2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, which some might have found boring, but it had a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. It was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, offering a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and an optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it had some hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite exterior updates, retained a look similar to its 2017 redesign, resembling a shrunken Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude test vehicle had appealing 19-inch wheels and looked upscale. Inside, the Compass proved more convincing as a premium SUV, especially in High Altitude trim, with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening. The lineup started with the base Sport trim and moved up to Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude models, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085. The High Altitude test vehicle, with every possible upgrade, had an MSRP of $40,470.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD as a $1,400 option on most models. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing or freeway merging. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. It was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

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. The engine, dubbed "Tigershark," lacked forced induction and was unpleasant to hear when revving hard. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models and a six-speed automatic for FWD models. The transmission was reluctant to downshift and quick to upshift, resulting in a busy, unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage the engine, leading to hard engagement. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's 25 mpg estimate. The Compass had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. The Compass felt nimble and maneuverable but struggled with bouncy and excessive lateral motion on uneven pavement.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The back seat provided excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan offered a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and a usefully shaped cargo space with deep wells. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the presence of the third-row seat, and a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, similar in size to the Renegade and Cherokee, was spacious enough 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 Compass had a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned soft-touch dashboard, and a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The center console offered twice the storage of the previous model, but the bin beneath the armrest remained small. The Compass had 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 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system had some quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The SEL Premium R-Line trim included a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with 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. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. The system offered over-the-air updates, 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 with specific requests. The Compass could be upgraded to a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Jeep Compass 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. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was 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. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system had some false positives. The NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating, and the IIHS scores indicated a need for improved headlight performance.