Compare the2021 Kia SportageVS 2020 Jeep Compass

The Sportage (except LX/S) offers optional Parking Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Compass doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Sportage’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Compass doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Jeep Compass:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 108 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Compass last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Compass’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Jeep covers the Compass. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Compass ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sportage has a 600-amp battery. The Compass only offers a standard 500-amp battery.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 15 points higher than the Compass.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Compass isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 11th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 17 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 57 more horsepower (237 vs. 180) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 175) than the Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (240 vs. 180) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 175) than the Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Jeep Compass (automatics tested):

The Sportage has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (16.4 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Jeep Compass (3 to 6). This means the Sportage produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Compass every 15,000 miles.

The Kia Sportage comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Compass.

For better stopping power the Sportage SX Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Compass:

The Sportage stops much shorter than the Compass:

For better traction, the Sportage has larger standard tires than the Compass (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R16). The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Compass (245/45R19 vs. 235/45R19).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Compass Sport’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage LX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Compass Sport.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Compass (105.1 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Compass.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Compass Trailhawk pulls only .73 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Compass Trailhawk’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.3 feet). The Sportage’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Compass’ (34.8 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The Sportage has .1 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 2 inches more rear hip room than the Compass.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage’s rear seats recline. The Compass’ rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Sportage is .9 inches lower than the Compass (18.5” vs. 19.4”). The Sportage’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Compass’ (19.4” vs. 20.7”).

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Sportage easier. The Sportage’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.8 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

The Sportage’s cargo area is larger than the Compass’ in almost every dimension:

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Compass doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Compass doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Compass’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sportage’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Compass’ headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

The Sportage has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Compass only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

Both the Sportage and the Compass offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Compass doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage (except LX) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Compass doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Sportage with a number “8” insurance rate while the Compass is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 45.89% to 49.54% of its original price after five years, while the Compass only retains 40.18% to 46.29%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Compass because typical repairs cost less on the Sportage than the Compass, including $17 less for front brake pads, $147 less for a starter, $125 less for a fuel pump and $117 less for front struts.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: