2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, but it retained a familiar look reminiscent of a shrunken Grand Cherokee. 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.

In contrast, the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer adopted a sleek, road-car-inspired design with a low roofline and a big grille framed by stacked headlights. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking mainstream crossover. The 2023 model received minor styling updates, including new taillights, grille, and LED headlights, along with new wheel designs and additional color options, maintaining its fresh and modern look.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked acceleration and was noisy at high revs. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with AWD, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain. 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 snow well, but its driving dynamics needed improvement.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered two powertrain options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered FWD or AWD. The V6-powered Blazer RS felt quick and had a sporty exhaust note, but its handling was affected by its weight and top-heavy design. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some rivals' automatic systems. The Blazer's 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for its class.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned between the Renegade and Cherokee, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard, Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and premium materials elevated the Compass's interior quality. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing the Cherokee.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer, a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offered front-seat headroom comparable to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport. Rear-seat headroom was slightly below average, but legroom was decent. The Blazer provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. The Blazer's interior felt spacious and functional, with well-placed USB ports and intuitive controls.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous version. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option available. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and over-the-air updates. Additional features included a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in specific scenarios.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The Blazer offered a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster display, with an 8-inch display on higher trims. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a WiFi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims added built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus and a large touchscreen.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. Additional features included Highway Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. However, the lane-keep assist was overly insistent at lower speeds, and the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer expanded its safety features, with the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was available on more trims, and other optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, and GM’s Teen Driver monitoring system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.