Compare the2022 Jeep CompassVS 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The Compass’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Compass has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Bronco Sport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Compass is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

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

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Compass the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 213 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Bronco Sport has not been tested, yet.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Compass for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Bronco Sport.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Compass’ engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 14th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Jeep 3 places higher in reliability than Ford.

On the EPA test cycle the Compass gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Compass uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

A nine-speed automatic is optional on the Jeep Compass 4x4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Bronco Sport.

The Compass 4x4’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Compass 4x4 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Compass’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Compass Trailhawk’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (35.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Compass’ turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Bronco Sport’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (8.1 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Jeep Compass may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 300 pounds less than the Ford Bronco Sport.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Compass has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

When two different drivers share the Compass Limited/Trailhawk, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Compass’ front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco Sport’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Compass’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/First Edition.

Both the Compass and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The Compass Trailhawk/Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Compass Limited/Trailhawk keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Compass’ optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Compass is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Compass owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Compass will cost $155 to $2205 less than the Bronco Sport over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Jeep Compass will be $3523 to $7558 less than for the Ford Bronco Sport.

The Jeep Compass outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by 1865 units during the 2021 model year.