Compare the2024 Jeep CompassVS 2024 Kia Niro

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 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 Niro doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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, 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.

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 163 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro has not been tested, yet.

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 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). 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.

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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Compass is faster than the Kia Niro:

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 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (13.5 vs. 11.1 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.

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.

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

For better traction, the Compass has larger standard tires than the Niro (215/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Compass Limited’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. The Compass Limited’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring.

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.

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.

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Niro (8.1 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the Niro (8.6 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Compass has .8 inches more front hip room and .4 inches more front shoulder room than the Niro.

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume than the Niro with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 22.8 cubic feet).

The Compass Trailhawk with 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.

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’ 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 Niro’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Niro SX’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

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.

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.

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 Jeep Compass outsold the Kia Niro by almost three to one during 2022.