2023 Jeep Compass vs 2024 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Jeep Compass presented a more refined and upscale appearance, moving away from the rugged design ethos traditionally associated with Jeep. It shared design elements with the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families, offering a sophisticated look with new 17-inch wheel designs for the Sport and Latitude models, and gloss black wheels for the Trailhawk. The Compass was available in five core trim levels, with special editions like the Altitude, Red, and High Altitude, and prices ranging from just under $32,000 to over $40,000. Our test vehicle, a Limited trim, featured Granite Crystal paint and optional 19-inch wheels, resembling a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. The interior boasted a two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents, sophisticated digital displays, and metallic trim, though the price seemed steep at $45,800.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with our Capstone model in Celestial Silver appearing somewhat dated. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dash layout, with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims featured fabric or SofTex seating. The Sequoia provided a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version standard on higher trims. The interior was spacious, though the third-row seats, positioned above the hybrid powertrain's battery pack, reduced headroom and legroom.

The 2023 Jeep Compass finally addressed its powertrain issues with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep Active Drive AWD system, offered improved performance. The Trailhawk model featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock driving mode, and off-road enhancements. Despite the improvements, the engine prioritized fuel economy over power, achieving an EPA rating of 27 mpg combined. The Compass handled well on pavement, though its tall, narrow design led to significant body motions on uneven surfaces. Off-road, the Trailhawk excelled with its Selec-Terrain system, though it struggled in some conditions due to its standard tires.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, offered exclusively as a hybrid, utilized the iForce MAX powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor for 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked a significant improvement over its V8 predecessor, with a combined fuel economy of 20 mpg. The TRD Pro model featured a part-time 4WD system, while other trims offered 4WD as an option. The Sequoia's 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and its on-road handling was adequate. The TRD Off-Road package added adventure-ready features like all-terrain tires and an off-road suspension. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, with several towing-related upgrades available.

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered 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. Higher trims offered leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated options. The rear seat provided adequate space, though legroom was snug. Interior storage was limited, with a small bin under the center armrest. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured automatic power-deploying running boards for easier access. It offered up to 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded. The third-row seats, positioned above the battery pack, did not create a flat load floor and reduced headroom. Legroom was limited in the third row, though the second row provided 39.2 inches. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, though they lacked bolstering. The Sequoia's interior space was competitive, though it lagged behind some rivals in legroom.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring 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. Our Limited test vehicle included an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, and Alexa Built-in technology. The parking assist system and surround-view camera were useful features, though the Compass's small size made parking assistance less necessary.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia's Capstone trim featured a 14-inch touchscreen with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver-information display was a 12.3-inch full-color screen, standard across all trims. The Panoramic View monitor and 10-inch head-up display were standard on higher trims. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on higher trims. The Sequoia's infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness, providing an easy-to-use interface.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder for 2023. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control and Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system. The Compass's Highway Assist performed well in testing, though it struggled in certain conditions. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were incomplete at the time of review.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard, including pre-collision and lane-departure systems, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with Trailer Merge Warning. The Tow Technology Package, available on lower trims, added a digital rearview mirror and trailer backup guide. The Sequoia had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS, though the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.