2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite a 2019 refresh and the introduction of a 2020 Black Edition, the exterior design remained polarizing. The Pilot was available in seven trims, ranging from the base LX to the upscale Black Edition, with prices between $32,250 and $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,000 on most trims. The new Special Edition trim added features like black 20-inch alloy wheels and wireless smartphone charging. The Black Edition, which we tested, featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red accents and ambient lighting, but its black floor mats were a hassle to clean.

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior updates and new wheel designs but retained its familiar look. The High Altitude trim, which we tested, featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels and a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The cabin also benefited from added sound deadening, enhancing its premium feel. The Compass lineup started with the base Sport trim and went up to the High Altitude, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. Our test vehicle, equipped with all-wheel drive and several option packages, had an MSRP of $40,470.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and refined power delivery, making the SUV quick to accelerate. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an optional torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system available. The Pilot offered driving modes like Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand, and fuel-saving features like variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start. The EPA rated the AWD Pilot at 22 mpg combined, and our test vehicle averaged 21.5 mpg. The Pilot's suspension provided a comfortable ride and surprisingly athletic handling, though its off-road capability was limited by 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-season tires.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came 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 and was noisy at high revs. The Compass featured a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models and a six-speed automatic for FWD models. The transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain. The EPA rated the Compass High Altitude at 25 mpg combined, but our test vehicle averaged 23.8 mpg. The Compass offered 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Jeep Selec-Terrain driving modes, making it suitable for light off-roading. The Trailhawk trim provided enhanced off-road capabilities with features like a low-range AWD system and skid plates.

The 2021 Honda Pilot offered ample space for families, seating up to eight people with a second-row bench seat. The test vehicle's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way adjustment for the front passenger. Second-row captain's chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on Elite and Black Edition models. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults due to its low and flat bottom cushion. The Pilot provided plenty of storage options, including a large center console and hidden compartments. Cargo space measured 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 83.9 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered a spacious cabin 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 a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The redesigned dashboard included a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen and integrated air vents. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Special Edition trim added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim included navigation, a WiFi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The rear-seat entertainment system on the Touring trim offered a 115-volt power outlet, an HDMI port, and a Cabin Talk feature. However, the infotainment system's small screen and limited voice-recognition technology were drawbacks.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous version. 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, and over-the-air updates. The Compass also offered a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with specific requests like finding the nearest hospital.

The 2021 Honda Pilot came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with the EX trim, the Pilot also featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Pilot received favorable crash-test ratings, with a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and "good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an "acceptable" score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, offering 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 as standard. The Compass would add Highway Assist later in the model year, 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. However, the Compass experienced some false positives with its forward-collision warning system. As of this review, the NHTSA and IIHS had not published safety ratings for the updated 2022 Compass.