Quick Spin: 2022 Jeep Compass Limited

2022 Jeep Compass Limited

Miles driven: 260

Fuel used: 12.5 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 20.8 mpg

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	B+
Power and Performance	C
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	B-
Value	B-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B
Tall Guy	B

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	177-hp 2.4-liter
Engine Type	4-cyl
Transmission	9-speed auto
Drive Wheels	AWD

Driving mix: 70% city, 30% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 22/30/25 (mpg city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $32,995 (not including $1595 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Granite Crystal Metallic clear-coat paint ($395), Sun and Sound Group ($2380; includes dual-pane panoramic sunroof and premium Alpine-brand speaker system)

Price as tested: $37,365

More Compass price and availability information

Quick Hits

The great: Good passenger space within the relatively tidy exterior dimensions; lots of desirable equipment comes standard

The good: Comfortable ride quality; significantly upgraded interior brings more-upscale look and feel

The not so good: Coarse-sounding engine; unrefined transmission behavior; subpar acceleration; our observed fuel economy fell short of EPA estimates

CG Says:

For 2022 the Jeep Compass compact SUV gets a styling facelift, an interior redesign, and a new infotainment system. All are to the good even if they don’t fundamentally change the current-generation Compass that dates to 2017.

Thanks to several test drives since then, Consumer Guide editors have come to see the Compass as a competitively priced vehicle with decent interior room for its size, a good complement of up-to-date available features, and an enjoyable on-road driving character with the added benefit of off-road capabilities (in the Trailhawk model) that top those of most class competitors. These laudable qualities are counterbalanced by a drivetrain that falls short of some rivals in terms of power, fuel economy, and transmission refinement.

Those impressions were reinforced in our trial of a 2022 Limited, which starts at $34,590 with delivery. The test vehicle came to $37,365 with Granite Crystal Metallic paint and the Sun and Sound Group (dual-pane panoramic sunroof and Alpine 9-speaker audio-system upgrade) added. In a thoroughly shuffled Compass lineup, Limited now occupies the midpoint of the range, with the base Sport, Latitude, and Latitude Lux below it on the price hierarchy while the Trailhawk and High Altitude go beyond.

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Like the majority of the family, the Limited comes solely with Selec-Terrain 4-wheel drive; only Sport and Latitude have front-wheel-drive versions available. Selec-Terrain lets drivers pick from among “Auto,” “Snow,” and “Mud/Sand” modes that tailor power delivery to surface conditions—though the higher-riding Trailhawk gets an additional “Rock” setting to go with hill-descent control and low-range gearing to help it creep in situations where “easy does it” is the way to get the job done off road.

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The same naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four in use since 2017 provides all Compasses with 177 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 3900 rpm. Four-wheelers come standard with the 9-speed automatic transmission that, unfortunately, displays the same unpredictable performance and laggard kickdown as ever. The towing limit for 4x4s is listed as 2000 pounds. In most of CG’s previous tests, Compasses have struggled to meet EPA fuel-mileage projections and the ’22 was no different in that regard. The standard stop/start feature often seemed slow to restart once the brake was released. It can be switched off if you’re willing to trade whatever it saves in fuel for better standing-start responsiveness.

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Grille, headlights, and lower fascia all show evolutionary changes that freshen the vehicle’s look. Inside, there is a completely new dash/console layout, a different steering wheel, and altered door-panel detailing. A big 10.1-inch tablet-style touchscreen for the Uconnect 5 infotainment system rises from the dash of the ’22s. The latest version of Uconnect remains easy to navigate and operate. There’s still a physical tuning dial that makes location and selection of radio presets quick and direct. While climate controls can be accessed through the screen, a console panel with a dial for fan speed, repetitive-push up/down arrows for temperature selection, and buttons for auxiliary functions remains. The reshaped instrument cluster ditches analog speedometer and tachometer dials for a thin-film-transistor display that uses thumb buttons on the steering wheel to let drivers call up as much or as little information as they wish to see.

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Cabin space remains adult-friendly in both rows, though headroom is better in front than in back—especially under the sunroof housing, which might leave 6-footers feeling a little hemmed in. A large glove box, a small console box under a sliding armrest, pouches on the backs of the front seats, and smallish pockets (with bottle holders) in all doors hold passenger incidentals. Two cup holders in the console serve front-seat occupants; rear passengers have cup holders in the central armrest. Good cargo space grows when the 60/40-split rear seats are lowered. They fold almost flat. With a standard tire-inflation kit in place of a spare tire, there is lots of additional storage room under the load floor.

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Standard interior comforts in the Limited include heated, leather-trimmed bucket seats with 8-way power adjustment for the driver; heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel; dual-zone climate control; and auto-dimming rearview mirror. Outside are heated power mirrors, fog lamps, LED headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power liftgate, and roof rails. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility, a Wi-Fi hotspot, front Type A and C USB ports and a second-row Type A charge port, satellite radio, hill-start assist, and remote starting add to the tech complement. Electronic safety minders include forward-collision alert, emergency braking with pedestrian/cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts.

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