Today’s consumers love a good bundle. There’s something convenient and easy about getting everything you need at one affordable price. So, when it comes to buying a new vehicle, you might expect the MSRP to include a healthy roster of standard equipment. But if you’re thinking about buying a 2023 Jeep Compass, you might not be getting that “bundled convenience” you’re wanting.

In fact, some might suggest that Jeep is trying to nickel and dime consumers a little too much on the 2023 Compass. 

Starting price for a 2023 Jeep Compass

There’s a lot to love about the 2023 Jeep Compass, including its roomy interior, powerful engine, standard all-wheel-drive, and Jeep’s rugged-yet-stylish designs. And according to Jeep, you’ll pay a starting MSRP of $28,400. Of course, you could load up your Jeep Compass with all the features and spend up to $38,340. 

The base model Jeep Compass isn’t entirely expensive, but it is already higher than some of the other subcompact SUVs in its class. And when you see what’s included as standard, you’ll quickly realize it’s going to be more expensive to equip your Compass with the must-have amenities you need.

What standard features you get at the entry-level trim

As Edmunds describes, there are several trim levels for the 2023 Jeep Compass. Choose from the Sport, the Latitude, the Latitude Lux, the Altitude, the Limited, or the Trailhawk. All of these come with the same 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, capable of 200 horses and 221 lb-ft of torque. They all come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD. 

The standard roster of features for the base model Jeep Compass isn’t going to knock anyone’s socks off. You’ll enjoy 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated mirrors, cloth upholstery, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a six-speaker sound system. There are also some advanced driver aids, including forward-collision warnings, lane-departure mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, driver-attention warnings, and rear-seat reminders. 

But if you’re buying a Jeep, you likely expect and want more beyond this entry-level menu of standards. Just be prepared to pay for features that other automakers include as standard, as JD Power reports.

Features and extras you’ll have to pay more for to get

If you want your 2023 Jeep Compass to have synthetic leather, fog lights, and keyless entry, you’re going to need to bump up to the Latitude trim at $30,822. If you want a remote start, a power driver’s seat, posh leather upholstery, and a heated steering wheel, you’ll need to spend $32,533 for the Latitude Lux.

Are ambient lighting, automatic wipers, and parking sensors are on your must-have list? You’ll have to bump up to the Limited, the most popular trim, and spend $33,941.

But it’s also important to know that in addition to choosing a trim, you’ll want to consider some of the packages available on the 2023 Jeep Compass. The number of available packages is staggering. And while options are usually great to have, it’s a reminder to Jeep buyers that you’re going to have to pay extra for all the features you really want. 

The various Compass packages include:

• Convenience Group Package (Latitude and Trailhawk) $2095
• Driver Assist Group I Package (Latitude and Latitude Lux) $2,640
• Lux Driver Assist Package (Latitude Lux) $2,370
• Elite Group Package (Trailhawk and Limited) $2,995
• Trailhawk Convenience Group Package (Trailhawk) $1,815
• Trailhawk Elite Group Package (Trailhawk) $3,235
• Sun and Sound Group Package (All except Sport) $2,580
• Premium Lighting Group Package $995

In a way, configuring the 2023 Jeep Compass you need is going to feel like adding features a la carte, with extra pricing. And there are a lot of nickel and dime add-ons that other SUVs present as standard features. If you’re looking for a cost-effective bundle, you won’t find it with the Jeep Compass.