2022 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

Though the 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, it maintained a familiar look reminiscent of its 2017 redesign, appearing like a shrunk-down Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude test vehicle boasted attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish that matched the vehicle’s paint, providing an upscale yet compact Jeep aesthetic.

Inside the cabin, the 2022 Compass delivered a far more convincing premium SUV experience, especially in the High Altitude trim. The new dashboard design featured updated digital instrumentation and infotainment systems. Soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and enhanced sound deadening contributed to an elevated sense of sophistication.

The Jeep Compass lineup included multiple trim levels ranging from the base Sport to the elite High Altitude. Prices varied from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge from the Toluca, Mexico factory. Our Compass High Altitude test vehicle, equipped with AWD and the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1 option packages, totaled an MSRP of $40,470, including destination.

Nissan’s 2023 Rogue adhered to a conservative design approach, ensuring proper proportions and handsomely chiseled styling while incorporating enough SUV detailing to convey a rugged sense of purpose. The appealing design held critical importance as consumer preferences often shy away from unattractive vehicles.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue lineup comprised S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140, plus a $1,295 destination charge. Trim levels SV, SL, and Platinum offered optional Premium packages, and the new Midnight Edition package was exclusive to the SV trim.

Our test vehicle, a Platinum with the Premium option package, also came with AWD, two-tone paint, and several luxury and convenience features, including a frameless rearview mirror, interior accent lighting, and a first-aid kit. These extras elevated the Rogue’s MSRP to $43,100, entering entry-luxury territory. Platinum trim included numerous upscale upgrades, such as soft, diamond-pattern leather seats, ensuring high-quality materials and a premium feel throughout.

The 2022 Jeep Compass housed 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” engine. However, its performance was far from swift, often struggling to deliver the required power, especially given the vehicle’s weight of approximately 3,500 pounds. A turbocharger could have improved its performance significantly, particularly at higher altitudes, a trait desirable for weekend adventurers.

Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission (six-speed for FWD models), the Compass’ transmission focused heavily on fuel efficiency, often resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system also fell short, with slow re-engagement that led to hard driveline engagement. The Selec-Terrain system with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes, combined with the Jeep Active Drive AWD system, offered decent versatility.

Our test vehicle averaged 23.8 mpg, slightly below the EPA’s 25 mpg estimate. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass High Altitude could handle light off-road conditions and snowstorms. For serious off-roading, the Trailhawk trim with higher ground clearance and additional off-road features would be necessary.

When Nissan introduced the current-generation Rogue, it initially came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. In 2022, Nissan replaced this with a new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo three-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque from 2,800 to 4,000 rpm. This powerplant aimed to provide a balance between performance and fuel economy.

The CVT, equipped with paddle shifters, rarely drew negative attention and generally provided a responsive driving experience in urban and suburban settings. However, it struggled with passing power on highways. The engine’s unusual note and some vibration through the accelerator pedal may have been off-putting to some drivers, likely due to the three-cylinder configuration.

The EPA rated our vehicle at 31 mpg in combined driving, but our testing returned an average of 28.9 mpg. Features like Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control worked to maintain ride quality and handling, though some body motion was noticeable on undulating roads. The Rogue’s suspension provided a balance of ride compliance and body control, ensuring a secure handling character.

The 2022 Jeep Compass sat between the Renegade and Cherokee in Jeep’s lineup, offering similar interior dimensions to its siblings despite targeting different market segments. As a smaller compact SUV, the Compass provided adequate space for four adults and their luggage but fell short on additional room.

The High Altitude trim’s Elite Interior Group option packages elevated comfort with features like eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof and new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen added to the premium feel. However, the center console storage remained limited.

Cargo capacity for the Compass stood at 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and expanded to 59.8 cubic feet when the rear seat was folded, exceeding Jeep’s more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue functioned well as a replacement for the traditional family car, offering practical advantages over midsize sedans. It comfortably seated four adults, with the option to accommodate a fifth person when necessary. Our Platinum model had luxury features, including a triple-zone automatic climate control system and a dual-panel panoramic sunroof.

The front Zero Gravity seats provided excellent comfort, though the absence of ventilated seats was a drawback. Odd design choices, such as the hard-to-use key fob and misplaced ambient lighting control button, detracted from the overall user experience.

The Rogue’s rear doors opened to nearly 90 degrees, facilitating easy access for loading and unloading. Rear-seated passengers enjoyed amenities such as climate controls, USB ports, and heated outboard seats. However, rear seat comfort was less than ideal due to low-mounted bottom cushions.

The Rogue offered a hands-free power liftgate leading to a cargo space of up to 36.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet with the seats down, surpassing the Compass in cargo capacity.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 system, offering significant improvements in speed and responsiveness. A standard 8.4-inch or available 10.1-inch touchscreen provided customizable options. Uconnect 5 supported dual-device Bluetooth pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an Amazon Alexa skill, and various connected services.

The system impressed with its fast and accurate voice recognition, even allowing temperature adjustments by voice. However, requests for directions could sometimes yield irrelevant results, and getting directions using an address required extra effort. Despite these minor drawbacks, the technology was a significant step forward.

Nissan’s 2023 Rogue retained an older infotainment system, available with either an 8-inch or 9-inch touchscreen. Our test vehicle had the larger screen, along with features like Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, NissanConnect services, and a Bose premium audio system.

While the Rogue included an impressive suite of features, the voice recognition system struggled to provide accurate results for anything beyond basic requests. Attempts to find specific locations often resulted in unrelated suggestions. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were effective, though less impressive compared to Jeep’s Uconnect 5 system.

The 2022 Jeep Compass saw improvements in safety features, with standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert also came standard. Highway Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane centering, was expected later in the model year.

Despite these robust offerings, some elements like lane-keep assist were overly aggressive at lower speeds, and the adaptive cruise control struggled with the Compass’ sluggish engine. Forward-collision warnings occasionally yielded false positives. As of the review, official safety ratings had not been published, though the vehicle carried over a three-star rollover resistance rating from NHTSA.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue provided a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard Safety Shield 360 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, and lane-departure warning. Additional features like ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, active blind-spot monitoring, and surround-view cameras were available on higher trims.

ProPilot Assist proved effective on highways, offering accurate and unobtrusive lane-centering assistance. The digital instrumentation clearly indicated system status, and the lane-departure warning system was thoughtfully designed.

The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, indicating strong safety credentials despite some mixed scores in specific tests.