2022 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, but it retained much of its look from the 2017 redesign. The High Altitude test vehicle featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance despite its compact size. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, enhancing its premium SUV feel. The lineup started with the base Sport trim and moved up to the High Altitude, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. Our test vehicle, equipped with all-wheel drive and several option packages, had an MSRP of $40,470.

Buick's approach to styling had historically been conservative, focusing on comfort and tradition. However, over the past 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, reflecting market trends. The Buick Enclave, introduced in 2008, replaced older models and was well-received. A 2018 redesign moved it further upmarket, and for 2022, it received exterior styling enhancements, including a new grille and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging seats. The Avenir trim included standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs. Our test vehicle, an Enclave Avenir with the Technology package, featured Ebony perforated leather seats and a deep red Rich Garnet Metallic exterior.

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. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked acceleration power, and a turbocharger would have been beneficial. The nine-speed automatic transmission paired with the engine, while front-wheel-drive models had a six-speed automatic. 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, and the drivetrain felt sluggish. The Compass High Altitude had 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. The driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride on uneven pavement and a dated suspension.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, and the Enclave's powertrain was responsive despite its weight. The Enclave's ride quality was exceptional, thanks to the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled various terrains well, offering a smooth and quiet ride. The AWD system and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions. The Enclave's powertrain exhibited personality, with pleasant engine sounds at wide-open throttle. The Enclave's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2022 Jeep Compass shared similar interior dimensions with 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 dual-pane panoramic sunroof and redesigned dashboard with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system added to the premium feel. 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.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. The Enclave's cabin was spacious, accommodating six full-size adults comfortably. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the seats flipped and folded for added versatility. The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment for cupholders. The Enclave offered ample cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Our test vehicle had power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous generation. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, 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. The system also offered over-the-air updates, navigation, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, 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 it had some limitations in providing specific directions.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with an 8-inch reconfigurable version available on Premium and Avenir trims. The Essence trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously. The built-in WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which was superior to the standard six-speaker system. The Enclave also came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Jeep Compass received improved safety features, including 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, 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 adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, but the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2022 Compass, but it carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not yet rated the updated Compass.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech. The Buick Driver Confidence Plus package became standard on all Enclaves, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Other standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Enclave, but it received four out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Enclave "Good" ratings in all but one crash test, where it received an "Acceptable" score.