There are many buyers on a tight budget who want a new 4WD vehicle that comes with a warranty. While there are a number of reasonably priced 2025 4WD vehicles on the market, only one can be the price leader. For these folks, there is the Jeep Compass Sport, which comes standard with Jeep Active Drive auto 4×4, which provides a rear-axle disconnect feature for more economical daily driving, while also switching to four-wheel drive whenever the vehicle senses that you need it. The Compass Sport is priced at $26,900 MSRP, plus $1,995 destination charges, totaling $28,895. If you are serious about buying a Jeep for its off-road chops, the Compass will deliver for you, although its competitors generally do a better job on paved roads.

The Jeep Compass Sport represents the entry-level trim in the Compass lineup. In our review of the Jeep Compass Sport, we found that the cabin is impressive, but engine refinement was just average. Its standard equipment includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four producing 200 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It has 8.1 inches of ground clearance and a 13.5-gallon gas tank. EPA-rated fuel economy for the Jeep Compass is 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Testing by Car and Driver produced a 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds, on par with its competitors.

Be aware that the only standard exterior color on the Jeep Compass Sport is white, with four others available for a $595 upcharge. Standard wheels are 17″ alloys, mounted with all-season tires.

We found the Jeep Compass itself to be a well-rounded soft-roader that offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, more than doubling that to 59.8 cubic feet when the second row is folded down. However, there is no mileage-boosting hybrid powertrain available, unlike those of the Compass’ direct competitors, such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Tucson.

The closest 4WD competitors to the Jeep Compass, price-wise, are the 2025 four-door Ford Bronco Sport and the two-door version of the 2025 Jeep Wrangler. Pricing for the Bronco Sport starts with the Big Bend model, which lands at $30,995 MSRP plus $1,995 destination charges, totaling $32,990. Our first look at the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport highlighted its newly improved capability in the form of the Big Bend Black Diamond off-road package, which adds $2,570 to the sticker.

The two-door 4WD Jeep Wrangler Sport comes in at $32,090 MSRP, plus $1,995 destination, totaling $34,085. This Wrangler is basic, coming with a soft top, one standard no-cost exterior color (white), all-season tires, and a standard six-speed manual transmission. Our story on the benefits and downsides of Jeep Wrangler ownership appreciated its off-road prowess, but disliked the high cost of adding options.