leather bolsters, with red stitching for a sporty look. Leather seats were optional, but the quality was lacking. Our test model included ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. The Escape's front seats were large and supportive, and the rear seat was comfortable when slid back. Interior storage was generous in the front, but rear passengers had fewer options. Cargo volume measured 1,061 litres behind the back seat and 1,852 litres with the rear seat folded.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and over-the-air updates. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, navigation, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, and Alexa Built-in. The Limited trim had all these features, with the Alexa technology proving responsive and accurate. The Alpine audio system was decent but bass-heavy. The Compass also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Ford Escape featured digital instrumentation, with upper trims like the ST-Line Elite having a 12.3-inch display. The 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system was impressive, though the colour theme and thin fonts were less than ideal. Lower trims had an 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen added connected navigation and a Bang & Olufsen sound system, though the speakers were damaged in our test vehicle. The Sync 4 system had some lag, and the wireless charger heated devices excessively. The Escape also had an optional head-up display and Active Park Assist 2.0 for semi-autonomous parking.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder for 2023. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping system was sometimes intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness. The Compass had incomplete crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.

The 2024 Ford Escape included a post-collision automatic braking system and Ford Co-Pilot360 driving assistance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Our ST-Line Elite had adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a 360-degree camera. The lane-keeping systems were inconsistent, and the predictive speed assist was overly cautious. The Escape received favourable crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, with five-star ratings except for a four-star rollover rating.