Compare the2024 Toyota Rav4VS 2023 Jeep Compass

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Compass doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Compass doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 (except LE) offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Rav4 and Compass offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Rav4 (except LE) has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Compass’ Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Rav4 and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Rav4	Compass
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	152	196
Neck Injury Risk	29.3%	41%
Neck Stress	306 lbs.	445 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	400/388 lbs.	326/489 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.8 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	340/190 lbs.	299/387 lbs.

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 Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Rav4	Compass
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	102
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	246 lbs.	335 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	49 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	508 lbs.	928 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	299	355
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Compass:

	Rav4	Compass
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	120	189
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1517 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	2.13 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	491 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	14 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	937 lbs.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 4.5% to 4.9% less likely to roll over than the Compass, which received a three-star rating.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 71 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Compass last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Reliability

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 Rav4’s reliability 33 points higher than the Compass.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (203 vs. 200) than the Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Compass:

			MPG
Rav4
	FWD	XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
		LE/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy
	AWD	LE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
		XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/33 hwy
		Adventure/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
		TRD Off-Road 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
Compass
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy

The Rav4 has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Compass (14.5 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Compass. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Compass:

	Rav4	Compass
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger standard tires than the Compass (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the Compass (105.9 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is 2 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Compass.

The Rav4 Adventure handles at .84 G’s, while the Compass Sport pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 TRD Off-Road executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Compass (8.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Jeep Compass.

The front grille of the Rav4 Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road 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.

Passenger Space

The Rav4 has .3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Compass’ rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 easier. The Rav4’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the Compass’ in every dimension:

	Rav4	Compass
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/73.4”	32.4”/65.7”
Max Width	59”	53.8”
Min Width	39.4”	38.1”
Height	36.6”	29.6”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Compass doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Rav4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Compass is only 2000 pounds. The Rav4 4WD offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Rav4’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.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Compass can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Model Availability

The Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Compass doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rav4 is less expensive to operate than the Compass because typical repairs cost much less on the Rav4 than the Compass, including $16 less for a water pump, $175 less for a muffler and $234 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Compass isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Jeep Compass by almost five to one during 2022.

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