2022 Jeep Compass

When the current, second-generation Jeep Compass debuted in 2017, buyers flocked to its scaled-down Grand Cherokee styling, and it soon set sales records. Slotting between the tiny Renegade and the larger Cherokee, the Compass was also just the right size for a new wave of small crossover buyers and one of the few vehicles in its class to offer legit off-road capability. But newer competitors with nicer interiors, more tech and similar ruggedness left it trailing the pack. No longer. Jeep has taken major steps in 2022 to give the Compass a more modern feel.

This year’s models got a brand new dashboard with new infotainment screens and software, new driver’s displays, redesigned interior panels, upgraded materials and many more standard active-safety features. They all add up to a materially better experience, although the Compass still feels underpowered and unrefined, issues which may get resolved next year when a new engine will replace Jeep’s existing “Tigershark” four-cylinder engine. Those models are still some months away, however, and 2022 Compasses will remain on sale into early to mid-2023.

There are many more competitors now than in 2017, most notably the Ford Bronco Sport, but also (for the money) the larger Subaru Forester Wilderness. These models are as off-road capable as the Compass Trailhawk, the best and most versatile Compass, but are similar in price or sometimes a little less expensive. The regular Compass models, which come with front-wheel or all-wheel drive (AWD) compete with similarly sized machines like the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, Subaru Crosstrek and Volkswagen Taos. Model for model, the Compass costs a little more than they do.

With its pokey 2.4-liter, 177-horsepower engine, the Compass isn’t in much of a hurry, and it’s softly sprung for a smooth ride. Jeep firmed up the handling and made the steering more precise for 2022, but it’s not as fun to drive on the pavement as the CX-30 or Taos. AWD is available on all models and standard on many, but the real standout is the Trailhawk, which gets a bunch of heavy-duty components and a more sophisticated AWD terrain system than the regular AWD Compasses. It genuinely earns its Trail Rated badge.

Although small on the outside, the Compass offers plenty of passenger room by the standards of its class, and it has a much larger backseat than the Bronco Sport or Crosstrek. The smooth ride also helps keep passengers in the Trailhawk comfortable even on punishing trails. There’s also a very healthy amount of cargo space. Not class-leading, but above average, and complemented by good small-item storage options throughout the much-improved cabin. The interior also looks far nicer than it used to, particularly on higher trims that have more color options.

Jeep also added lots of active-safety tech to the Compass this year, answering one of its biggest demerits in years past (when virtually all of the features were extra cost). This, and the new infotainment systems, bright, crisp and running Stellantis’ easy-to-use Uconnect 5 software, make the Compass a much nicer companion and one with higher margins of safety, which earns the 2022 model a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS. The Compass still feels a little too expensive and the engine is still unrefined, but Jeep’s upgrades distinctly improve the value proposition.

Performance: 11/15

The Compass comes only with one engine, Jeep’s 2.4-liter “Tigershark” four-cylinder, making 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive models get a six-speed automatic transmission while AWD ones use a nine-speed unit. This a small SUV, but it still weighs about 3,500 pounds (and more than 3,600 in Trailhawk form) and the Tigershark is a little overmatched here, and its gruff noises and demeanor definitely make themselves quite known as it stretches out to nearly 10 seconds getting to 60 mph.

While it’s not the pokiest of the tiny crossover brigade, its engine is twice the size of the Chevy Trailblazer’s and it isn’t any faster. However, it does have that trademark Jeep off-road ability, at least if you select the Trailhawk model. Regular AWD Compass models are fairly capable compared to many very small alternatives (like the Trailblazer or Kona) but offer only 7.6 inches of ground clearance. They also lack the Trailhawk’s more specialized extra hardware.

That includes hill descent control, skid plates, a 1.0-inch lift (for 8.6 inches of clearance), Jeep’s ActiveDrive Low system (enabling a 20:1 crawl ratio) and its four-setting (Auto, Rock, Sand/Mud and Snow) terrain management system. Though more precise than in earlier years, the Compass prioritizes ride quality over handling precision on the pavement. It doesn’t have nearly the finesse of a Mazda CX-30, but those soft springs help it on rough terrain.

The Trailhawk is genuinely enjoyable to drive off-road even if it doesn’t have some of the more sophisticated off-road gear of the Cherokee (and certainly not the Wrangler). It can handle rocky and slippery terrain, snow and even sand with aplomb, just like the Subaru Crosstrek or Forester. It’s also got more power than the Crosstrek and a nicer interior. Unfortunately, it also costs quite a bit more than they do and more than a base-model Wrangler.

Properly configured, the Compass can tow up to 2,000 pounds, which is quite good for this diminutive class, although that still isn’t enough for more than a two-wheeled equipment trailer.

Fuel Economy: 11/15

Front wheel drive and AWD Compasses don’t differ much in their EPA ratings, with each getting 22 mpg city and 25 mpg combined. The highway figures differ by only 1 mpg, wiht front-drive Compasses earning 31 mpg highway and AWD ones netting 30. In the real world, we found that the AWD Trailhawk lived up to these ratings, but since we spent a whole lot of time going slowly on snowy mountain roads, we suspect it might have done a little better in normal around-town and highway driving.

The Ford Bronco Sport and Mazda CX-30 offer similar mileage, but the Ford a little less with AWD (23 mpg combined). Many other small crossovers do a little better, with the Kia Seltos managing 27 to 29 mpg with AWD, the Volkswagen Taos up to 28 and the Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek up to 30. If you’re comparing the front-wheel drive Compass to other crossovers, it’s way behind the Trailblazer (31 mpg combined) and Nissan Kicks (33).

