2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered six distinct versions, each with unique design elements. The base Tahoe LS and popular Tahoe LT featured different grille patterns, while the sporty Tahoe RST had a slotted grille, a blacked-out appearance, and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Tahoe Z71 combined the LS trim’s grille with a blacked-out look, a redesigned front end for off-roading, red tow hooks, a skid plate, and unique 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The upscale Tahoe Premier adopted the RST’s slotted grille with chrome accents, shiny exterior trim, and polished wheels. The luxurious Tahoe High Country boasted a chrome bar grille, large 22-inch wheels with a bright finish, and body-color mirror caps.

The Tahoe’s design was dominated by its grille, with standard LED headlights tucked into the upper corners and LED running lights similar to the Silverado pickup truck. The rear featured more expressive taillights, available quad-outlet dual exhausts, and tailgate trim. The overall styling retained familiar themes but with more subtle forms, making the new Tahoe appear slab-sided. Larger wheels improved its appearance, with numerous designs available up to 22 inches. Prices ranged from $49,000 for the Tahoe LS to $72,600 for the Tahoe High Country, with the tested Tahoe Z71 priced at $76,225, including destination charges.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite exterior updates and new wheel designs, maintained a look similar to its 2017 redesign, resembling a shrunken Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude test vehicle featured appealing 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, infotainment systems, soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening, enhancing its premium SUV feel.

The High Altitude was the most expensive Compass model, with prices starting at $26,020 for the base Sport trim and reaching $35,085 for the High Altitude, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The tested Compass High Altitude, equipped with standard all-wheel drive and option packages like the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1, had an MSRP of $40,470, including destination charges.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options. The standard engine for most trims was a 5.3-liter V8, delivering 355 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 383 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. The High Country trim featured an exclusive 6.2-liter V8, producing 420 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline six-cylinder engine, offering 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, was available for all trims except the Z71. This engine promised improved fuel efficiency, with a five-mpg improvement in combined driving based on its performance in the Silverado pickup truck.

A 10-speed automatic transmission powered the Tahoe, driving the rear wheels with most trims. The 2021 Tahoe could tow up to 8,400 pounds and handle a payload of up to 1,834 pounds, depending on the powertrain and configuration. A four-wheel-drive system was optional, except for the Z71, which included it as standard along with a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, all-terrain tires, a front skid plate, and tow hooks. The major engineering change for the 2021 Tahoe was the adoption of an independent rear suspension, improving ride quality, handling, and interior comfort. The test vehicle featured both Magnetic Ride Control suspension with adaptive dampers and a new Air Ride suspension option, enhancing ride quality and ground clearance.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs. A turbocharger would have significantly improved performance, especially for those planning mountain adventures. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for all-wheel-drive models, while front-wheel-drive models had a six-speed automatic.

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, causing hard engagement when accelerating from a stop. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA estimate of 25 mpg. The Jeep Selec-Terrain system offered Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, and the Active Drive AWD system could send all power to the rear wheels when needed. The Compass High Altitude had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms, while the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with 8.6 inches of ground clearance and additional features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe’s new independent rear suspension allowed for a lower floor, improving passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel, with the only missing feature being ventilated seats. The power sliding storage console was highly recommended, providing a large storage tray and a locking drawer for valuables. The second-row offered a 3-person bench seat or individual captain’s chairs, with the latter option proving comfortable and featuring available 10.6-inch entertainment displays. Access to the third-row seat was easy, with generous clearance, though not as wide as the Ford Expedition. The third-row seat room was substantially improved, comfortably accommodating adults.

The Tahoe offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, 72.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet. These figures were substantial increases over the previous generation and better than most full-size SUVs, except for the longer-wheelbase Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition MAX, and GMC Yukon XL.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among Jeep’s similarly sized SUVs, was spacious enough for four adults and their luggage but lacked extra room. 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. Occupants enjoyed a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned, soft-touch dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The new center console offered twice the storage of the previous model, though the bin beneath the armrest remained small.

The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a maximum of 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, exceeding the cargo capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe’s standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system featured a new digital platform with five times the computing power, over-the-air update capability, and enhanced cybersecurity protection. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice-recognition system, and Chevrolet Connected Services with various plans offering remote engine starting, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and stolen vehicle assistance. Navigation and two different Bose premium audio systems were available as upgrades.

The infotainment system was user-friendly, similar to a tablet computer, though the main-menu shortcut icons were somewhat hard to use due to the screen’s recessed position. The voice-recognition system was impressive, quickly and accurately responding to test prompts. Bluetooth pairing was fast, and streaming music via wireless Apple CarPlay was simple and effective. The test vehicle featured a wireless charging pad and a mid-grade 9-speaker Bose audio system. The Rear Seat Media system offered impressive versatility, though it was not fully tested. The test vehicle lacked the available 15-inch head-up display.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster to load and respond to input than the previous system. An 8.4-inch touchscreen display was standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Uconnect 5 supported the pairing of two devices to Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, an Amazon Alexa skill, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system fresh, and additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless device charging pad. A nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was also available.

The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, allowing for cabin temperature adjustments by voice. However, it struggled with specific requests, such as finding the closest hospital. Overall, Uconnect 5 impressed but was not as user-friendly as the best technology in the industry.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe came standard with Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. It was also ready for an OnStar Safety & Security subscription plan, which included automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and other functions. Higher trim levels or options added lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear pedestrian detection. Premier and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert Seat, and an upgraded blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage.

During testing, the Tahoe Z71’s driving-assistance and collision-avoidance features worked as expected, though the pedestrian detection alert could be distracting. The available surround-view camera was recommended for maneuvering the large SUV in tight spaces. As the Tahoe was brand new, it had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features for 2022, with every version now including 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. Later in the model year, the Compass would add Highway Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance for highway driving. A parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system were also available.

During testing, the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems mostly worked as advertised, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds, and the engine struggled with adaptive cruise control. The forward-collision warning system occasionally issued false positives, and the Jeep braked too early and hard in some situations. The NHTSA had not yet published safety ratings for the updated 2022 Compass, but the previous three-star rollover resistance rating was carried over, and the IIHS scores indicated a need for improved headlight performance.