Compare the2025 Jeep CompassVS 2025 GMC Terrain

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

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Compass are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

The Compass’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Terrain doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Compass and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Compass’ corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 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). GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Terrain.

There are over 43 percent more Jeep dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Compass’ warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Compass has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Terrain’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Compass has a standard 850-amp battery. The Terrain’s 760-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Jeep higher than GMC.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than GMC With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than GMC.

The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (200 vs. 175) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 184) than the Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (200 vs. 175) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 203) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

The Compass Limited’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Terrain’s optional 55 series tires.

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 Terrain; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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

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 Terrain 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 Terrain doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Compass Trailhawk’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Terrain’s (35.3 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The Compass 4x4 Sport/Latitude/Limited’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Terrain’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain (8.1 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 2.8 inches higher than on the Terrain (8.6 vs. 5.8 inches).

The Compass is 7.6 inches shorter than the Terrain, making the Compass easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Terrain is limited to 1500 pounds. The Compass offers up to a 2000 lbs. 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 Terrain doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Terrain’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Compass’ standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Terrain’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Terrain 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 Terrain doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Jeep Compass outsold the GMC Terrain by 34% during 2023.