2023 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 presented a sporty and sleek design, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E, with a lower and wider stance that gave it a visually appealing presence. Its design featured a highback tail with a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar, and wheels positioned at the farthest corners of the chassis, creating a body with pronounced hips. The EV6's voluptuous curves, similar to those on a Porsche 911, added both style and stability. The headlights, with their squinting, V-shaped pattern, mirrored the black trim below, which mimicked sealed air intakes. The car's profile was sharp and smooth, especially in matte silver paint, with recessed lights below the rear spoiler and chrome trim below the taillights adding to its aesthetic appeal. The interior boasted dual 12-inch screens, a floating center console, and seats covered in faux suede and leather, creating a futuristic and enjoyable driving experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass adopted a more refined and upscale design, moving away from the rugged Jeep ethos. It shared design elements with larger Jeep models like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, featuring new 17-inch wheels for the Sport and Latitude models, and gloss black wheels for the Trailhawk. The Compass was available in five core trim levels, with special editions like the Altitude and High Altitude. The Limited trim, with its Granite Crystal paint and 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents exuded sophistication, thanks to digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics. However, the high price of the test vehicle, at $45,800, made it less competitive in the small SUV segment.

The 2022 Kia EV6, particularly the GT-Line e-AWD model, delivered impressive performance with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds, thanks to its 77-kilowatt-hour battery and 4600-pound weight. The upcoming GT trim promised even more power with 576 hp and a sub-3.5-second 0-60 time. The EV6's Sport mode provided quick and effective torque distribution, making it a joy to drive in various conditions. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65% of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging was efficient, with the ability to accept up to 240 kW, but real-world charging stations often fell short of this capability.

The 2023 Jeep Compass saw a significant improvement in its powertrain with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The engine's peak torque was available across a broad rev range, and it was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep Active Drive AWD system. The Trailhawk version featured a more advanced AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, making it suitable for off-road adventures. While the new engine transformed the Compass from gutless to gutsy, it wasn't as powerful as it could be, prioritizing fuel economy. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in various driving conditions, falling short of its 27 mpg EPA rating. The turbocharged engine was quieter and smoother than previous models, but the Compass's tall and narrow design contributed to significant body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Kia EV6 offered innovative features like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. Its interior was spacious, with generous legroom and headroom, although the cargo space was limited to 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The EV6's towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and it featured an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided a roomy interior for adults in both rows, despite its narrow design. Standard features included an air filtration system and dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated options. The Compass's rear seat provided adequate space for adults, and the cargo area offered 27.2 cubic feet of volume, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Interior storage was acceptable, but the center armrest bin was small.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured a user-friendly infotainment system with dual 12-inch screens, although it required a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included Highway Driving Assist (HDA) with lane-keeping and blind-spot monitoring, but the lane-change feature was inconsistent. The EV6 also had a 360-degree camera, customizable "engine" sounds, and a head-up display with augmented reality. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system offered over-the-air updates, a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, and an optional nine-speaker Alpine sound system. The Limited trim included Alexa Built-in, which was responsive and accurate. The Compass also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2022 Kia EV6 lacked published safety test results but offered impressive tech, including a driver's knee airbag, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added features like evasive steering assist and machine learning for adaptive cruise control.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added standard drowsy driver detection and rear-seat reminder systems. It featured forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Highway Assist was available on higher trims, providing semi-autonomous driving assistance. The Compass had incomplete crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.