2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's resurgence from its past struggles, embodying the brand's return to its roots of producing large, impressive vehicles. As the largest SUV in Buick's lineup, the Enclave stood out with its American-made charm and premium aesthetics, especially in the Avenir trim. This version featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Enclave Avenir offered a luxurious experience with its minimalist design, organic forms, and tasteful polished accents. The interior was adorned with soft, perforated leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. Despite a somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter, the Enclave's simplicity and elegance were evident throughout its design.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass maintained a familiar exterior design reminiscent of a compact Grand Cherokee, with updates that included new wheel designs and styling tweaks. The High Altitude trim, in particular, exuded an upscale vibe with its 19-inch multi-spoke wheels and dark sparkly finish. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a redesigned dashboard, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The cabin's sophistication was further enhanced by soft-touch surfaces and added sound deadening. The High Altitude trim was the most expensive in the Compass lineup, offering a premium feel with features like a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a new center console with increased storage capacity.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. This powertrain provided strong acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride was smooth and composed, thanks to its premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, part of the Avenir Technology Package. The SUV's handling was impressive across various driving environments, and it achieved an average fuel economy of 21.2 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, on the other hand, 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. Despite its "Tigershark" moniker, the engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs in its class. The nine-speed automatic transmission, while better than a CVT, was often reluctant to downshift, resulting in a busy and unrewarding driving experience. The Compass High Altitude averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate. The Jeep's off-road capabilities were enhanced by its 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Jeep Active Drive AWD system, making it suitable for light off-roading.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. Its cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, featuring Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim boasted 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was spacious, and the SUV provided 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expanding to 97.6 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, while smaller, offered a spacious interior 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 redesigned dashboard and Uconnect 5 infotainment system added to the cabin's sophistication. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, surpassing the cargo capacity of the more expensive Jeep Cherokee.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, its 8-inch touchscreen was smaller than competitors', and it lacked integration with smart home digital assistants. The Avenir trim included a premium sound system, navigation, and a surround-view camera system, but the technology fell short in terms of screen size and audio quality compared to rivals.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. The system allowed for the pairing of two devices via Bluetooth and offered over-the-air updates. The Compass also provided a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. While the voice recognition system was fast and accurate, it occasionally struggled with specific requests.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were limited to higher trim levels, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available only on the Essence trim and above. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection was rated four stars.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Compass was set to receive Highway Assist later in the model year, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. While the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems generally worked well, there were occasional false positives from the forward-collision warning system. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available for the updated Compass.