2022 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 High Altitude trim, the most expensive in the lineup, came with standard all-wheel drive and several option packages, bringing the MSRP to $40,470.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, in contrast, maintained a conservative exterior design similar to the 2022 model. The five-passenger SUV was available in five trim levels, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. Our top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD test vehicle, painted in Stormy Sea with a black-on-black interior, had a base price of $42,600, with additional features bringing the total MSRP to $45,845. The Santa Fe's exterior was distinguished by its wide grilles and thin LED headlights, while the interior, though high-quality, was dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats in the Calligraphy trim were both comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats.

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 the power to compete with other SUVs, and a turbocharger would have significantly improved its performance. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with the all-wheel drive system, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass 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 the Trailhawk trim offered more serious off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, provided immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged version could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo version could tow 2,000 pounds. The Santa Fe's performance, ride, and handling were impressive for its price point.

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 with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard, new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and premium leather upholstery elevated the Compass's perceived quality. The cargo area provided 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed as a two-row midsize SUV, offered 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom and 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding down the second row increased the cargo space to 72.1 cubic feet. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and a hands-free smart liftgate. The Calligraphy trim added a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the wide center console limited driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous version. The system included an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa skill, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and additional options included a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The voice recognition system was generally accurate but had some limitations in finding specific locations.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The voice recognition system had mixed results, performing well for navigation but struggling with music and climate control commands.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with forward-collision warning, 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. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, but 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 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe included forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist, standard on SEL and above, combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with high marks in all crashworthiness tests.