Compare the2023 Jeep CompassVS 2023 Hyundai Kona

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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

The Jeep Compass has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Kona doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Compass. But it costs extra on the Kona.

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 Kona 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 Kona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 Hyundai Kona:

	Compass	Kona
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	109
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	134 lbs.	246 lbs.
Hip Force	335 lbs.	611 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	326
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	66 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	663 lbs.	744 lbs.

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 “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Compass the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 169 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Compass’ warranty.

Reliability

The Kona’s redline is at 6800 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Compass has a 5800 RPM redline.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Compass has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Kona’s standard 150-amp alternator and largest (1.6T) 130-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Compass has a standard 850-amp battery. The Kona’s 640-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (200 vs. 147) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (200 vs. 195) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 195) than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Compass has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Kona doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Compass’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

	Compass	Kona
Front Rotors	12 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.95 inches	10.3 inches

The Compass stops shorter than the Kona:

	Compass	Kona
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Compass has larger standard tires than the Kona (215/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Compass has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kona SE. The Compass 4x4’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Kona N Line/Limited.

The Compass Trailhawk has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Kona; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Jeep Compass has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Compass has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Compass flat and controlled during cornering. The Kona 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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 Kona doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Compass’ wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Kona (103.8 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

Passenger Space

The Compass has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona (99.6 vs. 94.1).

The Compass has .8 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

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

	Compass	Kona
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.4”/65.7”	28.6”/61”
Max Width	53.8”	48”
Min Width	38.1”	40”
Height	29.6”	30”

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 Kona doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Compass Trailhawk w/Towing Package offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Compass uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

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 Kona doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Compass’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Kona does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Compass’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kona has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Kona’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Kona SEL/N Line/Limted’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

The Compass’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kona’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Compass’ LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Compass’ headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Kona’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 Kona doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Compass and the Kona 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 Kona.

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 Kona doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Compass’ optional (except Sport) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kona doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Compass (except Sport)’s optional 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. The Kona doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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

The Compass (except Sport) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kona doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s 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 Kona doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Compass is less expensive to operate than the Kona because it costs $354 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Compass than the Kona, including $94 less for a water pump, $171 less for a muffler, $16 less for a starter, $22 less for fuel injection and $326 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Jeep Compass outsold the Hyundai Kona by 30% during the 2022 model year.

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