2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Toyota Sequoia

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, offering a sophisticated look with its Granite Crystal paint and multi-spoke 19-inch wheels. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents exuded a sense of luxury, enhanced by digital displays and metallic trim. However, the high price tag of the Limited trim, which reached $54,775, made it a costly option in the small SUV segment, especially when compared to similarly priced luxury SUVs.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia, particularly in the Capstone trim, featured a design heavily influenced by the Tundra pickup. Its hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and muscular stance gave it a robust appearance. The Celestial Silver colour of the test model, combined with chrome accents, lent it a somewhat dated look. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, adding a touch of luxury to the spacious interior.

The 2023 Jeep Compass marked a significant improvement in performance with its 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 a more engaging driving experience. The Trailhawk version, with its Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system, excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to features like a 20:1 crawl ratio and Rock driving mode. However, the Compass's tall and narrow design led to noticeable body motions on uneven surfaces, and the AWD system was slow to engage.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, exclusively available as a hybrid, utilized the iForce MAX powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor. This setup delivered an impressive 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, significantly outperforming its V8 predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. Equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Sequoia offered smooth on-road handling. The TRD Off-Road model added adventure-ready features like an off-road suspension and electronic locking rear differential, enhancing its off-road capabilities. With a maximum towing capacity of 4,137 kilograms, the Sequoia was well-suited for towing tasks.

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 automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Compass's rear seat provided adequate space for adults, and the cargo area offered 770 litres of volume, expandable to 1,693 litres with the rear seats folded. However, interior storage space was limited, with a small bin under the centre armrest.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered a spacious interior with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres when both second- and third-row seats were folded. The second-row seats were easy to move for access to the third row, but the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom was slightly reduced, and legroom in the third row was limited. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing ample width but lacking bolstering for support.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system offered over-the-air updates and could be paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel. The Limited trim included an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in technology. The parking assist system and surround-view camera added convenience, though the Compass's small size made parking assistance less necessary.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, particularly in the Capstone trim, came equipped with a 14-inch centre touchscreen featuring the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims. The driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit, and the Panoramic View monitor was standard on higher trims. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on Platinum and Capstone trims.

The 2023 Jeep Compass included standard safety features such as drowsy driver detection and a rear-seat reminder system. Advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were available on higher trims. However, the lane-keeping inputs were sometimes intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness. The Compass had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS for the 2023 model year.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite as standard, including a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.