Jeep Compass vs Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Jeep Compass was tested in Michigan. Despite arriving with a fresh key fob to a Compass Altitude with a stylish red two-tone paint job and blacked-out trim, it turned out to be uncooperative as the tailgate and doors refused to unlock. The actual test vehicle was a white Compass with black plastic door handles and small wheels, resembling a utility fleet vehicle. In the basic Compass Sport trim, the vehicle was almost unrecognizable as a Jeep without its distinctive seven-slot grille. Its design closely resembled other compact crossovers, such as the Toyota RAV4, featuring generic taillights and body shape. The Compass Sport felt invisible without the distinctiveness of a higher trim like the Trailhawk which has red tow hooks, revised bumpers, and a mild lift.

On the inside, the base Compass has improved significantly since the 2022 model year, now boasting a well-designed and quality interior. Base models feature supportive cloth seats with blue stitching, a 10-inch infotainment screen, and silver plastic accents that hint at sophistication. The integration of large screens and superior fit and finish gives it a modern touch, standing out compared to older models. However, its exterior lacked the unique charm expected of a Jeep.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, offered in multiple trim levels including LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, had a distinctive and stylish appearance. The Sienna embraced its "swagger wagon" persona with sleek front and rear fascias and a choice of cool colors like deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting came standard, and higher trims featured Bi-LED projector headlamps.

Our XSE tester in particular projected a sporty vibe with a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, designed for a bit more off-road capability, featured unique colors like Cement or Midnight Black Metallic, roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and slightly higher ground clearance.

The Sienna's interior presented a practical and family-friendly design. Features such as power side doors, ample cupholders, sliding second-row captain’s chairs, tri-zone climate control, and optional luxury elements like heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats highlighted its appeal. While it may not be the pinnacle of luxury, the Sienna offered a pleasant and functional environment, with the upper trims providing features like a built-in vacuum cleaner that can prove incredibly useful for families.

The 2024 Jeep Compass transitioned away from the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine to a more robust turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, the Compass demonstrated significantly improved acceleration and reduced noise levels as drivers no longer needed to push the engine hard. The Compass offered three driving modes—Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud—and a 4WD Lock button to maintain rear-wheel engagement as needed.

Despite these improvements, the Compass’ steering and handling left much to be desired compared to competitors like the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4. The steering felt lackluster, with excessive play off-center and insufficient feedback at higher speeds. Nevertheless, the ride quality remained comfortable. Fuel economy ratings were commendable at 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

On the other side, the 2024 Toyota Sienna established its unique position as a hybrid minivan. Combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, the Sienna produced a total of 245 horsepower. For AWD models, an additional electric motor powered the rear wheels. While not designed for speed enthusiasts, the Sienna prioritized efficiency and smoothness. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was often criticized for making the minivan feel sluggish, especially during acceleration onto highways or while ascending inclines.

Despite its lack of excitement, the Sienna offered a generally pleasant driving experience around town. The different driving modes—Normal, Eco, and EV—allowed for varied use cases, from efficient city driving to slow-speed maneuvers. The brakes, though occasionally grabby, and the light and accurate steering contributed to a user-friendly driving experience, complemented by excellent visibility.

The 2024 Jeep Compass impressed with its utility and ease of use. The driver’s seat provided good visibility, space, and accessible controls, including analog gauges, a large color display, and physical climate controls. Despite the absence of temperature readouts, the climate system was user-friendly. The Compass offered ample headroom and legroom both in the front and rear seats. Features like rear vents, USB ports, a fold-down center armrest, and a foldable front passenger seat for carrying longer items emphasized its practicality. Cargo space measured at 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet when folded.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in versatility and family-friendly features. Key highlights included a front lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox housing the wireless charging pad. Power side doors and adjustable second-row captain’s chairs provided up to 40 inches of legroom, increasing comfort for rear passengers. However, the non-removable seats limited maximum cargo capacity. The third row offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was moved forward. Tri-zone climate control and features like an accessible rear liftgate with a quick kick motion enhanced overall usability. Cargo space totaled 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 75 cubic feet and 101 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded, respectively.

The 2024 Jeep Compass sported a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5 software, praised for its clarity and user-friendly interface. Despite a minor inconvenience regarding home screen navigation, the infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, 4G Wi-Fi, and USB-C ports as standard features. Higher trims offered a 10.3-inch digital instrument panel, factory navigation, a wireless charging pad, a panoramic moonroof, and a nine-speaker Alpine stereo. The semi-automated Active Driving Assist system was also available on higher trims.

Conversely, the 2024 Toyota Sienna ran on Toyota’s older infotainment technology, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system was slower and less feature-packed, its physical buttons for common menus were a practical touch. The backup camera was disappointing in terms of resolution. The Sienna included a standard Wi-Fi hotspot and SiriusXM, with an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo and rear-camera mirror. Multiple USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter with outlets highlighted its capacity for connectivity and convenience. Additional options like the rear-seat entertainment system and a color head-up display were also notable.

The 2024 Jeep Compass had not been rated by the NHTSA at the time of writing, but the identical 2022 model received four out of five stars overall, demonstrating solid safety credentials with top marks in side tests and rollover resistance. The IIHS awarded the identical 2023 Compass a Top Safety Pick rating. The Compass came equipped with standard safety features like forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor. Adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and 360-degree cameras were available in higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, benefitting from Toyota Safety Sense, included standard safety features like lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. The NHTSA rated the Sienna four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection, and five out of five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings for crashworthiness and child restraint systems, although the front crash prevention rating was "Average." The Sienna's comprehensive airbag coverage and safety reminders for rear passengers further enhanced its safety profile.