2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2021 Nissan Rogue underwent a complete redesign, presenting a more muscular and imposing presence. Its squared-off nose featured a deeper interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille design, flanked by narrow, angled LED headlamps and separate LED daytime running lights. Functional forward air vents and active grille shutters contributed to a lower coefficient of drag, despite the SUV's boxier proportions. The exterior colour palette was simplified to a few core colours, with additional two-tone options available on the Platinum grade. Inside, seating surfaces varied from cloth to semi-aniline quilted Nappa leather, depending on the trim, with the Platinum model offering the most luxurious interior.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass retained much of its previous design, resembling a smaller Grand Cherokee. The exterior updates included new wheel designs, with our test vehicle featuring 19-inch multi-spoke wheels in a dark sparkly finish. 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 cabin improvements, including added sound deadening, elevated the Compass's sophistication, making it more convincing as a premium SUV. The Trailhawk Elite was the most expensive version, with a lineup starting from the base Sport trim and prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795, excluding destination charges.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder direct-injected engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This engine improved performance and fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor. The Rogue's curb weight ranged from 1,536 kg for the front-wheel-drive S grade to 1,653 kg for the all-wheel-drive Platinum model. Despite the continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Rogue's handling was significantly better than the previous generation, with a 27% improvement in torsional rigidity and a revamped multi-link rear suspension. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with figures of 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.0 L/100 km on the highway for the front-wheel-drive configuration.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. Known as the “Tigershark” engine, it lacked the power of a turbocharged engine, which would have been beneficial for mountain adventures. The Compass's nine-speed automatic transmission was paired with the engine, except for front-wheel-drive models, which had a six-speed automatic. The transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass Trailhawk Elite averaged 9.9 L/100 km in testing, slightly above the expected 9.5 L/100 km. The Compass's off-road capabilities were enhanced with Jeep Selec-Terrain and Active Drive AWD systems, making it suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered functional updates across all price points, including a quieter cabin and a new shift-by-wire system that added storage space. The second-row doors opened to 85 degrees, improving access, and headroom was increased. Standard features included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and exterior mirrors. The SV trim added a 360-degree Around View Monitor, remote start, and a panoramic sunroof. The Platinum grade included a redesigned Divide and Hide cargo system, offering 1,028 litres of cargo space with the second row upright and 2,064 litres with them folded.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned among smaller compact SUVs, provided enough space for four adults and their luggage. The Trailhawk Elite specification offered 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard featured a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and the centre console offered increased storage. The Compass's cargo area provided 770 litres of space behind the rear seat and 1,693 litres with the back seat folded, exceeding the capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SV grade added an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot and additional USB ports. The Platinum grade featured a 9-inch screen, wireless phone charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay. It also included a 10.8-inch head-up display and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. However, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster had readability issues due to low contrast.

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. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The system allowed for two Bluetooth connections and offered over-the-air updates. Additional features included a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with specific requests.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured the Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. The SV model added ProPILOT Assist, a hands-on highway driving assist feature. The Rogue received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with improvements made to later models.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring included from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist was expected later in the model year. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked well, though the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. The NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating, and Jeep needed to improve headlight performance based on the 2021 Compass's IIHS scores.