Compare the2023 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2022 Jeep Compass

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CR-V Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Compass doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Compass doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V Hybrid deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Compass’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 14 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (204 vs. 177) and 75 lbs.-ft. more torque (247 vs. 172) than the Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V Hybrid gets better mileage than the Compass:

Regenerative brakes improve the CR-V Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Compass doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Compass (6). This means the CR-V Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Compass every 15,000 miles.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Compass doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the CR-V Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Compass:

For better traction, the CR-V Hybrid has larger tires than the Compass (235/60R18 vs. 215/65R16).

The CR-V Hybrid’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 CR-V Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Compass Sport.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CR-V Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Compass (106.3 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V Hybrid is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Compass.

For greater off-road capability the CR-V Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Compass (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CR-V Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the CR-V Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Compass doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V Hybrid has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Compass (103.5 vs. 99.6).

The CR-V Hybrid has 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CR-V Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Compass’ rear seats don’t recline.

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V Hybrid easier. The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Compass’ in every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V Hybrid. The Compass doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

The CR-V Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Compass uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Compass doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring’s front and rear power windows all 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 Compass’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the CR-V Hybrid’s driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Compass can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Compass doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Compass has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Compass and isn’t available on the Compass Sport.

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Compass Sport doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 21 years. The Compass has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Compass has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Jeep Compass by over four to one during the 2021 model year.