2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with Nissan's new signature style. Despite these updates, the Armada retained its traditional robust and athletic body styling. The SUV featured a redesigned grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights, giving it a modern look similar to the Nissan Kicks, Rogue, and Pathfinder. The Armada was available in SL and Platinum trims in Canada, with the Platinum offering captain’s chairs as an option. The SUV's exterior included body-colour over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and a range of standard features like a power sliding sunroof and heated side mirrors. The Armada's new logo was prominently displayed, and a new exterior colour, Coulis Red Pearl, was added to the lineup. However, the interior remained somewhat dated, with modern tech features but design choices that made it appear past its prime.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, while receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, maintained a look similar to its 2017 redesign, resembling a smaller Grand Cherokee. The test vehicle featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, adding an upscale touch. Inside, the Compass Trailhawk Elite specification offered a more premium feel with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The Trailhawk Elite was the most expensive version, with prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795. The Compass was built in Toluca, Mexico, and offered a range of trims, including Sport, North, Trailhawk, Limited, RED, and Trailhawk Elite. The interior upgrades, including soft-touch surfaces and added sound deadening, significantly enhanced the Compass's sophistication.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. It featured a 7-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. Despite its weight of over 2,700 kilograms, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. Its towing capacity was best-in-class at 3,856 kilograms. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with an estimated 17.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city. The Armada's handling improved with each revision, but its turning radius and parking maneuverability were typical for its size.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. The engine, known as the “Tigershark,” was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for 4WD models, while FWD models had a six-speed automatic. The Compass's transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, and the drivetrain felt sluggish. The Compass featured Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes, and the Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities. Fuel consumption was estimated at 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres, but testing showed 9.9 L/100 km. The Compass's driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride on uneven pavement and excessive lateral motion.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as Nissan’s flagship SUV, offered practicality and functionality for families. It featured standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The interior was spacious, with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, but the dashboard's width made some controls hard to reach. The front seats were 10-way power-adjustable, and the Platinum trim offered second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was less comfortable for adults, and cargo space was limited, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row and 2,692 litres with all seats folded. A power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats were standard, but the high load floor made loading challenging. Small-item storage was limited, except for a deep centre console storage bin.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered similar interior dimensions to the Renegade and Cherokee, making it spacious enough for four adults and their luggage. The Compass Trailhawk Elite featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The interior upgrades included a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard, and a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The centre console offered increased storage, but the bin beneath the armrest was small. The Compass had a hands-free power liftgate, with 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,693 litres with the seat folded, exceeding the Cherokee's capacity.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with standard navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The system was responsive, and the camera system provided clear views. Other standard features included a WiFi hotspot, keyless entry, and a wireless charging pad. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and a rear-seat entertainment system. The steering wheel allowed limited control of the infotainment system, but it lacked the sophistication of other SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, five times faster than the previous version. It featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option on upper trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth pairing for two devices. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, and nine-speaker Alpine sound system were available. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, but some functions required extra effort. Overall, Uconnect 5 was impressive but not the easiest to use.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating due to a 23.7-percent rollover risk. It came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. Other standard features included adaptive cruise control and rear door alert. However, advanced driving assist technologies like ProPilot Assist were not available.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance starting from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist was expected later in the model year, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance. A parking assistance system and 360-degree camera were available. The Compass had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it retained a three-star rollover rating. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives, and the lane-keep assist was overly insistent at low speeds.