2024 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Mazda CX-50

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels, embodying the subtle seductiveness that has characterized Mazda's vehicles for the past decade. However, it also conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skid plates. The oversized air intake and vent designs imparted a sense of performance without being offensive to the eye.

The CX-50's standard black grille and mirror caps, along with available 20-inch wheels, created an appealing exterior design. Later in the model year, the CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform. Inside, the top-of-the-line CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus featured black leather with caramel-colored accent stitching, a driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim. Despite a few design quirks, the CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover.

In Michigan, the 2024 Jeep Compass was tested, starting with a mix-up that led to a test drive of a white Compass Sport, a fleet vehicle with black plastic door handles and small wheels. The Compass Sport, in full rental-car dress, was nearly invisible, with nothing except the seven-slot grille identifying it as a Jeep. Its body shape and taillights were generic, resembling many small crossovers from the past two decades.

A previous test of a fully loaded 2023 Compass Limited revealed a more impressive interior with a black and gray color scheme offset by caramel leatherette. Even in base trim, the Compass offered supportive cloth seats with blue stitching and textured crosshatch inserts, along with light gray cloth on the door panels and dash. The base Compass included push-button start, a large 10-inch infotainment screen, and appropriate plastics for the price. However, the exterior design lacked the uniqueness expected from a Jeep.

Most buyers of the 2023 Mazda CX-50 were likely to choose the more affordable and fuel-efficient 2.5 S model, which had a 187 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda estimated this base-engine version would return 27 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the CX-50 2.5 Turbo was the better choice, with a turbocharged version of the standard engine making between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque varied between 310 lb-ft and 320 lb-ft. Mazda predicted the CX-50 2.5 Turbo would get 25 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 23.4 mpg.

The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with no noticeable turbo lag. It featured Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, though the differences between them were subtle. The CX-50 felt firmer in ride quality compared to the CX-5, and there was a hint of torque steer during tight turns. Despite this, the CX-50's driving character was likened to a modern Mazda6 station wagon with a Subaru Outback treatment. It had 8.6 inches of ground clearance, nearly matching the Subaru Forester and Outback. The CX-50 was capable off-road but lacked a downhill assist control system. The Meridian Edition with all-terrain tires was expected to perform well but not match Subaru Wilderness models on challenging terrain. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo's towing capability was reliable, though it might struggle on mountain grades.

The 2024 Jeep Compass replaced its naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter engine with a detuned version of the Cherokee's optional turbocharged 2.0-liter Inline four-cylinder, rated at 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. With an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, the Compass handled town driving and highway merging with ease. The turbo-four minimized engine noise, reducing the need for aggressive acceleration. The Compass offered three driving modes (auto, snow, sand/mud) and a rear-axle disconnect to save fuel by driving only the front wheels in most situations. However, it reacted slowly under hard acceleration, causing wheelspin. The Compass Trailhawk included a low-range transfer case, extra "rock" driving mode, all-terrain tires, metal skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, but it was $7,000 more expensive than the Sport trim.

Steering and handling were weak points for the Compass, with too much play off-center and low grip. The ride was comfortable and well-damped, but the Sport trim lacked the car-like drive expected from a smaller Jeep. The 2023 Limited model provided better poise and grip with larger tires. Fuel economy was EPA-estimated at 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, comparable to other compact SUVs.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo offered power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control were effective in warmer weather. The driver and front passenger seats were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, with rear air vents and charging ports. Rear doors opened nearly 90 degrees, making entry and exit easier.

Storage space in the CX-50 was adequate, though there were missed opportunities for additional bins. The available smartphone charger had a convenient slot under the center armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the CX-5. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items. Maximum cargo space was 56.3 cubic feet, slightly less than the CX-5 due to the CX-50's lower roofline.

The 2024 Jeep Compass excelled in utility and ease of use. From the driver's seat, clear analog gauges flanked a large color display, with buttons behind the steering wheel for stereo adjustments. The gear selector, buttons beneath the touchscreen, and physical climate controls were convenient, though the lack of temperature readouts was odd. Visibility and sight lines were good, and front headroom was spacious without a sunroof. The rear seats offered ample legroom and headroom, with rear vents, USB ports, and a fold-down center armrest.

The central cubby and door pockets were small, but cargo space was competitive with 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet when folded. The manual front passenger seat could also fold, making it easy to carry longer items.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a Mazda Connect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services, including a WiFi hotspot, remote engine starting, and automatic collision notification. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a larger 10.25-inch display. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, requiring the use of center console buttons, steering wheel controls, or voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 allowed touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the screen was still distant from the driver.

The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display, or head-up display (HUD), projected data within the driver's line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Jeep Compass came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen featuring Uconnect 5 software. The display was slick, crisp, and quick, with clear text and icons. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, 4G Wi-Fi, and USB-C ports were standard. Factory navigation was optional and could be upgraded later. A wireless charging pad was also optional. The 10.3-inch digital instrument panel with full-screen maps was standard on the top High Altitude trim and optional on Limited and above trims. The Elite Group package added navigation, live traffic, power lumbar, heated steering wheel, power passenger seat, foot-activated power tailgate, Alexa, remote start, and second-row USB ports. A panoramic moonroof and nine-speaker Alpine stereo were optional on higher trims. The semi-automated driving system, Active Driving Assist, was available on Limited and above trims with the Elite Group package.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to rate high for safety, though the IIHS had not yet performed crash tests. Mazda provided a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors with reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.

The 2024 Jeep Compass had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the identical 2022 model received four out of five stars, with four stars for driver and passenger in the frontal test and five stars for front and rear passengers in the side tests. It scored three out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS awarded the identical 2023 Compass a Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in all six crash tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor. Adaptive cruise control was optional on Latitude Lux and Altitude trims and standard on Limited and above trims. Parking sensors and 360-degree cameras were optional on Latitude Lux and above trims, and rain-sensing wipers were standard on Limited and above trims.