2022 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Subaru Ascent

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving some exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its appearance from its 2017 redesign. It resembled a smaller version of the Grand Cherokee, especially in the High Altitude trim, which featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish that matched the paint, giving it an upscale look. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and infotainment systems. The cabin boasted soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and enhanced sound deadening, elevating its sophistication. The High Altitude was the priciest model in the lineup, which started with the base Sport trim and included Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude models, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. Our test vehicle, equipped with standard AWD and several option packages, had an MSRP of $40,470, including destination.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced a new Onyx Edition trim level, featuring a blacked-out exterior trim that gave it a sporty appearance. The Ascent lineup included Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, and Touring trims, with prices starting at $32,295 and reaching up to $45,445, plus a $1,125 destination fee. Our test vehicle, the Onyx Edition, came with black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim, including water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather seats. Priced at $37,995 plus destination, an additional option package offered a panoramic moonroof, navigation system, and cargo cover for $2,000. The interior featured a gray two-tone scheme with metallic trim, though the StarTex material tended to trap sweat. Despite this, the Ascent Onyx Edition's styling and features made it a compelling choice for those seeking a sporty SUV.

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. Dubbed the "Tigershark," this engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs, and a turbocharger would have significantly improved its performance, especially at higher altitudes. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models, while FWD models had a six-speed automatic. The transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement during acceleration. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg on our testing loop, slightly below the EPA's 25 mpg estimate. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass was capable of light off-roading, and the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. However, the driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride and excessive lateral motion on uneven pavement.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a CVT and AWD, achieving an EPA fuel-economy rating of 22 mpg combined, though we averaged 20.5 mpg on our testing loop. The engine's flat-four layout provided a lower center of gravity for improved handling. The CVT was well-tuned, offering eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing for brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds and featured Subaru's X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. In urban and suburban settings, the Ascent felt nimble and maneuverable, though sudden braking could be overly responsive. On country and mountain roads, it demonstrated competence, though spirited driving could lead to brake fade. On highways, the lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance technologies could feel unstable, but turning them off improved the driving experience.

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 offered premium features, including 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. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen enhanced the cabin's sophistication. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could accommodate up to eight passengers with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition was equipped for winter weather, featuring water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second row was easy, thanks to wide rear doors, and captain's chairs were available. The panoramic sunroof extended over the second row, and some models included rear-side window shades. The Ascent offered ample storage, with a dashboard shelf and large cupholders in the second row. The cargo area provided 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded, slightly reduced with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new 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 upgrade available. The system supported dual Bluetooth device pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current. Additional options included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. The nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was available. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with specific requests, such as finding the nearest hospital.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent's base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a CD player. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Both systems featured volume and tuning knobs and shortcut buttons. The voice recognition technology required improvement, as it was slow to respond and needed specific commands. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, which lacked sonic quality. The Touring trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with enhanced 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, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. A parking assistance system and 360-degree camera were available. 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 occasionally gave false positives. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the updated Compass, but the previous rollover resistance rating was three stars.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating. The Ascent came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering. EyeSight's performance was affected by direct sunlight, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology lacked refinement. Despite these issues, EyeSight was effective, and the adaptive cruise control resumed speed quickly. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, and blind-spot monitoring was available from the Premium trim.