Having basically invented the off-road vehicle segment, Jeep has always been a go-to for capable and well-equipped SUVs. Throughout the 20th century, Jeep's models were very rugged, and they used old school construction methods and platforms. However, that changed towards the end of the 1980s when Jeep introduced the original XJ Cherokee. The XJ was the first ever SUV to use an unibody construction, where the chassis and the body were essentially one and the same. That made it, in essence, the first ever crossover.
Since then, Jeep has offered a fair share of crossovers in its lineup. Unfortunately, most of them have been a hit or miss situation. The Liberty back in the 2000s was a total flop, and the original Compass wasn't anything to write home about either. However, the second-generation Compass was quite a big improvement. The Compass has been thoroughly updated for the 2022 model year, and things are looking even better.
Overview Of The 2022 Compass
The 2022 Jeep Compass is a compact crossover SUV, sitting above the Renegade but below the Cherokee in the automaker's lineup. It uses a stretched version of the Renegade's platform, which also underpins cars like the Fiat 500X and 500L, as well as the Brazilian market Toro pickup truck. The 2022 model year brings some noticeable new changes to the exterior of the Compass. The Compass is part of the fierce compact crossover segment, facing competition from the likes of the Toyota RAV4, the greatly improved Nissan Rogue and the Honda CR-V.
The front end features a revised grille design and a new headlight design, as well as a new front bumper. The signature slats in the grille are now smaller, while the rear end receives a new set of taillights. For 2022, Jeep has added the High Altitude trim level to the lineup (pictured), which features a ground effects kit and larger, unique alloy wheels. The 2022 Compass is available in six trim levels; Sport, Latitude, Latitude LUX, Limited, the off-road ready Trailhawk and the aforementioned High Altitude. The facelifted Compass has been on sale in Europe for quite a while, and it's just starting to hit US shores.
2022 Compass Powertrains & Drivetrains
In North America, the Jeep Compass can only be had with one engine: a 2.4-liter gasoline four-cylinder, codenamed Tigershark. It still develops 177 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. Go for FWD, and it's paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the AWD models get a 9-speed auto. The engine remains relatively (and unfortunately) unchanged from the pre-facelift Compass, but the powertrains on global models is where it starts to get interesting.
In markets like Europe, alongside two different diesel engines, Jeep offers the "4xe" plug-in hybrid powertrain. This powertrain pairs a 1.3-liter turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor, as well as a 11,4 kWh battery. The total output is 240 hp, and in most markets, it can only be paired with the 9-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
It's unclear when this powertrain will be available in North America, but with the Wrangler 4xe and upcoming Grand Cherokee L 4xe being available on the continent, it should be here sooner or later.
2022 Compass Comfort, Quality And Safety
Arguably, the biggest improvement with the 2022 Compass is to be found on the inside. The interior is almost unrecognizable from the previous car, with the shift lever being just about the only identical part remaining. There's a new steering wheel, inspired by that of the new Grand Cherokee, a new digital gauge cluster, and a brand-new infotainment system running the latest version of Uconnect, with up to 10.25" of screen size. It also includes OTA updates and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. From what we can see, the interior materials have also improved significantly.
Another huge headline about the 2022 Compass is the addition of, according to Jeep, over 75 new safety features. There's adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward collision warning, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and all the usual suspects. There's also a wireless charging pad in the front, optional cooled front seats and heated rear seats, and other cool stuff.
The Compass seats five passengers, with some of the best rear legroom in the class. Meanwhile, the cargo area boasts 27.2 cubic feet of space with the rear bench up, and 59.8 with the rear bench folded down.
2022 Compass Pricing And Launch
The 2022 Jeep Compass is available to order as of August 2021. The base level Sport starts at $24,995, and the top of the line High Altitude starts at $33,990. Considering all the new stuff and the improved styling, the Compass seems like a pretty good deal. While not perfect, it is improved over the previous one, and if you're a Jeep lover but think that the Wrangler isn't all that rational, the Compass is definitely worth a look. The only thing that's missing is that PHEV powertrain.