2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Audi Q3

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that complemented its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed this mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. When the interior debuted in 2019, it was a standout design, but Volkswagen's newer interiors have caught up, making the Q3's cabin feel modern and refined, though not as special.

The Q3 came in Premium and Premium Plus trims. The Premium trim included leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Premium Plus trim added remote start, pushbutton start, remote keyless entry, wireless device charging, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Technology Package, costing $2,700, added a larger touchscreen, a premium stereo, and a digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite exterior updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its look from the 2017 redesign. The High Altitude test vehicle featured appealing 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude proved more convincing as a premium SUV with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening.

The High Altitude was the most expensive version of the Compass, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The test vehicle came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1 option packages, bringing the MSRP to $40,470, including destination.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim offered a tuned version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The base MSRP was $2,000 lower, with the 228-hp engine available as a $2,000 option.

The more potent powertrain provided a lively feel and decent acceleration, especially in Sport mode, which quickened throttle response and altered transmission mapping. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes. The base engine had some turbo lag, most notable under hard acceleration or when passing on the highway. The Q3 offered nimble handling and a comfortable ride, striking a balance between engagement and refinement.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. The engine, dubbed "Tigershark," lacked the accelerative power of its competitors. A turbocharger would have improved performance, especially at higher altitudes. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models and a six-speed automatic for FWD models.

The transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement when accelerating from a stop. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. The Compass AWD had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, suitable for light off-roading. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with a different AWD system, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the total cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with ample passenger space, comfortable front seats, and impressive rear headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among Jeep's similarly sized SUVs, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Elite Interior Group option package added premium leather upholstery and light-gray contrast stitching. The redesigned dashboard, new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and improved primary controls elevated the perceived quality and sophistication.

The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, exceeding the cargo capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model. The new center console provided twice the storage of the previous model, though the bin beneath the armrest remained small.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features included wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit replaced the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous generation. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa skill, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current. Additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless device charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in finding specific locations.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. Available features included a parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives.