When buying an SUV, even a small one, you want to retain some off-road readiness and toughness along with these vehicles’ inherent practicality. Luckily, several SUVs have the off-road chops to back up their rugged aesthetics, including certain variants of the 2025 Kia Sportage and 2025 Jeep Compass.
Let’s look a little closer at these two compact SUVs.
2025 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage received a complete makeover just two years ago, getting a stellar exterior design and a praise-worthy interior with ample space. The technology is up-to-date including standard wireless device charging on all but the EX model, and everything is right where it needs to be. It’s also efficient, earning a good EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of up to 25 city/33 highway/28 combined mpg.
The Sportage’s off-road-ready X-Pro model allows buyers to get out and enjoy the great outdoors with 8.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a multi-terrain all-wheel-drive system. Great looks, an industry-leading warranty, and hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants have raised Kia’s profile with the buying public. Pricing starts at $28,565, including the destination charge.
Kia Sportage Highlights
Great space: Kia designers create some of the best interiors among mainstream vehicles, and the sophisticated cabin of the Sportage certainly supports that notion. It borrows tricks from more expensive SUVs, such as two screens housed as one display and available aluminum pedals.
Unbeatable warranty: Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty are industry leaders. It’s peace of mind knowing you can keep the Kia Sportage for a decade, and if something falters, there will be some assistance — and it’s substantively more impressive than Jeep’s coverage.
Three powertrain options: The Kia Sportage offers an impressive and varied choice of powertrains, with gas-powered, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. Not only are there three options, but they’re all reasonably priced.
Read our Kia Sportage Expert Review or see 2025 Kia Sportage models for sale near you.
2025 Jeep Compass
2024 model shown
The Jeep Compass also got some major updates two years ago, including a new engine, transmission, and a slew of advanced safety technology. Unsurprisingly, the Jeep Compass is a pretty good off-roader, especially the Trailhawk model. What you get in capability, you pay for with its smaller size and tighter interior space compared to the Sportage. The Compass isn’t exactly cheap, either, with prices starting at $27,495 including destination charge for the entry-level Sport model. The Compass can pass the $40K mark when loaded with features. Unlike the Sportage, all Compass models come standard with all-wheel drive and just one powertrain choice.
Jeep Compass Highlights
Rough and ready: The Compass Trailhawk is more than an appearance package. Thanks to a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock mode, an extra inch of ground clearance, off-road tires, and skid plates, it has impressive off-road capabilities. Most rivals pale in comparison on dirt.
Power plus: Though this Jeep is small in stature, that’s not the case for its 4-cylinder engine, putting out 220 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. That’s more power than what the base Kia Sportage brings.
Uconnect5: With a 10.1-inch touchscreen, this user-friendly infotainment system features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It’s also available with a wireless charging pad and an Alpine premium audio system.
Read our Jeep Compass Expert Review or see 2025 Jeep Compass models for sale near you.
Similarities
With recent updates, the Kia Sportage and Jeep Compass enjoy the latest safety technology and impressive off-pavement capability in some trim levels.
Conclusion
No one’s likely to take on Moab or any 3+ ranked off-road trails regularly in one of these. The off-road capability of these vehicles will more likely be tested by fording a 5-inch puddle of water covering a subdivision street or navigating snowy roads coming home from work. If you do want to take on that more challenging trail, the Jeep Compass will probably appeal to you. However, for the majority of everyday drivers, the Kia Sportage is the more modern choice. It has more room, more powertrain options, a better ride quality, and a class-leading warranty.
New 2025 Kia Sportage Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (47932)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$28,785 |
$27,812 |
|||
$30,885 |
$29,899 |
|||
$33,685 |
$32,812 |
|||
$34,385 |
$33,535 |
|||
$36,385 |
$35,227 |
|||
$37,885 |
$36,828 |
|||
$39,685 |
$38,339 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Kia Sportage vehicles and New 2025 Jeep Compass vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Kia Sportage | 2025 Jeep Compass | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 200 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 221 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 25 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg | 24 city/32 highway/27 combined mpg |
| Also Available | Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, AWD | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 inches | 103.8 inches |
| Overall Length | 183.5 inches | 173.4 inches |
| Width | 73.4 inches | 80.0 inches (side mirrors open) |
| Height | 65.4 inches | 64.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.6 feet | 36.3 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 39.2 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.4 inches | 38.5 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 41.2 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 41.3 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.5 inches | 56.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.6 inches | 55.1 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 39.6 cubic feet | 27.2 cubic feet |
