Compare the2026 Jeep CompassVS 2025 Dodge Hornet

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

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Compass are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Hornet doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Jeep Compass achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Dodge Hornet has not been tested.

Both the Compass and the Hornet 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, all wheel drive, 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 available around view monitors.

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). Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Hornet.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Compass has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Hornet’s 160-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 Hornet’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

On the EPA test cycle the Compass gets better fuel mileage than the Hornet GT running its gasoline engine (23 city/31 hwy vs. 21 city/29 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Compass uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Compass has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (13.5 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Compass higher (6 out of 10) than the Dodge Hornet (5 to 6). This means the Compass produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Hornet every 15,000 miles.

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 Hornet; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

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 Hornet 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 Hornet doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Compass Trailhawk’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (35.3 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Hornet R/T (8.1 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Hornet GT (8.6 vs. 8 inches).

The Compass is 4.6 inches shorter than the Hornet, making the Compass easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Compass has .4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

The Compass has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

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

Standard Trailer Sway Damping 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 Hornet 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 Hornet has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Compass has a standard rear variable intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Compass has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Hornet. 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 Hornet.

The Compass has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Hornet.

The Compass 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 Hornet doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Compass outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost six to one during 2024.