2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive design, avoiding the common trend of emulating competitors' styles. It carried forward the sharp, chrome-accented design language of the Navigator, making it one of the few modern cars that benefited from heavy chrome use. Inside, the Aviator offered a luxurious cabin with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen, creating an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury, setting it apart from its Ford counterpart.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass maintained a familiar exterior design, reminiscent of a smaller Grand Cherokee. However, the interior of the Compass, especially in the High Altitude trim, received significant upgrades. It featured a new dashboard design, luxury-grade leather seats, and enhanced sound deadening, elevating its sophistication. The High Altitude model came with 19-inch wheels and a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance. The interior improvements made the Compass more convincing as a premium SUV, despite its compact size.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a robust performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric range. The Aviator's drive mode selector included unique modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing its driving experience. However, its long wheelbase made it less agile in tight spaces, and noticeable body roll was present in corners.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked acceleration power, making it less competitive. The nine-speed automatic transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes, and its AWD system provided decent off-road capability. However, the drivetrain was the least appealing aspect of the Compass, with slow acceleration and a noisy engine.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided ample cargo space, with 18.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 77.7 cubic feet with all seats folded. The second-row captain's chairs and digital control panel enhanced passenger comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The redesigned dashboard and Uconnect 5 infotainment system improved perceived quality and sophistication. However, the center console storage remained limited, and the Compass felt smaller compared to its competitors.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument panel and optional head-up display provided clear and easy-to-read information. The Aviator's technology was user-friendly and well-integrated, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was faster and more responsive than its predecessor. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, with over-the-air updates to keep the system current. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, but the navigation system had some limitations. Overall, Uconnect 5 impressed but wasn't as user-friendly as the best in the industry.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. Highway Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system were available. However, the lane-keep assist was overly insistent, and the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. Safety ratings for the updated Compass were not yet available, but previous ratings indicated room for improvement.