2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, characterized by circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. Despite these variations, the core elements that made the Wrangler unmistakable on the road remained intact. Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort but rather for a rugged driving experience. The upright seating position, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments were seen as charming quirks by the right type of driver.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, yet it still resembled a smaller Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude trim featured appealing 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The added sound deadening and soft-touch surfaces elevated its sophistication, making it a more convincing premium SUV.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivering 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Wrangler's various 4WD systems, including Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, catered to different off-roading needs.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. This "Tigershark" 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 often resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass AWD featured Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, and an Active Drive AWD system that could send all engine power to the rear wheels when necessary. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with a different AWD system, hill descent control, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Sky one-touch power top, featured on the Rubicon 392, combined a body-color hardtop with a power-retractable canvas panel. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered a spacious interior 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 light-gray contrast stitching. The redesigned dashboard, new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and improved primary controls elevated the perceived quality. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a maximum of 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens featured crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, complemented by radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel. The Rubicon 392 included a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

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 wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. The Compass also offered a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless device charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in specific scenarios.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came standard with 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, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was set to be added later in the model year. The Compass also offered a parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. However, some safety systems exhibited false positives and overly aggressive responses during testing.