Jeep Compass vs Kia EV9

At first glance, the Kia EV9 presented a striking blend of innovation and familiarity. While it did share some design philosophies with the sleek and sculptural Kia EV6, its exterior stood out significantly among Kia SUVs. The EV9's body featured a distinctly modern, blocky aesthetic reminiscent of digital clock numerals. The body lines aligned with the octagonal wheel arches, and the rear window sharply angled upward, nearly connecting with the roof spoiler. The most noticeable change was in its lighting design, especially the standard “Star Map” daytime running lights. These lights traced a slim line from above the front fender down to the grille, outlining the new “Digital Tiger Face.” The LED headlights varied by trim, appearing as either two dashes or 12 dots.

Higher trims like Land and GT-Line introduced the Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, featuring a constellation of smaller light points visible only when the car was on. The EV9 also allowed owners to purchase additional lighting patterns, although the matte exterior colors (available for an additional $995) did not support the Digital Grille.

The blocky motif was carried through to the wheels. The base 19-inch wheels retained a visual sense of motion and aerodynamics. The 20-inch wheels on the Land trim had an interlocking triangle pattern, whereas the GT-Line's 21-inch wheels felt almost geometric.

Inside, the EV9 felt airy and fresh. Light gray two-tone interiors and dual sunroofs enhanced this spacious feeling significantly. All trims included eight-way power-adjustable front seats, with additional customizations available on higher trims. The SynTex seating surfaces were comfortable, and the fabric lining on the chairbacks, door cards, and center console felt durable.

Our test drive of the 2024 Jeep Compass took place in Michigan, proximate to Jeep's U.S. headquarters. We approached a Compass Altitude, decked out in a flashy red two-tone paint job with blacked-out trim, only to find it unresponsive. Our actual test vehicle was a basic white Compass, the kind you might find in a rental fleet, complete with black plastic door handles and small wheels.

The Compass Sport, in full rental-car guise, was unremarkable. Only the seven-slot grille gave away its Jeep heritage; otherwise, it shared a design vocabulary with vehicles like the Toyota RAV4. The body and taillights resembled those from various small crossovers over the past two decades. The design became distinctive only in the Trailhawk configuration, with red tow hooks, revised bumpers, and a mild lift.

In the fully loaded 2023 Compass Limited we last tested, the interior had impressed us with a black and gray color palette accented by caramel leatherette. The base model, however, boasted supportive cloth seats with blue stitching and textured crosshatch inserts. Door panels and the dash featured light gray cloth, adding shape and contrast. There were push-button start and a sizable 10-inch infotainment screen, alongside appropriately premium-feeling plastics. The silver plastic accents on the steering wheel and dash added a touch of style, but the whole design felt anonymous by Jeep standards.

The baseline Kia EV9 Light trim was powered by a single rear-wheel-drive (RWD) motor producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, providing an EPA-estimated electric range of 230 miles. For better range, the Light Long Range model offered a 99.8-kWh battery pack, sacrificing a bit of horsepower (down to 201 hp) but extending the range to 304 miles.

Higher trims like Wind and Land switched to all-wheel drive (AWD) with dual motors, generating 379 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, providing 280 miles of range. The top-tier GT-Line trim prioritized performance, offering 516 lb-ft of torque and a range of 270 miles.

We tested the GT-Line in Northern California's Napa Valley. It exhibited smooth, refined power delivery without the jolting acceleration typical of many electric vehicles. The EV9 seamlessly accelerated to cruising speeds, and passing on the highway felt effortless. The handling was solid, with minimal body roll, although we did notice mild rocking in the suspension. A standout was the adjustable regenerative braking system, which could be tuned to feel like a modern gas-powered vehicle. This was facilitated by paddles on the steering wheel, allowing adjustments up to the point of enabling Kia’s i-Pedal, a one-pedal driving mode.

Charging details from our testing were limited, but Kia claimed the EV9 could fast-charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 25 minutes using a high-speed DC charger.

The 2024 Jeep Compass replaced its previous 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a detuned turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, the Compass handled city driving and highway merging with ease. This engine was notably quieter, largely because it didn't require constant push to hit maximum power.

