The 2020 Chicago Auto Show was the last traditional auto show to take place before the COVID-19 pandemic hit America last year. With COVID restrictions now easing, the 2021 Chicago Auto Show is heralding the return to live, in-person auto shows with a special indoor/outdoor edition of the show, taking place from July 15-19 at the McCormick Place convention center—and Jeep has taken the opportunity to unveil its refreshed-for-2022 Compass compact SUV there.
More from the Chicago Auto Show
2022 Jeep Compass
The 2022 Compass gets a thorough round of revisions inside and out. At the top of the list is a redesigned interior that is highlighted by a dramatic new dashboard design, new Uconnect 5 infotainment system (with an 8.4-inch or available 10.1-inch touchscreen), a 10.25-inch full-color digital instrument cluster (available on Limited and Trailhawk models), and a new multifunction steering wheel.
The redesigned center console includes USB and USB-C ports, as well as an available wireless charging pad. Advanced safety features such as lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and a full-speed collision-warning system with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection are now standard across the model lineup. A Traffic Sign Recognition feature is newly available, and later in the model year Jeep’s Highway Assist semi-autonomous driver-aid feature—a lane-centering adaptive cruise-control system—is slated to become available on up-level Compass models.
Exterior styling updates include a revamped front fascia with an updated grille and new LED headlamps, new fog lamps, and new wheel designs across the line. The off-road-ready Trailhawk model gets a new red-and-black anti-glare hood decal, distinctive grille styling, and a new front skid plate.
The Compass’s sole engine—a 177-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder—carries over. However, the suspension has been retuned and the steering gear has been modified; Jeep says both steering effort and responsiveness have been improved.
The 2022 Jeep Compass is scheduled to arrive in dealerships this fall. Full pricing has not yet been released, but we’d expect a slight increase from the 2021 base MSRPs, which range from $24,495 for the entry-level Sport to $31,395 for the line-topping Trailhawk.
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CG Says:
The current-generation Jeep Compass debuted for the 2017 model year, and hasn’t received any major updates since then. The Compass has always benefitted from the cachet of the Jeep brand, especially in Trailhawk trim, but it came up a bit short in all-around refinement compared to some class competitors. This refresh should make the Compass more attractive against newer-design rivals. The new interior is a serious upgrade—the fresh dashboard design picks up the attractive styling theme of the new-for-2021 Grand Cherokee L—and the excellent Uconnect 5 system and new technology features further sweeten the pot.
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2022 Jeep Compass Gallery
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