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 10/15

From a safety standpoint, Jeep’s 2022 changes are really meaningful, and agencies have noticed. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) still gives the Compass a four-star overall rating (the same as in 2021), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) now gives it a Top Safety Pick rating, which this generation of Compass had not earned since 2018. 

In prior years, virtually all of the Compass’ active-safety features were extra-cost additions, but now forward automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and forward collision warnings are all standard. A $1,645 Driver Assistance package (on every trim above the base Sport) adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, surround-view monitoring and parking assist systems. It also nets some other desirable equipment including fog lights, rain-sensing wipers and a wireless charging pad.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

With 41.8 inches of front-seat legroom and 38.3 inches in back, the Compass is fairly spacious for its size. Although it looks big thanks to its butch styling, it’s only 173.4 inches long on the outside, which makes it smaller than the Taos or Toyota Corolla Cross and much smaller than compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester.

Since the back seat is where the real difference in space is apparent in this class, it’s worth mentioning that the Compass has more rear legroom than the Seltos (38 inches), Taos (37.9) or CX-30 (36.3) and is in a whole different league than the Corolla Cross (32). 

The seats are comfortable and well-padded, and thanks to the Jeep’s soft suspension, you don’t get beat up on rough roads or on the trail. Jeep’s many upgrades to the interior also make it a nicer place to sit, with softer-touch materials and redesigned armrests.

Infotainment: 13/15

Jeep’s efforts to improve the Compass’ interior and systems are most obvious in this area, where the vastly nicer digital displays also come with updated and improved software. An 8.4-inch screen is standard but a 10.1-inch unit (in the same pretty housing) is optional. Both run Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 system and feature crisp, lovely graphics and simple-to-use menus. The icons and buttons can be a little small, but they look great.

The automaker also includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you don’t like the native interface and Amazon Alexa integration is also included. There are also digital driver’s displays: A small-ish 3.5-inch unit surrounded by conventional gauges on Sport and Latitude models, a 7.5-inch unit (optional on the Latitude) on higher trims and an impressive 10.3-inch display with two dozen customizable readouts on the Elite and Trailhawk (and optional on other models).

The optional navigation system works well as long as you can type in the destination, as voice recognition is still hit or miss. The system also helpfully displays points of interest, gas stations and restaurants on its pretty-looking maps. A nine-speaker Alpine Audio system is optional and much nicer than the rather anemic standard unit.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

Considering its overall size, the Compass does pretty well on cargo space. It has 27.2 cubic-feet behind the rear seats and 59.8 with them folded. That’s not class leading, but it’s definitely above average. By contrast, the Seltos offers 26.6 and 62.8 cubic-feet while the Volkswagen Taos offers 27.9 and 65.9 (but 24.7 and 60.2 if you choose AWD).

The Compass has an edge here over many similarly-sized competitors like the Crosstrek (20.8 and 55.3 cubic-feet), CX-30 (20.2 and 45.2) and Kona (19.2 and 45.8), but some other vehicles like the Nissan Kicks have even less overall.

Inside the cabin small item storage is good and the console bin pretty deep, although the opening isn’t too big.

Style & Design: 9/10

One of the Compass’ best attributes is its Grand-Cherokee-in-miniature styling, and that’s still true despite the big Grand Cherokee’s recent redesign. The Compass looks muscular and tough, and its lines are accentuated by the chrome or black accent strip along the roof. Even after six years on the market it still looks fresh. There are also optional graphics packages on the regular models and much more aggressive details on the Trailhawk, which gets some red exterior bits (towhooks, graphics) and contrasting stitching on the inside.

All of those things were true in past years, but finally, the Compass has a proper interior to match. The new dashboard and screens look far nicer than the old ones, and although there are still low-cost plastics in a variety of places, everything looks and feels nicer than before, even the door panels and handles and the center console are visually and functionally improved.

Is the 2022 Jeep Compass Worth it? Which Compass is the Best Value? 

Although it’s a pint-size machine itself, the Compass is one rung above Jeep’s smallest model, the Renegade, and it starts out more expensive than some of the other small crossovers it competes against. 

The front-wheel-drive base-model Sport rings in at $28,870 (including a $1,595 destination fee) while the next-rung-up Latitude starts at $31,825, so even these lower-end models are about even on price with mid-range versions of the Taos, CX-30 and Seltos, though they’re about even with the Bronco Sport. These prices have increased considerably from the announced prices back in the summer of 2021, but rising prices are one of the few constants of 2022.

The Latitude adds 17-inch wheels (the Sport rides 16-inchers) and the ability to order options like adaptive cruise control (part of the $1,645 Driver Assistance Package. On both of these models, four-wheel drive is a $1,500 upgrade, and the Latitude is probably the best value of the lot.

Above that are the Altitude ($33,075) and the new Latitude LUX ($34,685), which includes AWD and adds 18-inch wheels, the new 10.1-inch infotainment unit, leather heated front seats with a power seat for the driver and extras like a remote starter. It also offers options like a hands-free tailgate, a panoramic sunroof and a second-row USB-C port.

But if you want the full capability of the Trailhawk it’ll cost $36,700 to start, which is less than the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands ($38,185) but also as much as the CX-30 Turbo ($34,375) and more than the top-spec Taos SEL ($33,385) or Seltos SX Turbo ($29,385) or Forester Wilderness ($33,945, but rare to find without a markup). At the top end are the Red and High Altitude models, but at those prices, larger models (and other Jeeps) are a better value.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Jeep Compass?

The Compass costs about the same to insure as its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,907 on a Compass Trailhawk (the most expensive version to insure), though this averages all 50 states. A similar Ford Bronco Sport Badlands would run $1,957, a Kia Seltos SX $1,829, and a Subaru Crosstrek Sport $1,742. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.