2023 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the Range Rover Sport stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint colour and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, added to the vehicle's sophisticated appeal. The Range Rover Sport was available in various trims, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. The test vehicle, a U.S.-spec Dynamic SE, featured heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and other luxurious amenities, pushing its MSRP beyond $120,000. Notable design elements included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights, contributing to its aerodynamic profile with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, offering a luxurious and fragrant cabin experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a refined and upscale design ethos, moving away from the rugged Jeep aesthetic. The Compass shared design elements with larger Jeep models like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, featuring a more mature and sophisticated look. The 2023 Compass Sport and North models received 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, including Sport, North, Altitude, Trailhawk, Limited, (Red) Edition, and Trailhawk Elite. The Trailhawk trims were ideal for off-road adventures. Base prices for the Compass ranged from just over $35,000 to more than $45,000, excluding destination charges and fees. The Limited test vehicle, equipped with extra-cost paint, the Elite Group, the Sun and Sound Group, and the Driver Assist Group, had an MSRP of $54,775. The Compass Limited, wrapped in Granite Crystal paint with multi-spoke 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents exuded sophistication, thanks to digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics. However, the as-tested price of $55,000 raised concerns about its value proposition compared to larger compact crossovers or small luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement, though it only partially succeeded. Land Rover's challenge was to create a vehicle capable of off-road prowess while delivering an enjoyable on-road experience. The Range Rover Sport featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography trim, offering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One boasted a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. A fully electric version was expected in 2024. The test vehicle's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. Fuel efficiency averaged 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres, with suburban highway driving returning 9.4 L/100 km. The Range Rover Sport's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for ride comfort and handling. Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, brake-induced torque vectoring, and roll stability control enhanced its performance. However, the Range Rover Sport struggled to match sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads, feeling tall and heavy with steering lacking involvement. Off-road, it excelled with advanced suspension, ground clearance of 28.2 centimetres, and a wading depth of 90 cm. Standard tech included Terrain Response, All Terrain Progress Control, and hill start and descent control systems.

The 2023 Jeep Compass received a significant powertrain upgrade 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 all-wheel-drive system, the Compass offered improved performance. The Trailhawk trim featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, along with off-road enhancements like Rock driving mode, hill descent control, and skid plates. The Compass's lifted suspension provided 21.8 centimetres of ground clearance. During testing in Malibu, California, the turbocharged engine transformed the Compass from gutless to gutsy, though it wasn't as powerful as the larger Cherokee's engine. Fuel economy averaged 9.9 L/100 km, slightly above the official rating of 8.8 L/100 km. The Compass's new powertrain resolved previous issues, offering a quieter and smoother driving experience. However, the SUV's tall, narrow, and stubby design contributed to significant body motions on uneven surfaces. The standard AWD system was slow to engage, allowing front wheelspin during hard acceleration. Off-road, the Trailhawk excelled with its Selec-Terrain system and Jeep Active Drive Low AWD, though it struggled on mud and loose surfaces. The Compass's hill descent control system occasionally released unexpectedly, causing moments of panic.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, accommodating shorter individuals. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. A massage feature, soft-closing doors, and a heated steering wheel were available. The rear seat, though improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle, forcing a slouched posture. Rear occupants had manual sunshades, air conditioning vents, and power ports. Storage space was decent, with a deep but narrow centre armrest bin and a second bin under the sliding cupholder tray. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare tire limited underfloor storage, but Land Rover provided a contraption to secure smaller items.

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 automatic climate control. Cloth upholstery was standard, with leather seats available on higher trims. The Compass offered an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Limited test vehicle featured premium leather and a comfortable seating position. The rear seat provided adequate space, with generous foot room and supportive cushions. Interior storage was acceptable, though the centre armrest bin was small. A wireless smartphone charging pad was available, using up a suitable storage location. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,693 litres with the rear seats folded. Some models featured a foot-activated power liftgate and a foldable front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. The Pivi Pro infotainment platform aimed to learn user habits, but it often proved confusing and frustrating. The automatic driver exit assist feature was difficult to disable, and the native digital assistant struggled with basic commands. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was tucked under the infotainment screen.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Uconnect 5 technology. It supported Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The system received over-the-air updates and could be paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel. An embedded navigation system, nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in digital assistant were available. The Alexa technology was fast and accurate, even changing cabin temperature. The Alpine audio system was bass-heavy with default settings. The Compass also featured a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard for water crossings. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself via a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control was slow to respond, and the steering assist technology was dissatisfactory, especially on highway curves.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a standard drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder. Advanced driving assistance systems included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were available. The lane-keeping inputs were often too obvious, and the adaptive cruise control wasn't smooth. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2023 Compass, and the IIHS offered incomplete results. The Compass was ineligible for a Top Safety Pick rating until further testing.