2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Jeep Compass

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 features like round headlights and square taillights. The Compass Sport and North models introduced a new 17-inch wheel design, while the Trailhawk's wheels were painted gloss black. In Canada, the Compass was available in seven trim levels, with the Trailhawk trims being ideal for off-road adventures. The test vehicle, a Limited trim, was priced at $54,775, featuring Granite Crystal paint and multi-spoke 19-inch wheels, giving it a resemblance to a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. The interior boasted a two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents, sophisticated digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics, though the price seemed steep for its segment.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner maintained its classic, albeit outdated, design, reminiscent of its 2010 model year. Its boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a brawny stance, suitable for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model featured underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a beefy tubular roof rack, enhancing its rugged personality. Inside, the 4Runner showed its age with old-school styling and last-generation technology features, such as an analog instrument panel and a small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. The interior had hard plastics, but cushioned panels on commonly touched surfaces provided some comfort. Despite its dated design, the 4Runner's nostalgic appeal was evident, though it lacked modern touches found in competitors like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.

The 2023 Jeep Compass saw a significant improvement in its powertrain 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 rpm 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 three driving modes: Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Trailhawk version featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock driving mode, and additional off-road features. During testing in Malibu, California, the Compass demonstrated improved performance, though the engine prioritized fuel economy over power. The official fuel economy rating was 8.8 L/100 km, with real-world testing averaging 9.9 L/100 km. While the Compass offered better driving dynamics than previous models, it still exhibited significant body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. However, its five-speed automatic transmission limited its performance compared to competitors with more advanced transmissions. The TRD Pro model came standard with 4WD and a two-speed transfer case. On-road, the 4Runner felt slow, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and a noisy engine and exhaust. The soft suspension tuning, while beneficial for off-roading, resulted in body roll and floatiness on highways. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner remained composed under hard braking and offered a comfortable ride over larger road imperfections.

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered a comfortable interior with seating for adults in both rows. Despite its narrow design, it provided decent comfort for four people. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, power-adjustable driver's seat, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided adequate space, though legroom was snug. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded. Some models featured a foot-activated power liftgate and a foldable front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior, though outdated, was functional with easy-to-use controls and excellent outward visibility. The front seats offered ample space, but the steering wheel's limited telescoping range could be an issue for taller drivers. The second row provided generous legroom, though headroom was limited for taller passengers. The 4Runner offered 1,337 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 2,540 litres with the rear seats stowed. However, the lack of remote seat releases and a powered liftgate were drawbacks. The sliding glass rear window and party speakers in the hatch were unique features, and the 4Runner had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 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, embedded navigation, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, and Alexa Built-in. The Limited test vehicle had all these features, with the Alexa technology proving responsive and accurate. The Alpine audio system was bass-heavy, and the parking assist system, while available, was unnecessary for the Compass's size. The surround-view camera was a useful addition.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model featured a 15-speaker JBL audio system, but road noise often obscured the sound quality. Additional terrain controls were located in the headliner console, with Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems for off-roading. However, the lack of off-road specific apps and gauges was a drawback compared to competitors.

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 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 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with NHTSA awarding four stars for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars for rollover evaluations. IIHS ratings were similarly mixed, with some "Marginal" and "Poor" results in newer tests. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. The TRD Pro and Limited trims offered a surround-view camera system, though the alerts were often oversensitive.