2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Hyundai Tucson

The 2023 Jeep Compass showcased a refined departure from its rugged predecessors, embracing a more upscale design philosophy. This year's model received updates with the Compass Sport and Latitude trims flaunting new 17-inch wheel designs, while the Trailhawk trim boasted gloss black wheels. Additionally, the Compass Red editions offered color choices in black or silver, expanding beyond its signature red. The Compass lineup featured five core trims: Sport, Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk, and included special editions like the Altitude, Red, and High Altitude.

With a starting price range from just under $32,000 to over $40,000, the Compass positioned itself as a pricier contender in the small SUV segment. Our tested Limited trim, equipped with extras like the Elite Group, the Sun and Sound Group, and the Driver Assist Group, had an MSRP of $45,800. The exterior, wrapped in Granite Crystal paint and adorned with optional 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, resembled a downsized Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents consistently maintained a sophisticated appearance, enhanced by digital displays and metallic trim. However, the high price point could be a sticking issue, as Jeep's ambitious pricing for the Limited trim could deter some buyers looking for a more economically viable small SUV.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson retained the bold styling introduced in its 2022 redesign. Characterized by its taut angles and unique details like the grille-integrated headlights, the Tucson presented an aggressive yet contemporary aesthetic. Even our white test vehicle appeared sharp, defying the typical blandness associated with white-colored cars. The design choices contributed to an athletic presence, setting the Tucson apart from competitors that often replicate styles across models of differing sizes.

Trim levels included the SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited. The SE featured 17-inch alloy wheels, while the SEL offered 19-inch wheels through an available convenience package. The XRT boasted unique black 19-inch wheels and enhanced exterior trims. The Limited trim had a dark chrome grille and upgraded headlights, exemplifying Hyundai’s attention to design detail.

Inside, the Tucson impressed with a modern and refined cabin full of approachable technology. While it had some shortcomings like the missing volume dial in our test model, which relied on touch-capacitive buttons, the overall layout felt intuitive. Standard features included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added conveniences like dual-zone climate control, a wireless device charging pad, and a fully digital instrument panel.

The 2023 Jeep Compass finally shed its past reputation for subpar powertrains, thanks to a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, complemented by the standard Jeep Active Drive all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. The engine provided peak torque across a broad range and peak horsepower at 5,000 rpm, making the Compass more dynamic.

Though fuel efficiency was improved with an EPA rating of 27 mpg in combined driving, our test model averaged 23.8 mpg in mixed conditions. The turbocharged engine was quieter and smoother than its predecessors, and the new transmission shifted flawlessly. However, the Compass' performance in handling was less than stellar due to its tall, narrow build, leading to significant lateral and vertical body motions on uneven surfaces.

Off-roading capabilities were better showcased in the Trailhawk trim, which included Jeep Active Drive Low AWD, increased ground clearance, skid plates, recovery hooks, and a Rock driving mode. Despite some challenges on muddy terrains with the standard tires, the Compass Trailhawk excelled in rocky conditions, aided by a front-facing camera and effective hill descent control.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson relied on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It drove power to the front wheels, with an AWD option available. While sufficient for city driving, the engine's performance lagged when accelerating to highway speeds or overtaking, accompanied by considerable engine noise. For those seeking more power, Hyundai offered hybrid alternatives with 226-hp and 261-hp options.

The Tucson's handling and ride quality were commendable, balancing comfort and cornering ability adeptly. While it wasn’t as sporty as some rivals like the Mazda CX-5, the Tucson was well-rounded, making it an excellent option for daily commutes and long trips.

Inside the 2023 Jeep Compass, comfort could be found for adults in both rows, although its narrow build made it more maneuverable in tight spaces. Standard features included a 95% air filtration system and available dual-zone automatic climate control and dual-pane sunroof for a more airy feel. Depending on the trim, interior options ranged from cloth upholstery to premium leather seats, with available features such as an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The cargo capacity was competitive within the small SUV segment. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats and up to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The adjustable load floor helped maximize space or create an underfloor storage area.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson excelled in cargo space with 38.7 cubic feet available behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.8 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded. This placed it among the top contenders in its segment, second only to the Honda CR-V. While the base SE model came with a manual liftgate, all other trims featured a hands-free power liftgate that activated simply by standing near the rear bumper with the key fob—no foot waving required.

The Tucson comfortably accommodated five passengers, with spacious headroom and legroom in both rows. The front seats were particularly roomy, making it ideal for long-distance trips with four adults. Additionally, the cabin was dotted with deep cup holders, a center tray, and a wireless device charging pad, enhancing convenience.

All 2023 Jeep Compass trims came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth for two devices, SiriusXM radio, and over-the-air updates. Some configurations included a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, built-in navigation, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in with natural voice recognition.

Our Limited trim test model had all the tech features activated. Alexa responded quickly and accurately to commands, even adjusting the cabin temperature, although the Alpine audio system favored bass-heavy settings by default. The Limited also included a parking assist system and a useful surround-view camera.

The base infotainment system on the Tucson included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It was considered one of the best systems due to its user-friendly interface, despite the absence of conventional volume and tuning dials.

Higher trims like the SEL Convenience Package, XRT, and Limited offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with a fully digital instrument panel, though this upgrade came with wired rather than wireless smartphone connectivity and less intuitive volume controls. The Tucson's remote start system was notably user-friendly, detecting the key fob and allowing the driver to simply put the car into drive without pressing the start button after remote start.

For 2023, the Jeep Compass came standard with a plethora of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including drowsy driver detection, rear-seat reminder, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors. Select trims featured Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system.

Despite extensive ADAS, real-world tests indicated occasional inaccuracies and lags, especially in adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Compass held incomplete crash-test scores from NHTSA and IIHS at the time of review, with only a priorTop Safety Pick rating from IIHS for the 2022 model.

Standard safety features on the 2024 Hyundai Tucson were comprehensive, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Limited trim added parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, Smart Park remote-parking, and a blind-spot camera system. This tech provided an additional layer of safety and convenience, especially in tricky parking situations.

Immersive safety ratings came from IIHS, with the Tucson earning a "Good" rating in most crash testing and a "Superior" rating in crash prevention technology. It was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2023, and preliminary NHTSA ratings for 2024 showed strong results, including five stars in frontal crash tests.