2022 Jeep Compass Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Though the 2022 Jeep Compass gets exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, it still looks much like it has since its last redesign for 2017. That is, like a Grand Cherokee left in the dryer for too long. Our test vehicle had appealing 19-inch multi-spoke wheels painted in a dark sparkly finish that essentially matched the paint, and it certainly looked like an upscale if small Jeep. (U.S. model shown; 19-inch wheels are not offered on the Canadian equivalent.)

Inside the cabin is where the 2022 Compass proves far more convincing as a premium SUV —especially in Trailhawk Elite specification. A new dashboard design with updated digital instrumentation and infotainment systems, soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and what must certainly be added sound deadening, all give the Compass Trailhawk Elite a big bump in sophistication.

The Trailhawk Elite is the most expensive version of the new 2022 Compass. The lineup starts with the base Jeep Compass Sport trim level. Buyers can then move up to the North, Trailhawk, Limited, RED, and Trailhawk Elite models. Prices range from $29,495 to $42,795, not including a destination charge that varies by location to ship the SUV to your local dealership from the Toluca, Mexico, factory that builds it.

A Compass Trailhawk Elite with standard four-wheel drive (4WD) and the Sun and Sound option package produces an MSRP of $47,385, including an estimated destination charge to Southern Ontario.

Jeep equips every 2022 Compass with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Specs include 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Jeep calls this its “Tigershark” engine, but might want to rename it the “Basking Shark” engine because it poses no accelerative threat to most other SUVs.

As we almost always think is best in a compact SUV weighing around 1,600 kilograms (3,500 pounds), a turbocharger would do wonders for this Jeep. People who buy a Compass with intentions of heading to the mountains for weekend adventures would certainly appreciate a turbo engine because they perform better at altitude.

Not only is it missing forced induction, but the “Tigershark” is unpleasant to hear when it is revving hard, which is often because of the lofty power peak. At least Jeep pairs it with a nine-speed automatic transmission and not a groaning and droning continuously variable transmission (CVT). Compass models with front-wheel drive (FWD) have a six-speed automatic instead of the nine-speed unit. In Canada, this configuration is only offered on the Sport grade, where it’s standard and an upgrade to 4WD and the 9-speed automatic is optional.

Nevertheless, in an apparent attempt to maximize fuel efficiency, the transmission is reluctant to downshift and then in a big hurry to upshift in both urban and suburban driving situations. The result is a busy, unrewarding powertrain character.

Additionally, the automatic stop/start system is relatively slow to re-engage the engine. For example, when you accelerate after a traffic light turns green, you’re already pressing on the gas pedal when the engine re-starts. As a result, the drivetrain frequently exhibits hard engagement. Also, when accelerating from a rolling start, the Compass just feels disappointingly slow. Overall, the drivetrain is easily the least appealing thing about this Jeep.

Jeep Selec-Terrain is standard, offering Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes. The Jeep Active Drive AWD system can send all of the engine power to the rear wheels when necessary and features a driveline disconnect system to maximize fuel efficiency when AWD is not in use. Natural Resources Canada says our Compass Trailhawk Elite should’ve consumed 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, but we averaged 9.9 L/100 km on our testing loop.

Since it has 20.6 centimetres of ground clearance, the Compass AWD should have no trouble with light off-roading excursions or snowstorms. If you’re planning to head deeper into the backcountry, you’ll want the Jeep Compass Trailhawk. With Trailhawk trims, the Compass is remarkably capable thanks to its different Active Drive Low AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, hill descent control, skid plates, and 21.9 cm of ground clearance.

Tidy exterior dimensions also make the Compass feel nimble and maneuverable in a variety of driving situations. Like most short-wheelbase SUVs, however, the Compass can feel bouncy and exhibit excessive lateral motion on uneven pavement. Also, in town speed humps are a challenge for the Trailhawk Elite’s suspension while sharper speed bumps reverberate through the architecture, revealing its dated status.

The Compass does seem quieter than before, and both the steering and braking escape critique or praise. Overall, though, the driving dynamics need improvement.

Oddly, Jeep offers three SUVs that are all about the same size. The Renegade and Cherokee share similar interior dimensions to the Compass, even if they’re priced and positioned for different segments.

