2022 Jeep Compass vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its look from its 2017 redesign. It resembled a smaller Grand Cherokee, especially in the High Altitude trim with its 19-inch multi-spoke wheels in a dark sparkly finish. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, giving it a premium feel.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 showcased a significant evolution from Volvo's older, boxy designs. Its purposeful yet understated front end, assertive grille, and modern "Thor’s Hammer" headlights marked a departure from the utilitarian aesthetics of the past. The XC90's dimensions and shape leaned toward rectilinear but with a refined elegance. The interior featured luxurious materials like Nappa leather, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, and wood deco inlays, creating a sophisticated and minimalist cabin environment.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came 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" moniker, the engine lacked the power to compete with most other SUVs. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with the AWD system, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but often 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 handled light off-roading and snowstorms well, but its driving dynamics needed improvement.

For 2023, Volvo replaced its older turbocharged engines in the XC90 with new B5 and B6 engines featuring mild-hybrid technology. The B5 engine, with a turbocharger and 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B6 engine, which our test car had, combined a supercharger and turbocharger with mild-hybrid tech to deliver 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and smoothness, with the XC90's auto stop-start technology being almost imperceptible. The XC90 offered a refined driving experience with quick acceleration, minimal road noise, and confident braking. However, it lacked extensive off-road capabilities, focusing more on a comfortable and straightforward driving experience.

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 improved storage space enhanced the cabin's sophistication. The Compass provided 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's interior exuded elegance but had some space and storage limitations. The front seats were comfortable, but the lack of dedicated storage for small items, like cell phones, was noticeable. The second row was spacious but challenging to adjust, and accessing the third row was difficult with the standard bench seat. The XC90 offered 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and maxing out at 65.5 cubic feet. Despite these limitations, the XC90 drove like a smaller car, making it more maneuverable than typical three-row SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, upgradeable to a 10.1-inch display, and supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system allowed pairing of two devices via Bluetooth and offered 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 Volvo XC90's 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display ran on Google OS, integrating Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant. The natural-language recognition was excellent, and owners could issue commands via Google Home devices. However, the reliance on the touchscreen for many functions could be frustrating, as it lacked physical buttons for some essential controls. Despite this, the system's capabilities and integration with Google services were impressive.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with enhanced safety features, including 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. Additional features like Highway Assist, parallel and perpendicular parking assistance, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system were available. However, the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives, and the adaptive cruise control struggled with the engine's performance.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, carrying a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position from a standstill to highway speeds. These features worked well even in challenging conditions, such as Boston traffic.