Jeep Compass vs Dodge Hornet

The 2024 Compass Sport carries over last year's major powertrain upgrade without any increase to the base price: $35,995. That's very close to the littlest Jeep, the Renegade, and more than $10,000 below the similarly sized Cherokee (and prices on those last two are from 2023 because both have been discontinued). It's also cheaper than a Ford Escape and many other compact SUVs but without the bargain-bin interior of older Compass models. While upper trims get too pricey for their britches, the base-model Compass we tested provides real value in an era where new-car prices increase every few months.

The 2024 Jeep Compass offers good tech and impressive safety features, and it arrives with a sub-$40,000 base MSRP. The Compass still lags behind some of the competition in terms of materials quality and performance. Now in its second year past a 2023 facelift, however, it’s many strides better than older iterations.

There’s no V8 under the hood of a Dodge Hornet. Instead, this compact crossover (or compact utility vehicle, as Dodge calls it) comes equipped with a four-cylinder engine or, in the case of the 2024 R/T trim, a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

As fuel-efficiency and low-emissions vehicles become more appealing to shoppers, the Hornet represents a major milestone for Dodge. If the company is going to remain relevant in an increasingly eco-conscious marketplace, this little crossover needs to be a hit.