2023 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. All trims except the Seltos S included standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices at the start of the model year ranged from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding the $1,255 destination charge. The test vehicle for this review was the 2022 Kia Seltos Nightfall Edition, featuring matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails. The MSRP for this model was $28,045, including the destination charge.

The Seltos had an appealing design, though the headlights beneath the wide, horizontal running lights were not favored. The Nightfall Edition's intricate wheels were attractive but barely visible due to their matte finish. Inside, the Seltos showcased a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic made the interior look cheap. The build quality was excellent, and the controls were logically arranged, with a collection of knobs and buttons for commonly adjusted features. The infotainment system's purple accent color was not popular, but overall, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals.

The 2023 Jeep Compass reflected a refined rather than rugged Jeep design ethos, with a more grown-up, upscale look and feel. The Compass was available in five core trim levels plus special-edition models, including the base Sport, mid-level Latitude, upgraded Latitude Lux, upscale Limited, and the off-road-focused Trailhawk. Prices ranged from just under $32,000 to over $40,000, making it an expensive choice in the small SUV segment. The test vehicle was a Limited trim with extra-cost paint, the Elite Group, the Sun and Sound Group, and the Driver Assist Group, bringing the MSRP to $45,800, including the $1,595 destination charge.

The test vehicle looked good inside and out, with Granite Crystal paint and optional multi-spoke 19-inch wheels, resembling a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. The two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents rarely looked or felt inexpensive, thanks to sophisticated digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics. However, the as-tested price of $45,800 seemed steep, making it hard to recommend over a well-equipped small luxury SUV.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo engine's torque arrived 3,000 rpm sooner than the naturally aspirated engine, making it more engaging to drive. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness.

The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the ground clearance was 7.3 inches. The Seltos was suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms but not for more challenging terrain. The multi-link rear suspension improved ride and handling, but the suspension tuning was less appealing. The Seltos struggled with speed humps, bumps, and uneven pavement, exhibiting lateral rocking motions and a bouncy ride. Despite these issues, the Seltos felt lively in urban environments, with excellent outward visibility and easy parking. The steering was secure on the highway, but road noise and wind noise were significant.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard Jeep Active Drive AWD. The torque was available from 1,750 rpm to 4,250 rpm, and the maximum horsepower arrived at 5,000 rpm. The Compass had Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, while the Trailhawk trim added a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock driving mode, hill descent control, and more aggressive tires.

The new turbo engine transformed the Compass from gutless to gutsy, though it wasn't as powerful as it could be. The EPA fuel economy rating was 27 mpg in combined driving, but the test vehicle averaged 23.8 mpg. The Compass was quieter, smoother, and more refined than previous models, with the new eight-speed automatic transmission shifting flawlessly. However, the Compass remained tall, narrow, and stubby, contributing to significant body motions on uneven pavement. The AWD system was slow to engage, allowing front wheelspin during hard acceleration. The Trailhawk struggled on mud and loose dirt but performed well in Rock mode with the help of the front-facing camera and hill descent control.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy entry and exit. The Nightfall Edition had a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, making it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The front passenger seat was not height-adjustable but provided proper leg support. The Nightfall Edition featured cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. However, the hard plastic upper door panel trim was unkind to elbows.

The rear seat was spacious enough for adults, with generous footroom and rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. The seatback angle was slightly too reclined for comfort. The Seltos offered decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. Plastic grocery sack hooks helped prevent items from rolling around.

The 2023 Jeep Compass accommodated adults in both rows of seats, despite its narrow design. Standard equipment included an air filtration system and an available humidity-sensing dual-zone automatic climate control system. Cloth upholstery was standard on Sport and Latitude models, with height-adjustable front seats. Higher trims offered leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The Limited test vehicle had all the extras, providing a comfortable seating position behind the leather-wrapped, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat offered enough space for adults, with generous footroom and softly padded front seatbacks. Interior storage space was acceptable, though the bin under the center armrest was small. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. A manually-adjustable front passenger seat folded in half to accommodate long items.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the Seltos EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims, with the S trim offering it as an option. The system included Bluetooth pairing for two devices, a navigation system, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The standard 8-inch touchscreen on the LX and S trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with volume and tuning knobs and physical buttons for quick access. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating, and a native conversational voice recognition system was missing.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology. It supported Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services with Wi-Fi and an Alexa Skill. The system received over-the-air updates and could pair with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel. Additional features included an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and an Alexa Built-in digital assistant with natural voice recognition.

The Limited test vehicle had all these features, with the Alexa Built-in technology proving fast and accurate. The Alpine audio system sounded good but was bass-heavy with default settings. The test vehicle also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera, though the Jeep's small size made the parking assist system less necessary.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Nightfall Edition did not have adaptive cruise control or Highway Driving Assist, but the lane-centering assist was accurate and refined. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SX trim and an overall four-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a standard drowsy driver detection system and a rear-seat reminder system, with automatic high-beam headlights on all but the base Sport trim. Standard advanced driving assistance systems included forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front and rear parking sensors. The Trailhawk, Limited, and High Altitude trims offered Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system.

The Limited test vehicle had Highway Assist, which performed well in light traffic but struggled with a gentle bend and low sun. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist were less satisfying on the Pacific Coast Highway. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2023 Compass, and the IIHS had incomplete test results, making the Compass ineligible for a Top Safety Pick rating until further testing.