Compare the2025 Jeep CompassVS 2025 Subaru Crosstrek

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

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 Subaru Crosstrek has not been tested.

The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek only offers a rear monitor.

The Compass has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Crosstrek’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Compass has standard Rear Cross Path Detection, helping the driver avoid collisions. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Crosstrek and its not available on the Base.

Compared to metal, the Compass’ plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Crosstrek has a metal gas tank.

Both the Compass and the Crosstrek 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, 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, rearview cameras and driver alert 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). Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Crosstrek.

There are almost 4 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Compass’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Subaru With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Subaru.

The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 48 more horsepower (200 vs. 152) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 145) than the Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (200 vs. 182) and 43 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 178) than the Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Compass is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek:

	Compass	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	9.1 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.6 MPH	84.8 MPH	87.1 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Compass gets better fuel mileage than the Crosstrek Wilderness (24 city/32 hwy vs. 25 city/29 hwy).

The Compass has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Compass stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

	Compass	Crosstrek
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	140 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Compass Limited’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek (235/45R19 vs. 225/60R17).

The Compass Limited’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Compass Limited offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Crosstrek’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 Crosstrek; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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 Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Compass is 3 inches shorter than the Crosstrek, making the Compass easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Compass has .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 19.9 cubic feet). The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

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

	Compass	Crosstrek
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.4”/65.7”	32.1”/63.9”
Max Width	53.8”	53”
Min Width	38.1”	43”
Height	29.6”	29.3”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Standard Trailer Sway Control 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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Compass offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Compass Limited/Trailhawk, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer memory seats.

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 Crosstrek has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Compass has a standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness offers Keyless Access and Start.

The Compass’ standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Crosstrek’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Compass’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Compass’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Crosstrek and aren’t offered on the Crosstrek Base.

Both the Compass and the Crosstrek offer available heated front seats. 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 Crosstrek.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Compass Limited/Trailhawk keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Compass’ optional (except Sport) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Compass and the Crosstrek offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Compass has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Compass (except Sport) 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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an automated parking system.