2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a more futuristic design, appealing to those who preferred a small crossover with conventional styling. Its upright layout provided a commanding view of the road, and the interior boasted a modern, attractive dash design. Tech features were seamlessly integrated, making buttons and dials easy to find. The Tucson came in six trim levels: SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Value trim added LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, HD radio, satellite radio, and a one-touch function for the driver’s power window. The SEL trim featured 18-inch alloy wheels, upgraded lower exterior accents, a rear-seat USB power outlet, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Sport trim included 19-inch alloy wheels, LED head-and-taillights, fog lights, a hands-free power liftgate, wireless device charging, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and an Infinity premium audio system. The Limited trim offered a 360-degree camera system, integrated side-mirror turn signals, chrome exterior accents, leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel. The Ultimate trim topped the range with a color trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, an 8-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its look from the 2017 redesign, resembling a smaller Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude test vehicle featured 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 version, with the lineup starting at the base Sport trim and moving up through Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude models. Prices ranged from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The High Altitude test vehicle came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1 option packages, bringing the MSRP to $40,470, including destination.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, making the 2.4-liter engine a better choice for livelier performance around town. The Tucson provided a comfortable, refined ride, balancing softness and athleticism. The base engine allowed for a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, while the 2.4-liter engine increased this to 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came 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. Dubbed the “Tigershark” engine, it lacked the accelerative power of other SUVs. A turbocharger would have significantly improved performance, especially for mountain adventures. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models and a six-speed automatic for FWD models. The transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy, 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’s estimate of 25 mpg. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass handled light off-roading and snowstorms well. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with a different AWD system, low range, hill descent control, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The Compass High Altitude’s 19-inch wheels improved grip on pavement, but the short-wheelbase SUV felt bouncy on uneven surfaces, and speed bumps revealed its dated suspension.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. Higher trims, like the Sport, included a hands-free power liftgate. The Tucson’s front seats offered solid headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seating for long trips. The rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults on road trips. The interior featured plenty of cubbies and compartments, with helpful trays for the driver’s essentials.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among Jeep’s similarly sized Renegade and Cherokee models, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage but limited extra room. The High Altitude trim enhanced its premium feel with eight-way power-adjustable front seats, 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. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof, black headliner, and redesigned soft-touch dashboard contributed to a sophisticated interior. The new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen was integrated into the dash, with reworked primary controls and an optional digital instrument cluster. The new center console provided twice the storage of the previous model, though the bin beneath the armrest remained small. The hands-free power liftgate accessed 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the seat folded, exceeding the cargo capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous generation. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Uconnect 5 supported pairing 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 current. Additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless device charging pad. The nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was available as an upgrade. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, allowing for cabin temperature adjustments by voice, though it struggled with specific address-based directions.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims added features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with every version 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. Highway Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. Additional available features included a parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the lane-keep assist was overly insistent at lower speeds, and the engine struggled with adaptive cruise control. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. The NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating, and the IIHS scores indicated a need for improved headlight performance.