2022 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front featured a parametric grille that hid standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When illuminated, these lights formed a unique shape reminiscent of the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, with four different wheel designs available. High-end trims featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and the option of a sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, and higher trims offered sport combination and leather-trimmed seats.

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs but retained a look similar to its 2017 redesign. The High Altitude test vehicle featured appealing 19-inch multi-spoke wheels painted in a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, infotainment systems, soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening, enhancing its premium SUV feel.

The High Altitude was the most expensive version of the Compass, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The test vehicle came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1 option packages, resulting in an MSRP of $40,470, including destination. The interior upgrades and features made the Compass High Altitude a more convincing premium SUV.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain made the Tucson more powerful and fun to drive, especially in off-road testing where the AWD system performed admirably.

The ICE-powered Tucson achieved an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Adding AWD reduced these figures to 24 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. The Tucson Hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with the most efficient model achieving 38 mpg city/highway/combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV was expected to deliver 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped 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 the "Tigershark," 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 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 AWD had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with a different AWD system, low range, hill descent control, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The Compass High Altitude's 19-inch wheels improved grip on pavement, but the short-wheelbase SUV exhibited bouncy and excessive lateral motion on uneven pavement. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 25 mpg for the Compass High Altitude, but testing averaged 23.8 mpg.

The Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Drivers also enjoyed lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with leather-wrapped and heated options on higher trims.

The new Tucson platform provided more space for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering two inches more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin comfortably accommodated a family of four, with more passenger volume than the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape. The 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and bested the Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat, a dual-level cargo floor, and a hands-free liftgate on mid-grade models and up.

The Jeep Compass offered similar interior dimensions to the Renegade and Cherokee, making it 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. Occupants enjoyed a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned, soft-touch dashboard with the new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen.

The Compass had a new center console with increased storage, but the bin beneath the armrest remained small. The available hands-free power liftgate provided access to the cargo area, which offered 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. These numbers exceeded the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, but required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality. The flat surface with touchpoints made it difficult to find the right button while driving, causing reliance on steering wheel controls and voice commands. The touchpoints were responsive, but the narrow steering wheel controls were less user-friendly.

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 pairing two devices to 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 fresh.

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, but had some issues with filtering search results and providing directions. Overall, Uconnect 5 impressed but was not as user-friendly as the best technology in the industry.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included standard features like forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Optional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, parking collision avoidance assist, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, which paired adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. The Compass also offered parallel and perpendicular parking assistance and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The forward-collision warning system had some false positives, and the adaptive cruise control struggled with smooth acceleration. The NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating, and the IIHS scores indicated a need for improved headlight performance.