2022 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving 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, with our High Altitude test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched its upscale paint finish. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, enhancing its premium SUV appeal. The model lineup ranged from the base Sport trim to the High Altitude, with prices starting at $26,020 and reaching $35,085, excluding destination charges. Our test vehicle, equipped with all-wheel drive and additional option packages, had an MSRP of $40,470.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Sequoia continued its second generation into its 14th year without significant changes, maintaining a mature design. Its exterior featured a modestly sized grille, elegant wheel arches, and straight lines, giving it a timeless appearance. The Sequoia's dimensions were substantial, with a height of 77 inches, width of 79.9 inches, and length of 205.1 inches, riding on a 122-inch wheelbase. Inside, the Sequoia's design felt dated compared to modern trends, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.5-inch TFT driver information screen. However, the interior was well-constructed, with high-quality materials and a focus on durability. Our test vehicle, the Nightshade Special Edition, featured darkened chrome and black-painted finishes, enhancing its contemporary look.

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 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 averaged 23.8 mpg in testing, slightly below the EPA's 25 mpg estimate. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass handled light off-roading and snowstorms well, while the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia featured a 5.7-liter i-Force V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Sequoia offered a smooth and stable ride, with a payload capacity of around 1,300 pounds and a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. Despite its weight of 5,730 to 6,000 pounds, the Sequoia provided a pleasant driving experience, with excellent highway stability and off-road capabilities. However, its fuel economy was a drawback, with ratings of 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway/15 mpg combined for rear-wheel drive and 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway/14 mpg combined for four-wheel drive.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered a spacious interior for four adults and their luggage, with premium features in the High Altitude trim. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, while the rear seats were heated. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof and redesigned dashboard added to the sense of sophistication. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, with roomy seating across all three rows and three-zone climate control. The center console and glove compartment provided ample storage, while rear passengers enjoyed cup holders and power access. The cargo compartment featured an auxiliary 12-volt outlet, with 18.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Folding the third row expanded the space to 66.6 cubic feet, and folding both the second and third rows provided a generous 120.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.1-inch upgrade available. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with satellite radio and voice text-to-reply capability. Additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in filtering search results.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's infotainment system felt outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a clunky operating system. However, it offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, along with WiFi connectivity and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Sequoia Limited added navigation and a 12-speaker audio system, while a premium audio package included 14 JBL speakers and a subwoofer. Despite its outdated technology, the Sequoia featured LED exterior lighting and a rear backup camera, with upper trims offering a power liftgate.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, offering forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance as standard. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also included. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was set to be added later in the model year. However, the Compass experienced some false positives with its forward-collision warning system, and its safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia lacked crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, but it offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. The Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) suite included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. The Sequoia also featured a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and a full complement of airbags. Additional safety features included trailer sway-control, parking-assist sonar, and child-protector rear door locks.