2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2024 Jeep Compass

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 offered six diverse trim levels that catered to a wide range of preferences, from the budget-friendly sub-$30K RAV4 LE to the luxurious RAV4 Limited, which featured ventilated seats. Among these trims, the Adventure and TRD Off-Road stood out for their rugged design cues retained from the 2019 model. These variants were distinguishable by their two-part face, adding a more aggressive touch.

In the Adventure trim, the RAV4 shifted the Toyota badge closer to the center of its more assertively styled grille. It featured blacked-out wheels and added a faux skid plate, contrasting with the real skid plate found on the TRD Off-Road variant. Beefier black cladding around the wheel arches enhanced its rugged look, but it was more show than substance, giving off an appearance of readiness for off-road terrains without the full capabilities.

Inside, the Adventure trim sported orange accents, including a middle stripe on the seats with contrast stitching and orange plastic borders that enlivened the otherwise basic center console. Additionally, the frameless rearview mirror lent a premium feel to the otherwise pedestrian interior. Fabric seats were standard on the LE and XLE trims, while the XLE Premium upgraded to SofTex upholstery. Higher trims offered features like heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats, memory settings for the driver, and available heated rear seats and steering wheel. Dual-zone climate control was standard on all but the base trim.

In contrast, the 2024 Jeep Compass we tested in Michigan presented a different story. Initially mistaking a fleet vehicle for our test car highlighted the anonymity of the Compass Sport trim, which lacked distinctive features. The Altitude variant, with its red two-tone paint job and black trim, obviously differed, although our test model was basic with black plastic handles and small wheels, contributing to its utilitarian appearance.

The Compass Sport was nondescript, lacking distinct features except for the seven-slot grille that marked it as a Jeep. The taillights and body shape were typical of small crossovers from the past two decades. Although trims like the Trailhawk, with unique bumpers, red tow hooks, and a mild lift, provided a more distinctive look, the basic Compass remained generic.

In a fully loaded 2023 Compass Limited, interior aesthetics improved noticeably with a black and gray color scheme enhanced by caramel leatherette. The post-2021 Compass models were praised for their interior quality, boasting supportive cloth seats with blue stitching, stylish door panels, and a 10-inch infotainment screen. Silver plastic accents on the steering wheel and dash added a touch of style, moving the Compass away from being a basic transport solution to a more refined space.

For the 2023 Toyota RAV4, the standard setup included a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration, except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, which defaulted to all-wheel drive (AWD). AWD was available as an upgrade for all other trims, adding a Snow Mode feature. The hybrid variants, including the RAV4 Hybrid and Prime, exclusively offered AWD.

The RAV4's sole gas engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Although this setup provided a smooth enough drive, it wasn’t remarkably quick, presenting a performance that leaned more towards the unobjectionable end of the spectrum. The engine’s noise was noticeable but not overly intrusive.

In terms of drivability, the RAV4 Adventure, with its 19-inch all-season tires and typical suspension system, couldn’t match the TRD Off-Road’s capability, which boasted 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension. The TRD Off-Road’s unique components, such as specialized shocks and jounce bumpers, set it apart for those seeking true off-road prowess.

The 2024 Jeep Compass, however, featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, a significant upgrade from its predecessor’s naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter engine. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, the Compass offered a spirited drive, easily capable of merging onto highways and navigating urban environments. The turbo-four's minimized engine noise was a significant improvement.

The Compass provided three driving modes—Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud—along with a 50-50 torque lock for improved traction. The rear-axle disconnect saved fuel by driving only the front wheels most of the time, but it reacted slowly under hard acceleration, causing occasional wheel spin. The Trailhawk trim added a low-range transfer case, extra driving modes like Rock, all-terrain tires, metal skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, although these enhancements added $7,000 to the base price and were often unnecessary for average drivers. The Compass could tow up to 2,000 pounds across all trims.

Despite the power upgrades, the Compass's steering and handling fell short compared to the RAV4, with too much play off center and imprecise feedback at higher speeds. However, the ride remained comfortable and well-damped.

Seating five as typical in its class, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 offered 37.7 inches of front headroom and 39.5 inches in the rear with the moonroof option. Front legroom was 41 inches, and back legroom measured 37.8 inches. Although offering competitive front legroom comparable to the Honda CR-V, the RAV4 fell short in rear headroom and legroom. It also had a narrower back seat than competitors like the Subaru Forester and CR-V.

For storage, the RAV4 featured a practical shelf running along the glove compartment and generous door pockets capable of holding water bottles. The front-row center cupholders and a lever-style gear shifter added to driver convenience, particularly enhancing its rugged feel. As for cargo capacity, the RAV4 offered 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down, positioning it mid-pack in its segment.

The 2024 Jeep Compass, meanwhile, excelled in utility and ease of use. The driver's seat came equipped with clear analog gauges flanking a large color display for various info panels. The dashboard combined a regular PRNDL gear selector with convenient physical climate controls, though it lacked temperature readouts, instead featuring a gradient bar for climate adjustments.

Visibility was excellent, and without a sunroof, front headroom was notably spacious. Both front and rear seats provided ample legroom and headroom, the latter equipped with rear vents, USB ports, and a fold-down center armrest not always found in entry-level luxury SUVs. However, the central cubby and door pockets were relatively small. Impressively, cargo space reached 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet when folded, falling short of the RAV4 but still competitive.

For 2023, the Toyota RAV4 introduced an upgraded infotainment system. Shoppers could choose from an 8.0-inch touchscreen standard in lower trims or a 10.5-inch touchscreen in the Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The new software supported over-the-air updates, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard.

Our Adventure trim tester, equipped with the upgraded multimedia system costing an additional $3,490, featured the 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited and optionally on the TRD Off-Road trim.

In contrast, the 2024 Jeep Compass came with a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen powered by Uconnect 5 software. The screen was crisp, quick, and easy to use, with no legibility issues for text and icons. Menus were straightforward, although direct app switching via the home screen was cumbersome. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, 4G Wi-Fi, and USB-C ports were standard. Optional features included built-in factory navigation, a wireless charging pad, and a 10.3-inch digital instrument panel with full-screen maps.

The Elite Group package on higher trims added features like navigation, live traffic, additional power adjustments, a heated steering wheel, foot-activated power tailgate, Alexa, remote start, and extra USB ports. Higher trims also offered a panoramic moonroof and a nine-speaker Alpine stereo. The semi-automated Active Driving Assist system, available with the Elite Group package, provided advanced driver assistance.

In terms of safety, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 boasted a comprehensive set of standard features, including lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Higher-end features such as adaptive cruise control were also included, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard from the XLE trim upwards.

The RAV4 featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5) system, which included Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, enabling adaptive cruise control at speeds below 20 mph. The RAV4 performed well in IIHS evaluations, earning the 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award with top scores in most crash tests.

For the 2024 Jeep Compass, NHTSA had yet to release ratings at the time of writing. However, the 2022 model, identical to the 2023 Compass, received a four-star overall rating. In IIHS testing, the 2023 Compass earned a Top Safety Pick award. 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 the Latitude Lux and Altitude trims and standard on the Limited and higher trims. Additional options on higher trims included parking sensors, 360-degree cameras, and rain-sensing wipers.