2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Acura RDX

The 2021 Acura RDX, particularly in the A-Spec trim, presented a sleek and sporty appearance without resorting to excessive blacked-out trim or aggressive performance cues. Its design changes were subtle yet effective, conveying a sense of sportiness without overpromising on performance. Unlike some SUVs, the RDX did not attempt to mimic an off-road vehicle, avoiding oversized skid plates and fender flares, as it was primarily designed for daily driving and road trips. The A-Spec trim, positioned in the middle of the RDX's trim hierarchy, offered a sporty interior with features like front sport seats, a sport steering wheel, and red ambient lighting, enhancing its athletic appeal. However, the gauge cluster's red markings on a brushed silver background were difficult to read, except at night.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior updates, retained a familiar look reminiscent of a shrunken Grand Cherokee. The test vehicle featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish, contributing to its upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass Trailhawk Elite impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, elevating its premium feel. The Trailhawk Elite, the most expensive Compass model, offered a range of trims with prices starting from $29,495 to $42,795. The Compass Trailhawk Elite, equipped with standard four-wheel drive and the Sun and Sound option package, had an MSRP of $47,385, including destination charges.

The 2021 Acura RDX was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, delivering 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and the torque-vectoring SH-AWD system, which could send up to 70% of the engine's output to the rear wheels, enhancing handling and driving enjoyment. The RDX featured an Integrated Dynamics System with driving modes like Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the powertrain and steering response. A-Spec models came with exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels and performance all-season tires, contributing to its sporty handling. However, the lack of adaptive dampers on the A-Spec trim resulted in noticeable body motion on uneven roads. Despite these minor drawbacks, the RDX A-Spec was praised for its broad torque curve, precise steering, and fade-resistant brakes.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Known as the "Tigershark" engine, it lacked the power of a turbocharged engine, making it less competitive in terms of acceleration. The Compass featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, with a six-speed automatic available on front-wheel-drive models. The transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement when accelerating from a stop. The Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with driving modes like Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud, and the Active Drive AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The Compass Trailhawk, with its off-road capabilities, was well-suited for light off-roading and snowstorms, but the driving dynamics needed improvement.

The 2021 Acura RDX, despite being classified as a compact SUV, offered impressive passenger and cargo space, making it a great value. The front seats were comfortable, with 12-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation available on higher trims. However, rear-seat comfort was compromised due to the need to maximize utility, resulting in a lack of leg support and an uncomfortable seating position. The RDX provided 835 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, with additional storage compartments for organizing items. Folding the rear seats increased cargo capacity to 1,668 litres, and Acura quoted a maximum value of 2,260 litres, though this measurement was based on moving the front seats forward.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned as a smaller compact SUV, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The Trailhawk Elite trim featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The interior boasted a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and improved perceived quality. The Compass provided 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,693 litres with the rear seats folded. These figures exceeded those of the more expensive Jeep Cherokee model.

The 2021 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, which used a touch-sensing pad on the centre console instead of a touchscreen. While the TTI mirrored the screen, making it more intuitive than similar systems, it still required a learning curve and could be distracting. The RDX included standard satellite radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi tethering, and an available navigation system. The A-Spec trim came with a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, with a 10.1-inch option on higher trims. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. The system offered over-the-air updates, a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with certain requests. Overall, Uconnect 5 impressed with its speed and functionality.

The 2021 Acura RDX came equipped with a suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims. The RDX earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four-star ratings for frontal-impact and rollover resistance.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert available from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance, was expected to be added later. The Compass also offered parking assistance and a 360-degree camera system. While crash test results for the 2022 model were not available, the previous rollover resistance rating was three stars, and headlight performance needed improvement.