2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, shared its underpinnings with the Jeep Compass but drew design inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The 2019 refresh carried over to 2021, making previously optional features standard. Inside, the Renegade had a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, reminiscent of the Wrangler, and offered various trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite exterior updates and new wheel designs, retained its resemblance to a shrunken 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, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening, enhancing its premium SUV feel. The High Altitude trim, the most expensive, included features like all-wheel drive (AWD) and various option packages, pushing its MSRP to $40,470.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine offered 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines used a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The turbocharged engine provided better refinement and torque, though the transmission sometimes struggled with smooth shifts. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with good maneuverability and visibility, making it a great city car. The Trailhawk trim, with its off-road capabilities, stood out with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a terrain management system.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Dubbed the "Tigershark," this engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with AWD, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but often resulted in a busy, unrewarding powertrain. The Compass High Altitude averaged 23.8 mpg in testing, slightly below the EPA's 25 mpg estimate. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with a different AWD system, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The Compass' driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride and excessive lateral motion on uneven pavement.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use. Its tall, boxy design offered ample headroom in both rows, with great front legroom and adequate rear legroom for adults. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for added space.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned between the Renegade and Cherokee, offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The Compass High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard, new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and improved storage space enhanced the Compass' premium feel. However, the cargo area remained limited compared to the Renegade.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a helpful dock for major functions. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced 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, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply. Over-the-air updates kept the system current. The Compass also offered a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. A nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was available, and the voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a four-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, was to be added later. A parking assistance system and 360-degree camera were available. The Compass had some issues with false positives from the forward-collision warning system. Safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were pending, but the previous three-star rollover resistance rating was carried over.