Used 2022 Jeep Compass

The subcompact crossover SUV segment has few real off-roaders. Leave it to the iconic Jeep brand to build a small, affordable, and practical crossover with some serious off-road capability when equipped with all-wheel drive. The small but mighty 2022 Jeep Compass is slotted between the Renegade and the Cherokee as an appealing option in small, affordable SUVs with a rugged personality.

The Compass got a nice mid-cycle refresh for 2022. This is a welcome improvement since it started to get stale compared to more modern rivals like the Subaru Crosstrek and Kia Seltos. The update includes tweaked exterior styling, a redesigned interior with more technology, a re-tuned suspension, and a new Latitude Lux trim. The result is a more modern small SUV that’s still a good off-roader when properly equipped.

As of this writing, we haven’t had a chance to drive the 2022 Jeep Compass, so we can’t speak to its re-tuned suspension. According to Jeep, the revised suspension along with upgraded steering deliver “superior on-road driving dynamics.” Earlier model years of the Jeep Compass drove on the road pretty comfortably, and we expect that to get better.

The sole engine option is a 2.4-liter inline-4, which makes 177 horsepower. It’s good enough to motivate the Compass, but several competitors in this class are more exciting to drive. If rip-roaring performance isn’t a big priority, you won’t mind this engine.

Off-road capabilities are a strong suit of the Compass, especially in the Trailhawk trim. Any AWD-equipped Compass is up for mild off-roading, but the Trailhawk adds more ground clearance, skid plates, and Rock mode on top of a cool appearance package. The Trailhawk is the best off-roader in subcompact SUVs, including the Subaru Crosstrek.

The interior of the Jeep Compass has gotten a thorough upgrade for the 2022 model year. This is a significant update compared to the 2021 model, which had an interior that was getting pretty dated compared to tough competition. The new interior design is sleek and modern with a new steering wheel, a new dash, and new standard and available infotainment systems. The standard system is a big 8.4-inch screen, which is huge for a standard infotainment system in this class. It’s upgradable to a more feature-rich 10.1-inch unit.

The seats are supportive and comfortable in both rows. The back seats have more legroom than the average midsize sedan, making the Compass useable as a small family SUV. You get cargo space of 27 cubic feet with the back seats in place and up to 60 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Those numbers are okay, but some rivals have more cargo space.

Jeep tweaked the Compass exterior for 2022, but it isn’t as substantial of a change as the interior. It still looks decidedly like a Jeep with styling reminiscent of the bigger Grand Cherokee with the signature 7-slat grille up front. The look of the Compass can change a bit depending on the trim. For example, the Trailhawk has a more rugged appearance hinting at its off-road capabilities, while the Limited trim has a more premium, upmarket look.

The size of the Jeep Compass falls somewhere between subcompact and compact. It’s bigger than the Jeep Renegade and smaller than the Jeep Cherokee. That means it has more versatility than a subcompact crossover, but it’s more maneuverable and affordable than a compact crossover. If subcompact is too small and compact is too big, the Compass is just right.

RUGGED TRAILHAWK TRIM
The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is a class leader in off-road proficiency with a capable AWD system, off-road tires, skid plates, and more.

UCONNECT 5 INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
The Compass gets an updated infotainment system for 2022, available with two different screen sizes. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard.

The base Sport trim of the Jeep Compass picks up some new standard features with the 2022 refresh. Standard kit includes a big 8.4-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, LED headlights, a USB-A and USB-C port in the front, a USB-A port in the back, cloth seats, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Standard safety tech features on every 2022 Compass include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a backup camera with rear cross-traffic alert.

Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and Latitude trims of the Compass. Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk trims all come standard with all-wheel drive.

There are four trims available above the base Sport model, including a new Latitude Lux trim. The mid-range Latitude trim adds creature comforts like premium cloth/vinyl seats, a leather shift knob, ambient interior lighting, 17-inch alloy wheels, and automatic headlights. You can add some available options to the Latitude model like more safety tech, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, wireless charging, a dual-pane sunroof, and more. There’s also an available Altitude Package, which is an appearance package with gloss black accents.

The new Latitude Lux trim adds more comfort and technology while keeping the starting price under $30,000. It adds standard AWD, leather, heated front seats, 18-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote start, and more. This is where you get the upgraded 10.1-inch infotainment system.

The Trailhawk trim is the most off-road-ready in the Compass lineup. It has a rugged appearance package with some functional touches like skid plates and an extra inch of ground clearance. Other off-road improvements include a Jeep Active Drive Low 4×4 system with Rock mode, hill-descent control, and a 30-degree approach angle.

The Compass High Altitude is the most luxurious new Compass. It has a premium appearance package with tasteful black/gray exterior elements accents and 19-inch alloy wheels. Standard features include AWD, premium leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar control, rain-sensing wipers, and more.

Adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera are available on Latitude and Latitude Lux but come standard at the Trailhawk and Limited levels.

There’s a Highway Assist system with late availability for the 2022 Compass. Highway Assist combines driver-assistance tech features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to create a semi-autonomous driving experience on the highway. However, you still need to be attentive with your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. This system is standard on Trailhawk and optional on Limited.

The sole engine option in the 2022 Jeep Compass is a 2.4-liter inline-4. It produces 177 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque, which are pretty mediocre specs for this class. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard in Sport and Latitude models, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard in the higher trims.

FWD Compass models come with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and AWD models have a 9-speed automatic. As usual, AWD comes with a slight fuel economy penalty, but the 9-speed transmission helps mitigate the impact on efficiency. The maximum towing rating of the Compass is 2,000 lbs, and Jeep doesn’t recommend trying to tow with FWD.

2.4-liter inline-4
177 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
172 lb-ft of torque @ 3,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (FWD), 22/30 mpg (AWD)