2023 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a shift from its earlier rugged, boxy design to a more refined European aesthetic. The updated model replaced the previous grille with a conventional front end bearing the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. It offered an array of trim levels starting from Active to the ST-Line Elite. Our test vehicle, the ST-Line Elite, featured 19-inch wheels, body-color mirror caps, and wheel-arch cladding that gave it an upscale appearance akin to the Mazda CX-5.

Inside, the Escape ST-Line Elite flaunted diamond-stitched leather upholstery that, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat enabled ease of long drives. The interior contained a lot of plastic, with varying quality, some parts looking textured but most feeling scratchy and poorly reinforced.

In comparison, the 2023 Jeep Compass exuded a more refined Jeep ethos, shedding its rugged style for a sophisticated look more in line with its larger Cherokee and Grand Cherokee siblings. Our Limited test vehicle, marked at a high MSRP of $45,800, featured Granite Crystal paint and multi-spoke 19-inch wheels, closely resembling a scaled-down Grand Cherokee.

Inside, the Compass Limited’s two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents felt luxurious. Digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics contributed to an upscale feel. However, at this vehicle’s high price, it edged closely to the base level of small luxury SUVs, which could impact its perceived value.

Under the hood, the 2023 Ford Escape offered versatile powertrain options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder delivering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This could be paired with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, making it competitive within its segment. The higher trims ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite housed a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing a robust 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with AWD. Despite these impressive figures, the Escape maintained a soft suspension designed for comfort rather than performance-oriented driving.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass received a significant upgrade with a new standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offering 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine promised peak torque across a wide rev range, providing smoother and more refined driving dynamics. An eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep's Active Drive AWD system were standard. For off-road enthusiasts, the Trailhawk version featured additional rugged capabilities, including Jeep Active Drive Low AWD, enhanced ground clearance, and several off-road driving modes.

During our test in Malibu, the new turbo engine showed marked improvements over previous iterations, combining better acceleration with quieter and more seamless performance. However, the Compass’s tall and narrow build still led to notable body motions on uneven surfaces, detracting from its otherwise impressive powertrain improvements.

Inside the 2023 Ford Escape, comfort was paramount with supportive and ergonomic seating. The front seats featured good armrest alignment, and the head-up display was easily adjustable. However, when examining cargo space, the Escape lagged behind leaders in its segment. With 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, it didn’t quite match the capacity offered by the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, or Toyota RAV4.

Similarly, passenger space in the back was slightly limited, but the softly padded and deeply scalloped front seatbacks helped maximize rear legroom, making it accommodating for tall passengers.

The 2023 Jeep Compass, although narrow, offered substantial interior space. Both rows comfortably seated adults, and features like the air filtration system and humidity-sensing dual-zone climate control added to the overall comfort. Our Limited trim test vehicle included high-end features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and power-adjustable seating.

Cargo space in the Compass was competitive, offering 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.8 cubic feet with them folded, along with an adjustable load floor for additional versatility. However, the storage bin under the center armrest was notably small, limiting its utility.

The 2023 Ford Escape stood out with its Sync 4 system. Lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, but the standout feature was the 13.2-inch screen standard on higher trims. This system included well-organized tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth, with easy transitions between Apple CarPlay and native navigation. Despite minor annoyances like sluggish response and inconvenient knob placement, the system’s comprehensive features and user-friendly interface were impressive.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. Depending on the trim, it could also include a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, embedded navigation, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system.

Our Limited test vehicle had an array of active tech like Alexa Built-in and a parking assist system. While Alexa performed well, allowing for seamless cabin temperature adjustments and other controls, the parking assist and surround-view camera added to convenience, especially given the Compass's compact size.

The 2023 Ford Escape excelled in NHTSA tests, achieving a five-star overall rating, although it fell short in the IIHS side-impact test with a Marginal score. Standard safety features under the Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Upgrades to Co-Pilot360 2.0 brought in advanced tools like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, along with a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Jeep Compass introduced new safety features like drowsy driver detection and a rear-seat reminder system. Standard ADAS included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Upper trims offered advanced systems like adaptive cruise control and Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving aid. While real-world testing showed some inconsistencies, the overall suite significantly enhanced safety.