The Compass featured three driving modes (auto, snow, sand/mud) and the ability to lock torque distribution 50-50 front to rear, optimizing traction. Despite its rear-axle disconnect for fuel efficiency, it sometimes reacted slowly under hard acceleration, causing wheelspin. Pressing the 4WD Lock engaged the rear wheels consistently. The Trailhawk model also offered a low-range transfer case for challenging terrains, supplemented by Falken all-terrain tires, metal skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. However, these features inflated the price by $7,000 compared to the base model, and most drivers wouldn't utilize its full capabilities. The maximum towing capacity stood at 2,000 pounds across the range.

While the Compass’s steering and handling were less impressive compared to rivals like the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4, the ride was comfortable and well-damped. EPA-estimated fuel economy was 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, competitive but not leading among compact SUVs.

A major distinguishing feature of the Kia EV9 was its third row, a rare find among electric vehicles. This third row was impressively spacious, offering 39.5 inches of headroom, comparable with or better than traditional large SUVs like the Kia Telluride, BMW X7, and Rivian R1S. Legroom ranged from 30.8 to 32 inches depending on the second-row configuration. Unlike the eight-seater Telluride, the EV9 accommodated up to seven passengers. The middle row could be a bench seat or captain's chairs based on the trim level, and our test model included the latter.

Cargo capacity behind the third row stood at 20.2 cubic feet, expanding to 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and 81.7 cubic feet with only the front row in use. The load floor was high and flat, making loading and unloading convenient.

Front storage space included a floating center console allowing for an open compartment between the driver and passenger, though it lacked a significant flat surface. The console had shallow top-closing cubbies and a covered wireless charging pad for mobile devices. The second-row passengers, especially in Land and GT-Line trims, enjoyed a comprehensive storage drawer and tray table extending from the console.

The Compass stood out for its utility and user-friendliness. Its driver’s seat offered clear analog gauges flanking a large color display which could be customized to show various information panels. Controls for the stereo were conveniently placed behind the steering wheel. A conventional PRNDL gear selector and physical climate controls below the touchscreen ensured ease of use, though the lack of actual temperature readouts, represented only by a blue and red gradient bar, felt odd.

Visibility was good, and with no sunroof, front headroom was generous. The rear seats also provided ample legroom and headroom, together with rear vents, USB ports, and a fold-down center armrest. Front storage was less impressive, with small central cubbies and door pockets. The back offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which expanded to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. A unique feature was the fold-flat front passenger seat, which allowed for transporting longer items.

The EV9’s integrated technology set a high bar. Its interior featured a single curved display encompassing three separate screens: a 12.3-inch driver information display, a dedicated 5-inch Climate Display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. We appreciated the inclusion of actual physical switches for tri-zone climate control. Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad, were standard. The Light and Wind trims had an eight-speaker sound system, while the higher trims boasted a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system. The head-up display was exclusive to the GT-Line trim.

The EV9 also excelled in connectivity through over-the-air (OTA) updates, allowing owners to upgrade performance features and lighting patterns even after purchase. This enhanced the car’s future-proofing, making it a viable, long-term investment and enabling future customization.

The Compass came equipped with a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5 software, which proved crisp and quick. Unlike some rivals, the Compass did not exhibit any legibility issues, and its menu navigation was straightforward. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and 4G Wi-Fi with a subscription. Factory navigation, wireless charging pads, and a 10.3-inch digital instrument panel were available on higher trims.

The top High Altitude trim and the Elite Group package introduced amenities such as live traffic updates, a power lumbar support, a heated steering wheel, a power passenger seat, and a foot-activated power tailgate. A semi-autonomous driving system called Active Driving Assist required the Elite package. However, the home screen design could be more intuitive, as switching between apps was not as seamless.

The Kia EV9 boasted a comprehensive array of standard and optional driver-assistance features. Adaptive cruise control came standard with advanced functionalities like navigation-based adjustments and machine learning. Blind-spot monitoring and collision avoidance were standard, though the Blind-spot View Monitor was reserved for higher trims. Advanced collision avoidance functionalities were standard, but reverse parking collision avoidance assist and front and side versions were available only on the top trims.

Although the EV9 lacked safety ratings from IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, it received the highest rating from Euro NCAP, indicating strong safety credentials for European markets.

The safety of the 2024 Jeep Compass had yet to be rated by NHTSA, while the similar 2022 model received four out of five stars. It performed well in IIHS testing, receiving a Top Safety Pick award in 2023 with top ratings in 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.

Higher trims included adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and 360-degree cameras. Rain-sensing wipers were standard from the Limited trim upwards, enhancing its safety profile.