2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer was part of Ford's strategic lineup of SUVs, each bearing a familial resemblance and starting with the letter "E." This approach harkened back to the 1950s, aiming to create brand loyalty as customers moved up the price ladder. The Explorer's exterior was appealing, though it could be mistaken for the Edge at a quick glance. It featured sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages. The Explorer offered six trim levels, each with varying grille designs and price points ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. Inside, it provided three rows of seating as standard, with the base model featuring cloth upholstery. The dashboard was clean, with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a center console housing a rotary gearshift, freeing up storage space. The XLT trim was the most popular, offering better equipment and finishes, while leather upholstery was standard on higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Compass retained its familiar design, reminiscent of a smaller Grand Cherokee, despite exterior updates and new wheel designs. The High Altitude model featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The lineup started with the base Sport trim and ascended to the High Altitude, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The High Altitude model came with standard all-wheel drive and option packages, resulting in an MSRP of $40,470. The interior upgrades, including soft-touch surfaces and added sound deadening, elevated the Compass's sophistication.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds. Its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, outperforming the Kia Telluride's V6 engine. All trims featured a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, with the Explorer ST providing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked acceleration prowess. A turbocharger would have improved performance, especially at higher altitudes. The Compass featured a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models, while FWD models had a six-speed automatic. The transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, resulting in a busy powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement. The Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with various driving modes and an Active Drive AWD system. It achieved an average of 23.8 mpg in testing, slightly below the EPA's 25 mpg estimate. The Compass Trailhawk trim provided enhanced off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of second-row legroom, surpassing some competitors. With the third row deployed, it offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, but overall cargo volume was 81 cubic feet, comparable to smaller SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Compass shared similar interior dimensions with the Renegade and Cherokee. It accommodated four adults and their luggage comfortably. The High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated, along with a heated steering wheel and rear seats. The Elite Interior Group added premium leather upholstery and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The redesigned dashboard housed the Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and the center console offered increased storage. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim included an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Ford's Sync 3 system. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included USB ports and 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, five times faster than its predecessor. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch upgrade available. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system offered over-the-air updates, a navigation system, connected services, and a WiFi hotspot. A nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was available. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had limitations in certain scenarios.

The 2021 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Ford Co-Pilot360 suite included features like blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional driver-assistance features through the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite.

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, adaptive cruise control, and lane-centering assistance were available. The Compass experienced some false positives with the forward-collision warning system. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.