2022 Jeep Compass vs 2022 GMC Terrain

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, 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 2022 GMC Terrain also saw updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level added a bolder grille, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. Our test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint and a black leather interior, loaded with various packages that brought the MSRP to $41,810. Despite its entry-level status, the Terrain's interior materials and design did not fully meet expectations for its price range.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. This "Tigershark" engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, lacked the power and refinement expected in a compact SUV. The transmission's reluctance to downshift and the slow re-engagement of the automatic stop/start system contributed to a busy and unrewarding driving experience. The Compass High Altitude averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass was capable of light off-roading, but its driving dynamics needed improvement.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in the torque band, but the engine's delay off the line and lack of power made it less enjoyable to drive. The Terrain AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance and a good ride on pavement, but it struggled with off-road conditions. The Terrain's fuel economy met expectations, averaging 26.2 mpg on the evaluation loop. However, the overall driving experience was dull, with numb steering and brakes.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered a spacious interior for four adults and their luggage, with upgrades for 2022 enhancing its premium feel. The High Altitude trim included eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The redesigned dashboard and new Uconnect 5 infotainment system improved perceived quality. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 GMC Terrain's interior was roomy and offered numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The AT4 trim included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of legroom and a rear USB charging port. The Terrain provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous version. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was available. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in specific scenarios.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for the SLE trim and an 8-inch touchscreen for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen came with connected navigation and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Terrain also featured a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came standard with forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, which pairs adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. The Compass had some issues with false positives from the forward-collision warning system and overly insistent lane-keep assist at lower speeds. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.

The 2022 GMC Terrain included the GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of review.