Jeep Compass vs Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a bold new design that set it apart from its predecessors. With sharp, angular cues across the fascia and sides, the Tucson was longer and wider, making it unmistakable from the 2021 model. The grille, shared with the Santa Cruz, blended seamlessly with the LED headlights, creating a dramatic, futuristic look. The interior was spacious and airy, featuring heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat in the base Blue trim. Higher trims added more luxurious touches like a 10.25-inch digital driver display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass adopted a more refined and upscale look, moving away from the rugged design ethos. The Compass featured new 17-inch wheels for the Sport and Latitude models, while the Trailhawk's wheels were painted gloss black. The interior was designed to accommodate adults comfortably in both rows, with options for leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Limited trim, in particular, offered a luxurious feel with a two-tone black and gray cabin accented with caramel touches.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission managed the power efficiently, and the AWD system provided excellent traction. The suspension was outstanding, soaking up road imperfections while keeping the vehicle balanced through corners. Fuel economy was commendable, with the EPA rating it at 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined.

The 2023 Jeep Compass, on the other hand, featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard Jeep Active Drive AWD system. The Trailhawk trim offered additional off-road capabilities with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio. While the new engine transformed the Compass from gutless to gutsy, it wasn't as powerful as it could be. The EPA rated it at 27 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of 23.8 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space, with 38.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 74.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The dual-level cargo floor added versatility, and the interior provided over 41 inches of legroom in both the front and rear. The Limited trim's ambient lighting added a touch of flair to the cabin.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided decent comfort for four adults, despite its narrow build. The interior featured an air filtration system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a dual-pane sunroof. The rear seat offered enough space for adults, and the cargo area provided 27.2 cubic feet of volume, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Compass also offered a foldable front passenger seat for carrying long items.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, though it only utilized about 8 inches for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity with an 8-inch screen. The touch-capacitive buttons for infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating, but the Tucson provided plenty of USB ports and a Bose premium stereo.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen backed by Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The system also offered over-the-air updates, a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, and an optional nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The Limited trim included a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist, and unique features like a blind-spot view monitor and remote smart park assist. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and a rear-seat reminder for 2023. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and Highway Assist. The IIHS had not completed testing for the 2023 model, but the 2022 model received a Top Safety Pick rating.