Compare the2023 Jeep CompassVS 2022 Kia Niro

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
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 Niro doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Compass has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Niro 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.

The Compass has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Niro LXS/LXS SE/Touring SE/EX Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Compass has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Niro LXS/LXS SE/Touring SE/EX Premium has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Compass Trailhawk/Limited offers optional SiriusXM Guardian, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Niro doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Compass and the Niro 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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

	Compass	Niro
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	172	224
Neck Injury Risk	36%	80%

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

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 Kia Niro:

	Compass	Niro
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	138
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	134 lbs.	196 lbs.
Hip Force	335 lbs.	342 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	170
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	77 G’s
Hip Force	928 lbs.	993 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	663 lbs.	712 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 Niro has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Compass’ 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro runs out after 100,000 miles.

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). Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro.

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

Engine

The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 61 more horsepower (200 vs. 139) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 195) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Compass and Niro have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Compass has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Compass has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (13.5 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Niro doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Jeep Compass, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Niro.

Brakes and Stopping

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

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

The Compass stops shorter than the Niro:

	Compass	Niro
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	151 feet	152 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Compass has larger standard tires than the Niro (215/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Compass 4x4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro (235/45R19 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Compass has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro LX/LXS/EX Premium. The Compass 4x4’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring SE.

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 Niro; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Compass has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Niro doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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 Niro doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

Passenger Space

The Compass has .4 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear hip room than the Niro.

Cargo Capacity

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

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

	Compass	Niro
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.4”/65.7”	31.8”/64”
Max Width	53.8”	48.2”
Min Width	38.1”	41”
Height	29.6”	36”

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 Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Compass’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Niro’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Compass’ front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Niro’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’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 Niro’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Compass’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Niro’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

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 Niro doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Compass’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Niro Touring SE/EX Premium.

Both the Compass and the Niro 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 Niro.

Both the Compass and the Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro 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 Niro doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Compass will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Compass will retain 48.2% to 49.34% of its original price after five years, while the Niro only retains 44.32% to 44.64%.

Recommendations

The Jeep Compass outsold the Kia Niro by over three to one during the 2022 model year.