Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Jeep Compass

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile, reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the "Wagoneer" logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, while aluminum and composite materials helped save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered high-end features like 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with Nappa leather upholstery and optional higher-grade Palermo leather.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a refined design ethos, moving away from rugged styling. It featured a more upscale look, aligning with the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families. The Compass Sport and Latitude models received a new 17-inch wheel design, while the Trailhawk's wheels were painted gloss black. The Compass was available in five core trim levels, with special editions like the Altitude, Red, and High Altitude. The base prices ranged from just under $32,000 to over $40,000, making it a pricier option in the small SUV segment. The Limited trim, with extra-cost paint and various packages, had an MSRP of $45,800. The Compass Limited, wrapped in Granite Crystal paint with optional 19-inch wheels, resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee. Inside, the two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents exuded sophistication, thanks to digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for a vehicle weighing around 6,400 pounds. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive (4WD) and the Quadra-Drive II system, which included a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also featured the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, providing adjustable ride height for various driving conditions. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer boasted impressive off-road capabilities, although its size limited its trail performance. The cabin was quiet, and the air suspension absorbed bumps well, but the vehicle felt ungainly at higher speeds.

The 2023 Jeep Compass introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The engine's peak torque was available from 1,750 to 4,250 rpm, with maximum horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard Jeep Active Drive all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, the Compass offered improved performance. The Trailhawk variant featured a Jeep Active Drive Low AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Compass Trailhawk's lifted suspension provided 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and it had a Rock driving mode for tackling challenging terrain. The new turbo engine transformed the Compass, offering a more enjoyable driving experience. However, the engine prioritized fuel economy, resulting in a slightly lower power output compared to larger models. The Compass achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 27 mpg in combined driving, although real-world testing yielded 23.8 mpg.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer offered 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats provided 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than its rivals. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. The standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate limited forward visibility.

The 2023 Jeep Compass accommodated adults in both rows of seats, despite its narrow design. It featured an air filtration system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an optional dual-pane sunroof. Cloth upholstery was standard on Sport and Latitude models, while higher trims offered leather seats. The Compass provided an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, depending on the trim. The Limited trim offered a comfortable seating position and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The rear seat provided enough space for adults, with generous foot room and supportive seat cushions. Interior storage was acceptable, although the center armrest bin was small. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. A manually-adjustable front passenger seat could fold in half for carrying long items.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot for up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen, and an optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer, with a second screen for seat massagers. A row of buttons allowed quick access to important functions. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, based on an Android operating system, offered over-the-air updates. While the screen response was slow, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology. It supported Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The system received over-the-air updates and offered an embedded navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and Alexa Built-in digital assistant. The Limited trim had all these features, with Alexa Built-in proving fast and accurate. The Alpine audio system sounded good but was bass-heavy with default settings. The Compass also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera, although its small size made parking assist less necessary.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet received crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the time of review. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. A hands-free version was planned for future release.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a standard drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder system. All trims except the base Sport featured automatic high-beam headlights. Standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, and front and rear parking sensors. The Trailhawk, Limited, and High Altitude trims offered Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system for limited-access highways. The Compass Limited's Highway Assist was evaluated during a test drive, offering subtle and accurate operation. However, the system struggled with certain road conditions. The Compass had not yet received crash-test ratings from NHTSA, and IIHS results were incomplete.