2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2023 Jeep Compass presented a more refined and upscale appearance compared to its rugged predecessors. It shared design elements with the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families, featuring a sophisticated look with new 17-inch wheel designs for the Sport and North models, and gloss black wheels for the Trailhawk. The Compass was available in seven trim levels in Canada, with the Trailhawk trims being ideal for off-road adventures. Despite its upscale appearance, the Compass was considered expensive for a small SUV, with prices ranging from over $35,000 to more than $45,000, excluding additional fees. The Limited trim test vehicle, priced at $54,775, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee with its Granite Crystal paint and 19-inch wheels, offering a luxurious interior with digital displays and metallic trim.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Sorento underwent a significant visual update, aligning more closely with its siblings, the Telluride and EV9. The Sorento featured a bold new front end with a large grille, vertically stacked LED headlights, and wing-like daytime running lights, giving it a more imposing presence. The rear received subtle updates, with LED taillights and new bumpers. The Sorento's trims in Canada included LX, EX, X-Line, X-Line Limited, and the new X-Pro, with the latter two offering more aggressive looks and off-road capabilities. Inside, the Sorento boasted a new dashboard with a clean design, twin 12.3-inch displays on higher trims, and improved materials, making it feel more upscale than some competitors. The Sorento's cabin was solidly assembled, offering a brown interior colour option for added character.

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 system, the Compass offered improved performance. The Trailhawk version featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock driving mode, and off-road enhancements. Despite the improvements, the engine prioritized fuel economy over power, with a combined fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km. The Compass provided a more enjoyable driving experience than previous models, with better grip and quieter operation, but it still exhibited significant body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained its base 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, which struggled with the Sorento's weight. However, EX and higher models featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged Sorento offered lively performance, with zero-to-100 times in the mid-seven-second range. All Sorentos in Canada came with AWD, with X-Line and X-Pro trims offering increased ground clearance. The Sorento handled confidently, with well-weighted steering and effective brakes. The X-Pro trim, with its all-terrain tires, excelled in off-road conditions, offering a smoother ride and improved grip. The Sorento's towing capacity varied by trim, with the X-Pro rated at 2,040 kg. While the gas-powered Sorentos had average fuel economy, the turbocharged version achieved 10.3 L/100 km combined.

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered a spacious 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 driver's seat, and heated front seats. The Limited trim provided a luxurious feel, with comfortable seating and ample foot room in the rear. However, interior storage was limited, and the centre console's hard plastic edge was uncomfortable. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,693 litres with the seats folded.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and comfortable in the first two rows, with a tighter third row. It offered more legroom in the front and second rows than many two-row SUVs, with optional captain's chairs for added convenience. The third row, with 752 mm of legroom, was suitable for occasional use by children. The Sorento's new dashboard featured ergonomic controls and ample storage space. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, but folding it down provided 1,090 to 1,274 litres, and up to 2,139 litres with all seats down. Higher trims included a power liftgate.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, 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 included all these features, with responsive voice recognition and a bass-heavy audio system. A parking assist system and surround-view camera were also available.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a redesigned software system called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC). The system prioritized popular features and offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims included a second 12.3-inch digital display and a Bose 12-speaker sound system. The Sorento also featured Digital Key 2.0, allowing smartphone access to the vehicle. The system supported over-the-air updates and included USB-C outlets in all rows.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder for 2023. Standard ADAS included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Compass had incomplete crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, with the latter's Top Safety Pick rating pending further testing.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured an extensive suite of standard and optional safety systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered navigation-based adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist 2. The Sorento's adaptive cruise control systems learned from driver behaviour, though sensors could be blocked by weather conditions. The Sorento had "Good" ratings in some IIHS tests, but the LATCH system received an "Acceptable" rating. NHTSA had not yet evaluated the 2024 model.