If we classified these vehicles among their premium-brand counterparts, we’d say the Renegade is one of the larger small SUVs you can buy (see: Buick Encore GX), the Compass lands on the smaller end of the compact SUV spectrum (see: Mazda CX-5), and the Jeep Cherokee belongs among the larger compact SUVs on the market (see: Volkswagen Tiguan).

This means the Jeep Compass is spacious enough for four adults and their luggage but doesn’t leave much extra room for anything else. And with the upgrades for 2022, the Compass Trailhawk Elite is certainly more convincing in its role as a premium-brand SUV.

For example, both of the test vehicle’s front seats offered 12-way power adjustment including 4-way lumbar support, with heating and ventilation, and our Compass included a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.

Occupants sit beneath an available dual-pane panoramic sunroof surrounded by a black headliner, and they face a completely redesigned, soft-touch dashboard. The new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen resides high on the dash, and Jeep deftly integrated the air vents into the new design. The automaker also reworked the primary controls while the steering wheel and an optional digital instrument cluster are new for 2022. The result of these changes is a significant improvement in perceived quality and an elevated sense of sophistication.

A new centre console with what Jeep claims is twice the amount of storage of the previous model divides the front seats, but the bin beneath the armrest remains quite tiny. Around the back, an available hands-free power liftgate provides access to the cargo area. The Compass can carry 770 litres of cargo behind its rear seat and a maximum of 1,693 litres when the back seat is folded down. These numbers actually exceed Jeep’s more expensive Cherokee model.

Jeep says the Compass’s new Uconnect 5 infotainment system is five times faster to load and respond to input than the previous-generation system. An 8.4-inch touchscreen display is standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available on upper grades, and a wide array of customization options are available.

Uconnect 5 supports the pairing of two devices to the Bluetooth connection and includes wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates will help to keep the system fresh during the Jeep’s service life.

Additionally, the Compass is available with a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless device charging pad. Compass buyers can also upgrade to a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system.

The voice recognition system is fast and accurate, and it even allowed us to adjust the cabin temperature by voice. However, a request for the closest hospital did not filter for veterinary services or other facilities that are not what you want when you need to get yourself or someone in the Jeep to an emergency room, pronto. It also took some extra effort to get directions using an address.

Overall, Uconnect 5 impresses. But it’s not as easy to use as the best technology in the industry.

Jeep also improved the Compass’s safety features and driver assistance technologies for 2022, though in Canada key features require moving up in grades. Forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance systems, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are all included starting from the Trailhawk grade.

Additionally, the Compass will add Highway Assist later in the model year in the United States, though it’s unknown exactly if or when Canada will get this update. This will pair the existing adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance systems for highway driving. A parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and 360-degree surround-view camera system are also available.

Highway Assist wasn't available at the time of our test drive, but we found the more basic adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems mostly worked as advertised. However, we did find that the lane-keep assist was too obvious and insistent at lower speeds, and the gutless engine had trouble smoothly accelerating with the adaptive cruise control engaged.

We also got some false positives from the forward-collision warning system on a winding mountain road (likely due to guard rails) and in one instance the Jeep braked too early and too hard in response to vehicles well ahead pulling onto the shoulder.

As this review is written, neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have published crash test results or safety ratings for the updated 2022 Compass. However, the NHTSA has carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating and, based on the 2021 Compass' IIHS scores, Jeep needs to improve headlight performance as well.

If, like Jeep, you consider the Compass a premium compact crossover SUV, then the pricing structure makes a modicum of sense. Because our test vehicle was in the equivalent of Trailhawk Elite trim, it is easier to agree with the company’s market positioning because of that trim level’s fully loaded nature.

Undoubtedly, the 2022 Jeep Compass is an improved SUV. From its added refinement to its upgraded and updated tech, it doesn’t come across as obviously cheap like the previous models.

However, despite the added layer or two of sophistication here, the Compass still can’t quite match the standard-bearer among compact premium crossovers—the Mazda CX-5. Making the Jeep’s mission even harder is that for less money than a Trailhawk Elite, the Mazda offers significantly more power from a turbocharged engine. Plus, the Mazda is more enjoyable to drive, even if its infotainment system is a pain-in-the-you-know-what.

Still, the call to Jeep ownership is strong, and not everyone needs, wants, or can afford a rough-and-tumble Wrangler or the sophisticated new Grand Cherokee. At least Jeep buyers on a budget will undoubtedly find the 2022 Compass far more appealing than those which came before it.

Note: Images show a US model.