2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Jeep Compass reflected a refined design ethos, moving away from Jeep's rugged look towards a more sophisticated appearance. This new Compass eliminated the round headlights and square taillights, adopting a mature and upscale aesthetic inspired by the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families. This year, Jeep updated the 2023 Compass Sport and Latitude models with new 17-inch wheel designs, while the Trailhawk edition received gloss black painted wheels. The Red editions featured black or silver paint besides the signature red.

Jeep offered the Compass in various trims, including the base Sport, mid-level Latitude, upgraded Latitude Lux, upscale Limited, and the Trailhawk, which was geared towards off-road adventures. Special editions like Altitude, Red, and High Altitude were also available. Prices for these models ranged from just under $32,000 to over $40,000, making the Compass an expensive choice among small SUVs.

Our test vehicle, a Limited trim, came with extra-cost paint, several option packages like the Elite Group, the Sun and Sound Group, and the Driver Assist Group, bringing the MSRP to $45,800, including a $1,595 destination charge. The vehicle, adorned in Granite Crystal paint with 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, bore a resemblance to the compact Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents gave the Compass Limited a premium feel, further enhanced by sophisticated digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics. Despite its upscale features, its high price seemed a bit over the top.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Outback continued to maintain the familiar and rugged appearance Subaru fans loved. The Wilderness trim received tweaks, including a new front fascia and LED fog lights, but the overall look remained consistent with the 2023 facelift. The dark gray cladding contrasted well with the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Touring XT model we tested. The different trims sported varied levels of black and chrome fittings, with the most chrome adorning the Touring trim, which we found tastefully applied.

Wheel designs varied across trims: black 17-inch alloy wheels with a machine finish were standard, while the Wilderness trim featured matte black versions. The Outback Onyx Edition had 18-inch wheels in basic black, and the Limited and Touring trims added a machine finish. Inside our top-trim test car, the Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery was both attractive and comfortable. The Outback Limited came with non-Nappa leather seating surfaces, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness were equipped with Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather. Base and Premium trims featured cloth seats.

The 2023 Jeep Compass introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, which was an improvement but still not exceptionally powerful. The torque was accessible from 1,750 to 4,250 rpm, and maximum horsepower peaked at 5,000 rpm. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard Jeep Active Drive AWD system. All Compass models featured Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes. The Trailhawk version included a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with enhanced off-road capabilities, boasting a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock driving mode, and hill descent control, among other features.

During a test in Malibu, California, the new turbo engine transformed the driving experience, making it more dynamic than its predecessors, even though it lacked the desired power punch. With an EPA rating of 27 mpg combined, we found the fuel efficiency to fall short in real-life conditions, averaging 23.8 mpg. The drivetrain handled city and mountain driving capably, though the vehicle's tall, narrow stance caused significant body motion on uneven surfaces. Off-road, the Trailhawk demonstrated its abilities, even though it struggled at times in loose dirt and rocks. The hill descent control provided security on steep declines, despite occasional inconsistency.

The 2024 Subaru Outback stuck to its tradition with a “Boxer” horizontally opposed engine. The base 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The turbo engine significantly improved performance, managing the vehicle's weight effectively and enhancing towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical AWD and Lineartronic CVT came standard, with the CVT mimicking eight distinct gears.

Our test car, a Touring XT, felt well-matched with the turbo engine. The brake pedal provided a good feel, supported by an electronic booster. While steering was adequate for a non-sporty experience, the vehicle excelled in comfort. Ground clearance was substantial at 8.7 inches, and the Wilderness trim increased it to 9.2 inches. With all-terrain tires and advanced dual-function X-Mode for off-road driving, the Wilderness trim proved more than capable for adventurous drivers.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided ample space for adults in both rows despite its narrow build, contributing to maneuverability. Standard features included an air filtration system and an available dual-zone automatic climate control system. Higher trims offered additional comfort with leather seats, power-adjustable settings, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Limited trim we tested had luxurious touches and comfortable seating, though the center console's hard plastic edge was a minor flaw. Rear-seat space was adequate for adults, with ample foot and legroom, although reclining the front seats too much could compromise it.

Cargo space in the Compass was competitive for a small SUV, offering 27.2 cubic feet behind the back seats and 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The load floor could be adjusted for increased volume or underfloor storage. The Compass also featured a foldable front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite looking sleeker, excelled in interior space. With a moonroof, the Outback had more front headroom (39.1 inches) than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Rear headroom was slightly less than the RAV4's, but the Outback provided more legroom in both rows. Cargo capacity was 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 with the rear seats folded, surpassing the RAV4 with the seats down but falling behind with the seats up.

In terms of features, the Outback was well-equipped. Dual-zone climate control was standard on all but the base trim, with heated front seats starting from the Premium trim. To get a powered front passenger seat and heated rear seats, one had to opt for the Limited trim and above. Ventilated front seats were exclusive to the Touring trim, which also included a heated steering wheel. The hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were part of higher trims, and the roof rails with retractable cross bars were a convenient standard feature.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring the latest Uconnect 5 technology. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth pairing for two devices, SiriusXM satellite radio, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. Higher trims added a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, embedded navigation, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in with natural voice recognition.

Our Limited trim tested all these features effectively. The Alexa Built-in tech was responsive and versatile, while the Alpine audio system, though a bit bass-heavy, provided good sound quality. The available parking assist system and surround-view camera enhanced convenience.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a mix of old-school and modern technology. USB-C and USB-A ports were available on all but the base trim, which had only USB-A. The top trims boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen with the Subaru Starlink platform. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity were standard, becoming wireless from the Premium trim onward.

Wi-Fi capability was standard on all but the base trim, and audio systems ranged from a basic four-speaker setup to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium system. The climate controls were a mix of touchscreen and physical buttons, with the climate menu anchored at the screen's bottom for easy access.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a standard drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder for the model year, with automatic high-beam headlights on all but the base Sport trim. Standard ADAS included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front and rear parking sensors.

The Trailhawk, Limited, and High Altitude trims featured Highway Assist for semi-autonomous driving. During a test, the system performed well except for specific conditions like sharp bends with obstructed visibility. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist were less refined.

The 2024 Subaru Outback retained a high safety standard with a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard features included EyeSight technology with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. The Touring trim included a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.