Jeep Compass vs Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, with a starting price of $33,700, presented a well-balanced blend of sporty aesthetics and basic interiors. It featured black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trims that appealed to a younger audience. The Sport-L Hybrid variant, which started at $36,700, provided an interior upgrade with leather linings, while the top-tier Sport Touring Hybrid was marked at $39,850.

In our tests, the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid came with a Canyon River Blue paint job and no optional accessories, including a destination charge that brought the MSRP to $41,175. The SUV exhibited conservative styling with a technical face reminiscent of an angry robot. This should age well but concentrated too much visual weight over its front wheels. The tusks framing the lower air intake on the Sport Touring didn't enhance its visual appeal, making the best viewing angle from the rear quarter, where it exuded a Volvo-like sophisticated appearance. The interior of the Sport Touring variant radiated quality with leather seats accented by orange contrast stitching. Soft-touch materials, metal mesh hiding the dashboard air vents, and knurled metallic trim on the knobs all contributed to a sense of sophistication within this compact SUV.

Contrast this with the 2024 Jeep Compass, which we tested in Michigan. Our initial reaction was marred by confusion when our Compass Altitude with a vibrant red two-tone paint job and blacked-out trim didn't open. Instead, we were given a white Compass with black plastic door handles and small wheels, resembling a fleet vehicle. Its exterior styling was generic, characterized by a similar U-shaped, clad wheel wells similar to a Toyota RAV4. Without the unique styling cues of the Trailhawk trim, the Compass seemed bland and indistinguishable.

Inside a fully loaded 2023 Compass Limited, black and gray color schemes enhanced with caramel leatherette touches created a refined atmosphere. Even the base model shined with supportive cloth seats with blue stitching and textured crosshatch inserts. Large screens and superior fit and finish enhanced the overall experience. However, the exterior remained lackluster, failing to distinguish itself among compact SUVs.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a complex hybrid system involving an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. This setup, powering the Sport, Sport-L, and Sport Touring trims, produced 204 horsepower, available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive (AWD). The setup operated differently from traditional hybrids, with the gasoline engine sometimes acting as an onboard generator to power the propulsion motor indirectly.

Despite this, the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid's real-world performance fell short of expectations. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 37 mpg for this model, equipped with larger wheels and AWD. However, our tests on a mountainous loop in Southern California saw it return only 32.4 mpg. In terms of driving dynamics, the CR-V was easy to handle and had commendable braking performance, though its heavy steering effort and lack of standout characteristics in steering response made it less than thrilling to drive.

The 2024 Jeep Compass, on the other hand, replaced its previous anemic 2.4-liter engine with a turbocharged 2.0-liter Inline four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, this engine transformed the Compass's driving experience. Its fuel economy was estimated at 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, which, while somewhat unimpressive, fell within the range of its compact SUV competitors.

The driving experience in the Compass was bolstered by three distinct driving modes (auto, snow, and sand/mud) and the ability to lock torque distribution for optimized traction. However, slow reaction times under hard acceleration and somewhat mushy handling muted the driving experience. Trailhawk trim offered additional off-road capabilities but came at a premium that most drivers might not utilize effectively.

In terms of form and function, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled. It offered quality materials, intuitive controls, and a roomy cargo area. All CR-V Hybrids included a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and abundant storage compartments. Heated front seats and steering wheels were standard in Sport Touring models, enhancing comfort. The rear seats were spacious, featuring nearly a 90-degree door opening angle, perfect for installing child safety seats. Its cargo space varied by trim, from 34.7 cubic feet in the Sport Touring to 36.3 cubic feet in other variants. With the rear seats folded, the maximum cargo capacity was an impressive 76.5 cubic feet.

In comparison, the 2024 Jeep Compass prided itself on utility and ease of use. The driver’s seat was complemented by clear analog gauges and a convenient row of buttons beneath the touchscreen. However, it fell short with a lack of actual temperature readouts for the climate controls. Visibility was good, and the rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, along with rear vents and USB ports. The cargo space measured 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, extendable to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, and the front passenger seat could also fold flat for longer items.

The CR-V Sport Hybrid models came standard with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims offered a 9-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose 12-speaker premium audio system. However, Honda's voice recognition system was basic and faltered with conversational commands, and subscription-based connected services were only available on the top trim.

The 2024 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5 software as standard. This system was slick, crisp, and intuitive, permitting easy adjustment of vehicle settings. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, 4G Wi-Fi, and USB-C ports were standard. Optional features included factory navigation and a wireless charging pad. The 10.3-inch digital instrument panel was available on higher trims, along with a panoramic moonroof and a nine-speaker Alpine stereo system. A semi-automated driving system, Active Driving Assist, was also available.

The 2024 CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, an advanced suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and lane-centering assists, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and a driver monitoring system. In our tests, Honda Sensing performed remarkably well, with only minor issues detected. The IIHS awarded the 2023 CR-V a Top Safety Pick+ award, though its status for 2024 remained pending.

For the 2024 Jeep Compass, forward emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor were standard. Adaptive cruise control and parking sensors were optional on higher trims. The 2022 model Compass, identical to the 2024 model in structure, received four out of five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.