2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its long tenure on the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years. The GX received Lexus’ signature spindle grille in 2014, which was further refined in 2020 with a new textured insert and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn’t introduce any new styling changes, but it did standardize silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level, with 19-inch wheels available as an option. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers.

However, the interior of the GX did not meet the standards of a modern luxury SUV. The wood trim in the Premium test car felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic throughout the cabin. While leather upholstery was standard, with semi-aniline leather available on the Luxury trim, the overall interior quality felt dated. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel’s odd angle, combined with the tall seating position, made the driving experience feel more like piloting a bus.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, maintained a similar look 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 made significant strides in sophistication, especially in the High Altitude trim. A new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and infotainment systems, along with soft-touch surfaces and luxury-grade leather seats, elevated the interior quality.

The High Altitude trim, the most expensive version of the 2022 Compass, came with a host of premium features. Standard all-wheel drive (AWD), the Elite Interior Group, and Driver Assist Group 1 option packages were included, bringing the MSRP to $40,470. The interior upgrades, including a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, premium leather upholstery, and a redesigned center console with increased storage, made the Compass feel more like a premium-brand SUV.

The 2021 Lexus GX kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX 460’s performance was a throwback to an earlier era of SUVs. The V8 engine provided ample power for initial acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, the vehicle’s 5,130-pound weight became apparent at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The braking performance also demanded advanced planning, and the ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, lacking the refinement of modern unibody SUVs.

Off-road, the GX 460 excelled with its Torsen center differential, standard 4WD system with a low range, and various driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, multi-view camera system, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles, the GX was a capable off-roader. It also had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds, with stability control including a trailer-sway control function.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its “Tigershark” moniker, the engine’s performance was underwhelming, especially for a compact SUV weighing around 3,500 pounds. The lack of a turbocharger meant the engine struggled at higher altitudes and during hard acceleration. The nine-speed automatic transmission, while better than a CVT, was reluctant to downshift and quick to upshift, resulting in a busy and unrewarding driving experience.

The Compass’ automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage the engine, leading to hard engagement when accelerating from a stop. The drivetrain’s performance was the least appealing aspect of the Compass. However, the Jeep Selec-Terrain system, standard on AWD models, offered Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes. The Compass High Altitude had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading. The Trailhawk trim, with its Active Drive Low AWD system, hill descent control, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, was more capable for serious off-road adventures.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics reflected its age. The upright dashboard and high center console limited legroom, and the steering wheel’s odd angle, combined with the tall seating position, made the driving experience feel bus-like. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small center-console storage bins, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children and difficult to access.

Cargo space was also limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, compared to the Land Rover Discovery’s 73.0 cubic feet. With the third row up, cargo space was almost nonexistent. The GX was best thought of as a two-row SUV, with the third row reserved for occasional use.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered a more spacious and modern interior. The Compass was roomy enough for four adults and their luggage, but didn’t leave much extra space. 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 dual-pane panoramic sunroof and redesigned, soft-touch dashboard added to the premium feel.

The new center console provided increased storage, but the bin beneath the armrest remained small. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo 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. An available hands-free power liftgate made accessing the cargo area easier.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, reflecting its decade-old design. Standard features included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not available. The infotainment system’s graphics were outdated, and the system offered limited functionality. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, providing a refreshing alternative to the screen-centric interfaces of other luxury SUVs.

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. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and additional features included 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 filtering search results.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.

The 2022 Jeep Compass saw improvements in safety features for 2022. Standard equipment included 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. Later in the model year, the Compass would add Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance for highway driving. Additional available features included a parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. While the NHTSA and IIHS had not yet published safety ratings for the updated 2022 Compass, the NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating.