Used 2023 Jeep Compass

The 2023 Jeep Compass is something a little different among small SUVs. It’s a practical daily commuter that’s easy to drive, but it also has off-road abilities that live up to the Jeep name. The Compass receives several significant updates for 2023, such as a turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive (AWD) in every version, and more standard driver assistance features. These changes keep the Compass competitive in the subcompact SUV class. Other small off-road-ready SUVs include the Ford Bronco Sport and Subaru Crosstrek.

One of the main changes in the 2023 Jeep Compass is the new turbocharged engine making a healthy 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. That’s a significant improvement over last year’s output. The even better news is that there’s plenty of thrust, even at quite low revs. Great for dealing with traffic and tricky terrain alike.

It seems refined enough, although there’s some growl when accelerating hard. However, getting up to speed is handled quickly and efficiently, while a new 8-speed automatic transmission executes smooth shifts.

New hydraulic engine mounts help reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. And the icing on this metaphorical cake is that it also produces lower emissions than the previous engine.

We’ve found the ride can get a tad bouncy over rough surfaces, but that’s the price to pay for a suspension tuned primarily for comfort. At least the steering has some substance to its feel, and we generally prefer the smaller wheel/tire combination of lower trims like the Latitude — as opposed to the slightly less forgiving larger wheels of the High Altitude model.

The compact footprint of the Compass makes it easy to drive and park when in town. Out of town, another facet comes to light.

Every new Compass now comes with the reassurance of all-wheel drive, but Jeep can always be relied upon to take that to another level. The Trailhawk version has low gearing and a locking 4-wheel drive system, enabling it to explore wild places that might scare off owners of other SUVs.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of subcompact SUVs, including this 2023 Compass.

The Compass is fresh off a significant interior refresh for 2022, gaining nicer materials as well as pleasing shapes and details. It’s fairly quiet in here as well. Drowsy driver detection and a rear seat reminder are new for 2023.

Within the Jeep SUV portfolio, the 2023 Compass slots between the smaller Renegade and the compact Cherokee. One reminder of this is the tight rear legroom. An adult male of average size won’t want to spend too much time if someone of identical stature is sitting directly in front.

Cabin space of 27.2 cubic feet behind those rear seats is also a bit on the small side, yet still bigger than the Subaru Crosstrek.

The 2023 Compass benefits from the iconic Jeep styling. It has the traditional 7-slot grille and its look changes throughout the model range with the rugged Trailhawk, (RED) Edition, and High Altitude models bringing different appearance packages to the well-appointed Limited trim.

Turbo engine
We’re excited to see a turbocharged engine under the hood of the Compass. Compared with the outgoing engine, the new unit improves this SUV’s performance on-road and off.

Jeep Active Drive 4×4
The standard Jeep Active Drive 4×4 system is the foundation of what makes the Compass such a good off-roader. It’s a fully automatic system that delivers torque to the wheels that need it most.

Selec-Terrain
The standard Selec-Terrain system allows drivers to optimize the AWD system for whatever terrain they encounter. Leaving it in Auto mode works well enough most of the time, but it also has Snow and Sand/Mud modes, while the Trailhawk trim adds a Rock mode for more demanding terrain.

Uconnect 5
This 10.1-inch infotainment system is user-friendly and packed with features. It has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and it’s available with a wireless charging pad and an Alpine premium audio system.

Highway Assist
The available Highway Assist system does what its name implies. Available on the Limited and Trailhawk models, this partially autonomous driving system uses features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance to help ease the driver’s workload during highway driving.

Trailhawk
The Compass Trailhawk is more than just an appearance package. It has impressive off-road capabilities thanks to a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock mode, an extra inch of ground clearance, off-road tires, and skid plates.

The Jeep Compass gains a new turbocharged engine for 2023, bringing a welcome performance upgrade, yet fuel economy is also better than the outgoing engine. It’s paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive comes standard.

Maximum towing capability is 2,000 pounds. Despite being turbocharged, this engine works fine with regular gasoline.

2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
200 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
221 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/32 mpg

More Compass fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Jeep Compass is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is par for the course in the subcompact SUV segment.