The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport vs. the Jeep Compass-which is better?

By Nick Kurczewski

This is a closely matched compact SUV competition

Are you looking for a smaller SUV that won't fall to pieces when paved roads end? The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Compass are more than capable of zipping around town and tackling all sorts of routine driving tasks. Yet they have a degree of off-road capability you won't find in many of their rival compact SUVs.

To start, the Ford (F) and Jeep both come standard with all-wheel drive. Plus, they each have a trim specifically designed for more difficult all-terrain adventures. In the Bronco Sport, this is the Badlands model, and with the Jeep, it's the Trailhawk.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover highlights of the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Compass.

2024 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport starts at $31,390, including factory-to-dealer delivery charges. The retro-themed Free Wheeling model has been added to the lineup, which now includes five main trims: Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks, and Badlands.

A 181-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive is standard. Offered exclusively in the Badlands is a 250-hp turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that adds considerably more grunt when you punch the accelerator pedal.

Ford Bronco Sport highlights

Badlands model: The Bronco Sport Badlands gets a lot more than just a stronger engine. It includes underbody skid plates, off-road suspension settings, all-terrain tires, front tow hooks, and a front-facing camera to maneuver around potentially hidden obstacles.

Old-school looks: The Free Wheeling and Heritage models pay particular homage to the Ford Bronco Sport's retro appeal. With the Free Wheeling, you get large red, orange, and yellow exterior stripes, along with alloy wheels with red accents. It's straight out of the 1970s, and we love it. The Heritage trim opts for a look that harkens back to the original 1966 Bronco. It features a white roof, white grille, white-painted wheels, and plaid interior seating.

A dog-friendly SUV: Ford wants you to bring the pooches along for a ride. The Dog Outfitter bundle includes a storage kennel, seat covers, and a rear cargo mat.

Plenty of headroom: The boxy shape of the Ford Bronco Sport is great in that it allows for loads of headroom and extra cargo volume. It also allows you to fit an optional interior bike rack.

Learn more: The Ford Bronco Sport gets updates for 2024 and a new retro trim-you'll dig it

2024 Jeep Compass

The Jeep Compass is available in five trims: Sport, Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk. Pricing starts at $27,495, including destination fees, and scales upward to around $35,000 for the top-of-the-line Trailhawk model. That's about $4K less expensive than the Ford Bronco Badlands.

Powering every 2024 Compass is a 200-hp 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.

Jeep Compass highlights

Highway Assist: This drive assist system is offered on the Limited and Trailhawk trims. It uses a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist to deliver partially automated driving with your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Trailhawk model: Similar to the Ford Bronco Badlands, the Compass Trailhawk is geared toward SUV shoppers who like venturing off-road. It comes with an extra inch of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, a 20:1 crawl ratio, underbody skid plates, front and rear tow hooks, hill descent control, and additional "Rock" drive mode.

Easy-to-use infotainment: We're fans of the UConnect 5 infotainment system fitted to the Compass. The easy-to-navigate 10.1-inch screen comes with standard wireless smartphone connectivity, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Upgrades include a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, Amazon (AMZN) Alexa, and wireless device charging.

Classic Jeep shape: Granted, it's not as throwback as the Ford Bronco Sport or as get-out-of-my-way as Jeep's own burly Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. Yet classic Jeep design cues - including the seven-slot front grille - are present on the Compass and should make fans of the brand happy.

Similarities

The Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Compass both play up the adventure angle, though they're still practical picks for anyone looking for a smaller SUV with city-friendly proportions. They're definitely less "soft-roader" than many competing models that lack the same go-anywhere prowess.

Be sure to read: This simple fact about a car on a dealer's lot can give you negotiating power

Conclusion

This is a closely matched compact SUV competition, that's for sure. The Ford Bronco Sport offers a choice of two engines versus only one with the Jeep Compass. Yet it's the Jeep that has ever-so-slightly better fuel economy and a little more rear legroom. It's generally cheaper than the Ford, too.

The vintage charm and higher degree of driving refinement of the Ford Bronco Sport claws back some points. Plus, it has a bigger cargo area and a raft of available goodies for traveling, with everything from roof tents to bikes and furry pals. For us, it's the Ford Bronco Sport that scales the heights of this comparison.

                          2024 Ford Bronco Sport             2024 Jeep Compass 
   Starting Price         $31,390                            $27,495 
   Popular Powertrains 
   Engine                 Turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder  Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder 
   Horsepower             181 hp @ 6,000 rpm                 200 hp @ 5,000 rpm 
   Torque                 190 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm              190 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm 
   Transmission           8-speed automatic                  8-speed automatic 
   Fuel economy MPG       25 city/29 highway/26 combined     24 city/32 highway/27 combined 
   Also Available         Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder 
   Specs 
   Basic Warranty         3 years/36,000 miles               3 years/36,000 miles 
   Powertrain Warranty    5 years/60,000 miles               5 years/60,000 miles 
   NHTSA Overall Safety   5 star                             NA 
   Max Seating Capacity   5                                  5 
   Wheelbase              105.1 inches                       103.8 inches 
   Overall Length         172.7 inches                       173.4 inches 
   Width                  74.3 inches                        73.8 inches 
   Height                 70.2 inches                        64.6 inches 
   Turning Diameter       37.4 feet                          36.2 feet 
   Headroom, Front        41.5 inches                        39.2 inches 
   Headroom, Rear         41.7 inches                        38.5 inches 
   Legroom, Front         42.4 inches                        41.8 inches 
   Legroom, Rear          36.9 inches                        38.3 inches 
   Shoulder Room, Front   57.3 inches                        56.7 inches 
   Shoulder Room, Rear    55.6 inches                        55.1 inches 
   Cargo Volume           32.5 cubic feet                    27.2 cubic feet 

This story originally ran on KBB.com.

-Nick Kurczewski

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05-10-24 0504ET

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