2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005, was still in its second generation. The current generation, introduced in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh included a dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. A plug-in hybrid variant was introduced in 2020, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Range Rover Sport offered various trims: SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. The base SE trim came with leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system. Higher trims added features like quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The HSE Dynamic featured a supercharged V8 engine, while the Autobiography trim offered high-end luxury with 22-way power-adjustable front seats and power soft-close doors. The SVR models focused on performance with a more powerful V8 engine and sport seats.

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, maintaining a look similar to its 2017 redesign. 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, soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening.

The High Altitude was the most expensive version of the 2022 Compass, with a lineup starting from 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 option packages like the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1, bringing the MSRP to $40,470, including destination.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 powertrain, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.

The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition received a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive (4WD). The Range Rover Sport also featured height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system with multiple modes for various terrains. It could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which could tow 6,613 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 its competitors. A turbocharger would have significantly improved its performance, especially for those planning 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 often resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage the engine, leading to hard engagement and slow acceleration from a rolling start. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. The Compass AWD had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms. 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 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, but with only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Both the first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned between the Renegade and Cherokee, offered enough space 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. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard, and a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen enhanced the interior's sophistication.

The Compass had a new center console with increased storage, though the bin beneath the armrest remained small. The cargo area offered 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, exceeding the cargo capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a dual-screen center console, with the lower screen controlling climate and vehicle settings and the upper screen handling infotainment. The system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive, but the pair of dials on the lower screen provided versatile control. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for menu navigation and supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite some bugs in earlier models, the system had a real volume button, though it was somewhat hidden.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Uconnect 5 supported the pairing of two devices via 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.

The Compass also offered 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, though it struggled with specific requests like finding the nearest hospital. Overall, Uconnect 5 was impressive but not as user-friendly as the best systems on the market.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features for 2022, with every model now 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, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was set to be added later in the model year. A parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system were also available.

During testing, the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems generally worked well, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives, and the adaptive cruise control struggled with the engine's lack of power. As of the review, the updated 2022 Compass had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, though the NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating. Jeep needed to improve headlight performance based on the 2021 Compass' IIHS scores.