2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling. This model retained the brand's signature boxy profile and rectangular grille but introduced softer lines and more chrome accents, giving it a more modern and distinctive appearance. The LED headlights with "Thor's Hammer" daytime running lights added a unique touch, enhancing the vehicle's character while maintaining its Volvo identity. The XC90's interior embraced "Swedish minimalism," offering high-quality materials and a thoughtfully arranged cabin. The use of matte-finish wood trim and the option for wool upholstery set it apart from other luxury SUVs, providing a refined yet understated luxury experience.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass maintained a familiar look, reminiscent of a smaller Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude trim featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels and a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass underwent significant updates, particularly in the High Altitude specification, with a new dashboard design, digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The cabin improvements, including added sound deadening, elevated the Compass's premium feel. The High Altitude trim, being the most expensive, offered a range of features, including all-wheel drive and various interior upgrades, making it a more sophisticated choice within the Compass lineup.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 variant added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assistance, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. While the XC90 provided ample power, the small engine struggled with flexibility compared to competitors' six-cylinder or V8 engines. The XC90's ride quality was excellent, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and it offered a respectable towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder "Tigershark" engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its name, the engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs, and a turbocharger would have improved its performance, especially at higher altitudes. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with all-wheel drive, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with various driving modes and had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading. However, the drivetrain was the least appealing aspect of the Compass, with slow acceleration and a noisy engine.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with average headroom and legroom for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. The interior felt spacious due to the power moonroof and upright roof profile. The XC90 offered limited storage space, with a shallow center console and minimal storage options. Cargo capacity was 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned as a smaller compact SUV, provided 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 interior upgrades included a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard, and a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, known for its simplicity and functionality. It included a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot. The touchscreen was easy to use, but the text and typeface made reading menus difficult while driving. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and a head-up display.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option available. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with over-the-air updates. The Compass offered a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, but the infotainment system was not as user-friendly as the best in the industry.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top "Good" scores in crash tests and "Superior" ratings for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Volvo's Pilot Assist driver aid.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, was set to be added later. The Compass experienced some false positives with the forward-collision warning system, and the adaptive cruise control struggled with the engine's performance. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.