Compare the2025 Jeep CompassVS 2025 Lexus UX

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

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Compass. But it costs extra on the UX.

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 UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Compass and the UX 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Compass is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Compass	UX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	172	290
Neck Injury Risk	36%	36%
Neck Compression	92 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	299/387 lbs.	345/566 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Compass is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Compass	UX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	134 lbs.	149 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	663 lbs.	919 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 2 visits) on the Compass for 1 year and unlimited miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (2/unlimited vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Compass’ warranty.

The Compass’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (200 vs. 196) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Compass and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Compass has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Compass has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (13.5 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 UX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Compass stops shorter than the UX:

	Compass	UX
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Compass Limited’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (235/45R19 vs. 225/50R18).

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 UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Compass Limited offers optional 19-inch wheels. The UX’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 UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 UX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (8.1 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the UX (8.6 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Compass is 3.6 inches shorter than the UX, making the Compass easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Compass has 9.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (99.6 vs. 90.4).

The Compass has 2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (27.2 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Compass Trailhawk with Towing Package offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

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 UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 UX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Compass and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Compass is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 UX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Compass and the UX 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 UX.

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 UX 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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Compass owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Compass will cost $645 less than the UX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Jeep Compass will be $568 to $1145 less than for the Lexus UX.

The Jeep Compass outsold the Lexus UX by over 8 to one during 2023.