2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Kia Seltos

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, featuring a sophisticated look with new 17-inch wheel designs for the Sport and Latitude models, and gloss black wheels for the Trailhawk. The Compass Red editions offered additional color options, including black and silver. With five core trim levels and several special editions, the Compass lineup ranged from the base Sport to the off-road-ready Trailhawk. The Limited trim, with its Granite Crystal paint and optional 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee, offering a luxurious interior with two-tone black and gray cabin accents.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Seltos underwent a mid-cycle refresh, introducing subtle changes to its exterior design. The updated headlights, grille, and a connecting light strip between the taillights gave the Seltos a fresh look. The test model in "Pluton Blue" paint stood out, while the interior offered new color options like "Gentle Brown" and "Midnight Green." The most significant interior update was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dash, featuring a fully digital instrument panel and a larger touchscreen infotainment system. The Seltos lineup included trims like LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX, each offering a range of features and options.

The 2023 Jeep Compass finally addressed its long-standing powertrain issues with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard Jeep Active Drive AWD, provided a more engaging driving experience. The Trailhawk trim offered additional off-road capabilities with a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system, a 20:1 crawl ratio, and a Rock driving mode. Despite improvements, the engine prioritized fuel economy over power, achieving an EPA rating of 27 mpg in combined driving. The Compass excelled in handling curves and corners, but its tall and narrow design led to noticeable body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 195 horsepower. The turbo engine, paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, provided a noticeable 10 percent power increase over the previous model. The Seltos handled various road conditions well, with responsive steering and minimal body roll. The turbocharged powertrain delivered strong acceleration, especially in 40-to-60 mph situations, and the Drive Mode dial allowed for easy switching between Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart modes. The Seltos' 7.3 inches of ground clearance made it suitable for light off-road adventures.

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered a spacious interior with seating for adults in both rows. Despite its narrow design, it provided decent comfort for four passengers. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated and ventilated front seats. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Interior storage was adequate, though the center armrest bin was small.

The 2024 Kia Seltos boasted up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 26.6 cubic feet with the seats in use. The Seltos' upright seating position and ample headroom contributed to excellent driver visibility and rear legroom. The front seating area featured decently sized in-door cupholders and cubbies, while the SX trim included a removable cargo cover. The Seltos' interior design allowed for comfortable seating for taller occupants in both the front and rear.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM services. The system offered over-the-air updates and paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel on higher trims. Additional features included an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in technology. The Compass also offered a parking assist system and a surround-view camera for added convenience.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base trim, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel and touchscreen. The infotainment system featured a logical layout and included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Seltos retained physical controls for volume and climate settings, providing a user-friendly experience. The SX trim featured an upgraded eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system and Digital Key 2 Touch, allowing smartphone-based access to the vehicle.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came equipped with standard advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system. The Compass' safety features were comprehensive, though its crash-test ratings were incomplete at the time of review.

The 2024 Kia Seltos offered standard driver assistance features such as forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and smart cruise control. The SX trim included highway driving assist and traffic sign recognition. The Seltos' safety features provided a robust suite of driver aids for enhanced safety.