2023 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester maintained its traditional, utilitarian design, reminiscent of its predecessors over the past two decades. The Premier trim, with its Cascade Green Silica paint, stood out with 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, offering a slightly more upscale appearance. The Forester's design was characterized by its boxy shape, flared fenders, and pincer-shaped lighting, which, while not particularly attractive, emphasized its functional nature. Inside, the Premier trim featured exclusive brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, creating a traditional Subaru interior with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite the abundance of hard plastic, the cabin was easy to clean, and the control layout, with its reliance on buttons and knobs, was user-friendly.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a more refined and upscale design ethos, moving away from the rugged Jeep aesthetic. The Compass Limited, wrapped in Granite Crystal paint and featuring multi-spoke 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents exuded a sense of sophistication, thanks to digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics. The Compass offered a more luxurious feel, especially in the Limited trim, but its high price point raised questions about its value compared to small luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios, and the Subaru Intelligent Drive SI-Drive system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness. The Forester's X-Mode off-road traction control system, with hill descent control, added Deep Snow and Mud settings starting with the Sport trim. The Forester Wilderness trim further enhanced off-road capability with all-terrain tires and modifications. During testing, the Forester Premier handled adverse weather conditions with confidence, showcasing its excellent driving dynamics, light steering, and effective brakes. However, the engine's performance was merely adequate, and the Forester's fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 2023 Jeep Compass introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 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 compared to previous models. The Trailhawk trim featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a 20:1 crawl ratio, enhancing off-road capability. During testing, the Compass demonstrated improved acceleration and refinement, with the turbocharged engine providing a quieter and smoother experience. However, the Compass's tall and narrow design contributed to significant body motions on uneven surfaces, and the AWD system was slow to engage, allowing front wheelspin during hard acceleration. The Compass averaged 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres, slightly above its official fuel economy rating.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and spacious interior. The Touring trim provided features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or genuine leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and heated rear seats. The Forester's excellent outward visibility, thanks to tall glass and thin pillars, made it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to solar heating, and the rear seats lacked comfort for taller adults. The Forester offered ample interior storage and a usefully shaped cargo area, with 762 litres of space behind the rear seats and 1,957 litres with the seats folded.

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 climate control. Cloth upholstery was standard, with leather seats available on higher trims. The Limited trim offered a premium interior with a power-adjustable driver's seat and heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided adequate space, though legroom was snug. Interior storage was acceptable, with a small centre armrest bin and an available wireless charging pad. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,693 litres with the seats folded, with some models featuring a foot-activated power liftgate.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available. The Forester's user interface, with separate climate controls and physical knobs, was user-friendly, though the voice-recognition system was unreliable. The lack of a wireless smartphone charger was a notable omission.

The 2023 Jeep Compass boasted a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and over-the-air updates. Depending on the trim, it could be paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, navigation, and a nine-speaker Alpine audio system. The Alexa Built-in digital assistant offered fast and accurate voice recognition. The Compass also featured a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Subaru Forester introduced a next-generation EyeSight system with updated software and cameras, offering adaptive cruise control and Automatic Emergency Steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on most trims. The Forester's Rear Automatic Braking system was overly sensitive, and the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System was exclusive to higher trims. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder. Standard safety features 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. The Compass's lane-keeping inputs were intrusive, and adaptive cruise control was not smooth. The Compass had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, and the IIHS had incomplete test results.