2022 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Honda CR-V

The 2022 Jeep Compass had received a facelift in its exterior styling and new wheel designs. Despite these updates, it still bore a strong resemblance to its 2017 redesign, making it look somewhat like a shrunken Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude test vehicle was particularly striking with its 19-inch multi-spoke wheels painted in a dark, sparkly finish that closely matched the vehicle's paint. This trim looked upscale, though noticeably compact for a Jeep. Inside, the 2022 Compass made a stronger case for itself as a premium SUV, particularly in the High Altitude trim. The new dashboard design featured updated digital instrumentation and infotainment systems. The use of soft-touch surfaces and luxury-grade leather seats, along with what seemed like added soundproofing, enhanced the vehicle's sense of sophistication. In contrast, the 2023 Honda CR-V showcased a more streamlined appearance with a blunt nose, elongated hood, and extended wheelbase. This sixth-generation model adopted a cleaner and somewhat meaner look compared to its predecessor, though it lacked some of the fifth-gen CR-V’s personality. The conservative styling was designed to age gracefully. The interior of the CR-V EX and EX-L trims featured 18-inch alloy wheels and dark-tinted rear privacy glass, giving these trims a uniform external appearance. Inside, the EX-L model upgraded to leather-wrapped seats, steering wheel, and shift knob over the EX's cloth upholstery. The dashboard in both trims mimicked the latest Civic, incorporating metal mesh trim that blended air vents and divided the upper and lower parts of the dashboard. The cabin was simple yet high-quality, with both trims offering digital instrumentation displays and the EX-L boasting additional features and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine known as the "Tigershark," producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Despite its intimidating name, it lacked the power to impress. A turbocharger could have significantly enhanced its performance, especially beneficial for buyers intending to venture into high-altitude terrains. The "Tigershark" engine emitted an unpleasant noise when revving hard, a frequent occurrence given its high power peak. Jeep paired this engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models, though front-wheel-drive variants sported a six-speed automatic. The transmission tended to prioritize fuel efficiency, often leading to a busy and unrewarding driving experience. The Compass High Altitude averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, shy of the 25 mpg predicted by the EPA. Despite these drawbacks, the Compass had an 8.1-inch ground clearance, sufficient for light off-roading. However, for serious backcountry escapades, the Trailhawk variant was more suitable. In comparison, the 2023 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 179 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 and 5,000 rpm. This engine provided ample power for a compact SUV. However, the CVT sometimes detracted from driving enjoyment due to its droning noise under hard acceleration. Despite this, the CR-V excelled in ride and handling, presenting a balanced, refined, and dynamically satisfying drive. Its suspension, steering, and brake system were well-tuned, effectively managing speed bumps and uneven pavement while delivering a quiet and smooth ride. The CR-V boasted an impressive fuel economy, averaging 29.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly above the EPA's 29 mpg estimate.

Jeep positioned the Compass among its similarly sized siblings, the Renegade and Cherokee, all offering comparable interior dimensions but targeting different market segments. The Compass was spacious enough for four adults and their luggage but left little room for extras. The 2022 model received a significant interior upgrade, enhancing its premium feel, especially in the High Altitude trim. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment with heating and ventilation, and the rear seats were also heated. The redesigned dashboard featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, seamlessly integrating air vents and primary controls, resulting in a notable improvement in perceived quality. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats and up to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Honda claimed the 2023 CR-V was the roomiest yet, though the driver’s seat felt relatively low, giving it a car-like feel. The redesigned seats were comfortable, with heated front seats as a standard feature, though ventilated seats and heated rear seats were not available. The second row offered significant space, providing a high seating position and ample legroom, making it feel more like a midsize SUV. However, taller passengers might find headroom limited, though adjustable seatback recline positions mitigated this issue. The CR-V excelled in storage solutions, offering a spacious bin under the center armrest, door armrest trays, door panel storage bins, and a tray with an available wireless charging pad. The cargo area, accessible via a power liftgate, offered 39.3 cubic feet of space with the rear load floor in its lowest position. This expanded to 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making it more versatile than the Compass.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, claimed to be five times faster than its predecessor. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch screen as an option. The system supported the pairing of two devices via Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa skill, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply. It also offered over-the-air updates, a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. An optional nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system was available. The voice recognition system was generally reliable but could be improved in specific scenarios like emergency directions. In comparison, the 2023 Honda CR-V came with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel standard across the lineup. The EX trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo volume and tuning knobs, while the EX-L upgraded to a 9-inch display with added features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless charging, and an eight-speaker sound system. Notably, more premium features like a Bose sound system and navigation were reserved for the top-tier Sport Touring Hybrid model. Despite this, the mid-grade setup in the EX-L was sufficient for most users, offering a significant improvement over previous models but not necessarily surpassing its competitors in innovation or feature set.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced enhanced safety features across the board. Standard equipment included 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, integrating adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance for highway driving, was added later in the model year. A parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system were also available. During testing, some systems performed better than others, with lane-keeping assist proving overly persistent at lower speeds and adaptive cruise control showing room for improvement in smoothness. The 2023 Honda CR-V saw marked improvements in its Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist technologies. Standard features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a seatbelt reminder system, rear-seat reminder system, driver monitoring system, and traffic sign recognition. New camera and radar systems enhanced the precision of these features, including the new Traffic Jam Assist system for low-speed assistance. While the tech performed well, the lane-centering assist's impact on steering feel was less than ideal.