Jeep Compass vs Chevrolet Trax

The 2024 Compass Sport carries over last year's major powertrain upgrade without any increase to the base price: $28,400. That's less than the littlest Jeep, the Renegade, and nearly $10,000 below the similarly-sized Cherokee. It's also cheaper than a Ford Escape and many other compact SUVs but without the bargain-bin interior of older Compass models. While upper trims get too pricey for their britches, the base-model Compass we tested provides real value in an era where new-car prices increase every few months.

Verdict: The 2024 Jeep Compass offers good tech and impressive safety features, and it arrives with a sub-$30,000 base MSRP. The Compass still lags behind some of the competition in terms of materials quality and performance. Now in its second year past a 2023 facelift, however, it’s many strides better than older iterations.

The Trax is the cheapest new car Chevy sells in the United States. It takes the place of compact sedans and hatchbacks in the Bowtie brand’s lineup, while competing with entry-level crossover SUVs such as the Hyundai Venue and the Nissan Kicks. The current Trax was introduced for the 2024 model year, and for 2026 the only changes are two new exterior color options. White Sands is available with Activ and RS models, while Apex Red is available with RS, LS, and LT models.

Verdict: Blending elements of compact cars and crossover SUVs, the Trax hits a sweet spot of utility and affordability. It’s also pleasant to drive and offers impressive infotainment tech, but a lack of solid safety ratings and the unavailability of all-wheel drive are the tradeoffs.