2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer was a striking vehicle, often mistaken for a high-end model like the Lamborghini Urus due to its aggressive styling. Its exterior design featured a wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, and sawblade 20-inch wheels, all contributing to its bold presence. The Blazer's front end was particularly eye-catching, with thin lights and a tall, black grille with wavy textures. Despite its Chevrolet badge, the Blazer managed to evoke a sense of luxury and sportiness, reminiscent of more expensive vehicles. However, the interior did not match the exterior's allure, as it was criticized for its low-rent materials and lack of support in the seats, which detracted from the overall experience.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass maintained a familiar look, akin to a smaller Grand Cherokee, but with some updates to its exterior styling and wheel designs. The High Altitude trim, in particular, offered a more upscale appearance with its 19-inch multi-spoke wheels. Inside, the Compass made significant strides in sophistication, especially in the High Altitude specification. It featured a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, all contributing to a more premium feel. The interior upgrades, including added sound deadening, elevated the Compass's status as a convincing premium SUV.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options, all paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.5-liter inline-four engine, producing 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, was underpowered and noisy, making it less desirable. The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims, delivered 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, providing a more acceptable performance. However, the 3.6-liter V6 engine on the RS trim was the preferred choice, offering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. This engine, combined with a sport-tuned suspension and mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle, gave the Blazer RS a strong and agile feel. Despite its sporty promise, the Blazer's transmission calibration had issues, with slow responses and a convoluted manual mode. The EPA fuel economy for the AWD V6 drivetrain was average, at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Dubbed the "Tigershark," this engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs, and its performance was further hindered by a transmission that was reluctant to downshift. The Compass's drivetrain was considered the least appealing aspect of the vehicle, with a busy and unrewarding character. However, the Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, and the Jeep Active Drive AWD system could send all engine power to the rear wheels when necessary. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 25 mpg, but real-world testing averaged 23.8 mpg. The Compass's off-road capabilities were enhanced in the Trailhawk trim, which featured a different AWD system and additional off-road features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, as a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. Its low roof height was offset by seats mounted lower into the floor, making entry and exit easy. However, sightlines were poor due to the design, though large side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror cameras helped improve visibility. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded and 30 cubic feet when raised. It could tow up to 4,500 pounds with the right configuration. The Blazer's controls were user-friendly, with features like movable rings around air vents serving as temperature dials and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned as a smaller compact SUV, provided enough space for four adults and their luggage. The High Altitude trim offered premium features like eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The interior was enhanced with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard, and a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. A hands-free power liftgate was available for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Chevrolet Infotainment 3, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The RS trim added wireless phone charging, LED headlights, 360 cameras, and adaptive cruise control. The infotainment system included a "Plus" version with navigation, 4G WiFi, and onboard apps. Unique GM features allowed for cloud account uploads and contactless payments. Standard driver assists included forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option available. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with over-the-air updates. Additional features included a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in specific scenarios.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer received an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crash tests. However, it received "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for headlights. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag, but it lacked rear emergency braking and an inboard side airbag. Enhanced forward emergency braking was available on top trims.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring as standard. Highway Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later. The Compass experienced some false positives with its forward-collision warning system. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review, but the previous three-star rollover resistance rating was carried over.