The Ford EcoSport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Compass doesn't offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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

Both the EcoSport and the Compass 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

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 Ford EcoSport is safer than the Jeep Compass:

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

There are over 25 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EcoSport's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 22nd in reliability. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford EcoSport is faster than the Jeep Compass:

The EcoSport stops much shorter than the Compass:

The EcoSport's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Compass Sport's standard 65 series tires.

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

The EcoSport SES handles at .77 G's, while the Compass Trailhawk pulls only .73 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The EcoSport SES executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (28.7 seconds @ .56 average G's vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the EcoSport's turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Compass Trailhawk's (35.1 feet vs. 35.3 feet). The EcoSport's turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Compass' (35.1 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

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

The front grille of the EcoSport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Compass doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The EcoSport has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear hip room than the Compass.

The EcoSport's standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass' (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the EcoSport's available exterior PIN entry system. The Compass doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost SiriusXM Guardian can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

The EcoSport's 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 Compass' standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The EcoSport has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Compass has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited.

Insurance will cost less for the EcoSport owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the EcoSport with a number “8” insurance rate while the Compass is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the EcoSport is less expensive to operate than the Compass because typical repairs cost less on the EcoSport than the Compass, including $141 less for a water pump, $38 less for a starter and $79 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford EcoSport will be $40 to $1367 less than for the Jeep Compass.