2023 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Lincoln Aviator

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator presented a sophisticated and luxurious appearance, especially in its Black Label Grand Touring trim. It featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring models added a hybrid system with a 75-kilowatt electric motor and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, making AWD standard. Prices ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, with our test model costing $91,225. The Aviator's design was generally appealing, though the wheels on the Black Label Grand Touring were considered too plain. The Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence and electric, light-touch door handles added a touch of elegance, though the electronic door latches could pinch fingers.

Inside, the Aviator Black Label Grand Touring was lavish, featuring patterned metal trim, gloss black surfaces, chrome accents, and rich caramel-hued leather seats. The materials were mostly high-end, with soft leather and a swanky simulated suede headliner. However, some chrome detailing and the stitching on the seats and door panels felt cheap. The key fob was also criticized for being lightweight and plasticky, though the Phone As A Key digital key technology was a convincing alternative.

The 2023 Jeep Compass adopted a more refined and upscale look compared to its rugged predecessors. It featured new 17-inch wheels for the Sport and Latitude models, gloss black wheels for the Trailhawk, and various paint options for the Red editions. The Compass was available in five core trim levels, with prices ranging from just under $32,000 to over $40,000. Our test vehicle, a Limited trim with several packages, had an MSRP of $45,800. The Compass Limited, wrapped in Granite Crystal paint with 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents looked and felt sophisticated, though the price was considered steep.

The Compass' interior was comfortable, with decent space for four adults. Standard features included an air filtration system and a humidity-sensing dual-zone automatic climate control system. Higher trims offered leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided enough space for adults, though legroom was snug. Interior storage was acceptable, but the center armrest bin was tiny. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, generated an impressive 494 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. Despite its 800+ pounds of extra weight, the Aviator offered 21 miles of electric driving range and averaged 23 mpg combined in hybrid mode. Various driving modes, including Pure EV, Preserve EV, Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Tow/Haul, allowed for optimized performance. During an extended evaluation drive, the Aviator covered 22.3 miles on electricity alone, achieving a fuel economy equivalent to 163.4 mpg. Over 94.7 miles, it averaged 24.3 mpg, demonstrating the hybrid system's efficiency.

The Aviator's powertrain provided plenty of power, though it could be unpredictable, with inconsistent acceleration and braking behavior. The standard Dynamic Handling Package with an adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension managed the extra weight well, offering a smooth and quiet ride. However, the Aviator wasn't particularly fun to drive, with heavy and numb steering. It excelled in providing a quiet, isolating, and smooth-riding experience, making it ideal for gliding down highways and byways.

The 2023 Jeep Compass finally received a satisfying 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 from 1,750 rpm to 4,250 rpm, with maximum horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard Jeep Active Drive AWD, the Compass offered three driving modes: Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Trailhawk trim featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock driving mode, hill descent control, and more aggressive tires.

During a test drive in Malibu, California, the new turbo engine transformed the Compass from gutless to gutsy, though it wasn't as powerful as it could be. The EPA rated it at 27 mpg combined, but our test averaged 23.8 mpg. The new engine was quieter, smoother, and more refined, with the eight-speed automatic transmission shifting flawlessly. The Compass Limited provided impressive grip in curves and corners, though it remained tall, narrow, and stubby, contributing to significant body motions on uneven pavement. The Trailhawk's off-roading capabilities were evident, though it struggled on mud and loose dirt with standard tires. The hill descent control system worked well but occasionally released momentarily before re-engaging.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The massaging, 30-way Perfect Position front seats were highly comfortable, though they required some adjustment. The second-row captain's chairs were roomy and supportive, with a center console for storage and controls. However, the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access, making it unsuitable for adults. With the third-row seats in use, the Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the seats folded flat, and a maximum of 77.7 cubic feet.

The 2023 Jeep Compass provided decent comfort for four adults, despite its narrow design. Standard features included an air filtration system and a humidity-sensing dual-zone automatic climate control system. Higher trims offered leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided enough space for adults, though legroom was snug. Interior storage was acceptable, but the center armrest bin was tiny. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. A manually-adjustable front passenger seat could fold in half to accommodate long items.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring was loaded with technology, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, Lincoln Connect connected services, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system. However, it ran on the outdated Sync 3 software, which struggled with voice recognition. The 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system was spectacular, and the warning chimes recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra were a nice touch. Smartphone-related tech included wireless charging and the Phone As A Key digital key system. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were also standard, with the latter remaining visible even with polarized sunglasses. The front and rear parking sensors and surround-view camera system were useful, though the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system was not tested.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The system received over-the-air updates and paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel. Additional features included an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in digital assistant. The Alexa technology was fast and accurate, even changing the cabin temperature. The Alpine audio system was good but bass-heavy. The Compass also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator came with Co-Pilot360 1.5, Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus, and Co-Pilot360 2.0 collections of driver aids, depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle had features like automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, road-sign recognition, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The steering wheel controls were unnecessarily complicated. The Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a standard drowsy driver detection system and a rear-seat reminder system. Standard ADAS included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, and front and rear parking sensors. The Trailhawk, Limited, and High Altitude trims offered Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system. Our Compass Limited had Highway Assist, which worked well in light traffic but struggled with a gentle bend and old pavement scars. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist were less satisfying on Pacific Coast Highway. The NHTSA had not published crash-test results for the 2023 Compass, and the IIHS had incomplete test results, making it ineligible for a Top Safety Pick rating until further testing.