Compare the2026 Jeep CompassVS 2026 Acura ADX

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

The Compass has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The ADX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Both the Compass and the ADX 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, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 Acura ADX:

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

There are almost 9 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Compass’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

The Compass’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (200 vs. 190) and 42 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Compass is faster than the Acura ADX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Compass uses regular unleaded gasoline. The ADX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Compass higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura ADX (5). This means the Compass produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ADX every 15,000 miles.

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 ADX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The Compass has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ADX’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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 ADX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Compass Trailhawk’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the ADX’s (35.3 feet vs. 37 feet). The Compass 4x4 Sport/Latitude/Limited’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the ADX’s (36.3 feet vs. 37 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a greater minimum ground clearance than the ADX (8.1 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the ADX (8.6 vs. 7.3 inches).

The Compass is 1 foot shorter than the ADX, making the Compass easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Compass has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ADX (99.6 vs. 97.3).

The Compass has .8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the ADX.

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the ADX with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the ADX with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

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

Standard Trailer Sway Damping 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 ADX 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 ADX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Compass and the ADX 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 ADX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Compass’ front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The ADX’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The ADX A-Spec’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Compass has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The ADX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Compass and the ADX have standard 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 ADX.

The Compass has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the ADX.

Compared to the Acura ADX, the Jeep Compass eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to the Acura ADX’s traditional radio, the Jeep Compass equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

The Compass 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 ADX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Compass outsold the Acura ADX by over five to one during 2025.