2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a surprisingly spacious feel. Its upright design provided a commanding view of the road, and while the headlight design was somewhat intricate, it seamlessly integrated with the grille. Although not intended for off-roading, the Seltos featured an aggressive lower front bumper, hinting at its on-road prowess. The red accents around the wheel centres added a sporty touch, complementing its dynamic driving characteristics. Inside, the Seltos boasted a clean and intuitive design, with tech features reminiscent of more upscale brands. The LCD screen for climate controls and the touchscreen atop the dash provided visual symmetry, while the utilitarian yet sporty nature was underscored by thoughtful design elements.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass retained much of its familiar exterior styling, reminiscent of a compact Grand Cherokee. The test model's 19-inch multi-spoke wheels added an upscale touch. Inside, the Compass made significant strides in sophistication, especially in the Trailhawk Elite trim. The redesigned dashboard, digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats elevated its premium feel. The Trailhawk Elite, the priciest variant, offered a range of trims from the base Sport to the top-tier Trailhawk Elite, with prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795. The Compass Trailhawk Elite, with its standard 4WD and Sun and Sound package, had an MSRP of $47,385, including destination charges.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, EX, and EX Premium trims were equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for city driving, this engine struggled at higher speeds. The SX Turbo trim, however, featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway passing, especially when using the Sport mode, which enhanced throttle response and steering feel. The Seltos handled well, with minimal body roll and a smooth ride, making it feel more like a luxury SUV.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder "Tigershark" engine, generating 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its name, the engine lacked the power to compete with other SUVs. A turbocharger would have improved its performance, especially for those planning mountain adventures. The nine-speed automatic transmission, standard on AWD models, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard drivetrain engagement. The Compass's Jeep Selec-Terrain system offered various driving modes, and its AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. With 20.6 cm of ground clearance, the Compass was capable of light off-roading, while the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. However, the Compass's driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride on uneven surfaces and a dated suspension.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided impressive cargo space, with 752 litres behind the rear seats and 1,778 litres with the seats folded, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. It featured numerous storage compartments, including large cubbies and bottle holders in the doors, a spacious centre console, and a tray between the front seats. The rear seats offered ample head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among Jeep's similarly sized SUVs, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The Trailhawk Elite trim enhanced its premium feel with 12-way power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard, Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and new centre console improved perceived quality and sophistication. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,693 litres with the seats folded, surpassing the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base LX and EX trims, while the EX Premium and SX Turbo trims included a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with additional space for radio, climate, or navigation data. The SX Turbo trim came with a Bose premium sound system. However, the infotainment system had some quirks, such as defaulting to phone audio when connected via USB and only one data-capable USB port. Overall, the system was intuitive and easy to navigate.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch option available on higher trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply. It also offered 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 some requests. Overall, Uconnect 5 was impressive but not the easiest to use.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches. In Canada, the base LX trim included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The EX Premium and SX Turbo trims featured adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring starting from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centring, was expected later in the model year. The Compass also offered parking assistance and a 360-degree camera system. However, the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. At the time of review, crash test results for the 2022 Compass were not available, but the NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating.