2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid initially presented a bold and distinctive design, characterized by its blunt and bulbous nose, which gave it an aggressive appearance. Over time, however, this design became more familiar and less striking. The SUV's styling was further accentuated by black windshield pillars that created a floating roof effect, and swollen haunches that attempted to balance the overall look. Despite the presence of 20-inch alloy wheels, the exaggerated quarter panels seemed to overwhelm the design. Inside, the Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim offered a luxurious interior with soft leather and a two-tone colour scheme, although the dashboard's asymmetrical design and glossy black detailing could suffer from reflections. The controls were well-organized, but the mix of illumination colours in the gauges created a busy appearance.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass maintained a familiar design reminiscent of a shrunken Grand Cherokee, despite receiving exterior updates and new wheel designs. The test vehicle featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish, contributing to its upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass Trailhawk Elite trim impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The cabin exuded sophistication with soft-touch surfaces and added sound deadening. The Trailhawk Elite was the most expensive version, offering a premium feel with features like a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The redesigned dashboard integrated the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, enhancing the overall quality and sophistication of the interior.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid underwent a significant transformation in its powertrain, moving from a V6 engine to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. This change resulted in improved fuel efficiency, with a combined rating of 6.7 L/100 km, compared to the previous generation's 8.3 L/100 km. However, the total output decreased to 243 horsepower from the previous 306 hp. The hybrid system used an "E-CVT" to mimic an automatic transmission. While the Highlander Hybrid excelled in fuel efficiency, it lacked excitement in driving dynamics. The power was adequate for climbing hills and reaching freeway speeds, but the engine sounded strained during hard acceleration. The steering felt lifeless, and the ride exhibited unwanted body movement. Despite these drawbacks, the regenerative brakes operated smoothly, and the SUV handled well on smooth roads.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder "Tigershark" engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. While the engine lacked the power of a turbocharger, it was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, except for front-wheel-drive models with a six-speed automatic. The transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage the engine, leading to hard engagement during acceleration. The Compass Trailhawk Elite featured Jeep Selec-Terrain with various driving modes and an Active Drive AWD system. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Compass felt bouncy on uneven pavement, and the drivetrain was the least appealing aspect of the vehicle.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim offered comfortable accommodations for the driver and front passenger, with 10-way power seat adjustment for the driver and heated and ventilated front seats. The test vehicle featured a no-cost bench seat option, increasing seating capacity to eight. However, the Highlander felt narrow, and the second-row bench seat was uncomfortable for three adults. The third-row seat lacked comfort and support, with limited legroom and headroom. Cargo space measured 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,370 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,387 litres. Storage was adequate but not as generous as the previous generation, and the wireless smartphone charger blocked access to the storage area.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered spacious seating for four adults and their luggage, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heating, and ventilation. The Trailhawk Elite trim featured a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned dashboard with a high-mounted Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The new centre console provided increased storage, although the bin beneath the armrest remained small. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded. These numbers exceeded those of the more expensive Cherokee model. The available hands-free power liftgate added convenience to accessing the cargo area.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came equipped with a comprehensive infotainment system, including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Platinum trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a navigation system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large stereo volume and tuning knobs, and main-menu shortcut buttons for quick access. The voice recognition system worked well, although it did not control the climate settings. The JBL sound system offered powerful audio but required adjustments for optimal sound quality. Additional features included Driver Easy Speak technology and a video rearview mirror for improved visibility.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was significantly faster and more responsive than its predecessor. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and satellite radio. It also offered over-the-air updates, a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a wireless device charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, allowing for cabin temperature adjustments by voice. However, it struggled with specific requests, such as finding the nearest hospital. Overall, Uconnect 5 impressed with its capabilities, although it wasn't as intuitive as the best systems in the industry.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure with steering assist. The system added intersection support and emergency steering assistance for 2021. A blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Canadian models, and the Platinum trim included a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control occasionally felt uneven, and the lane-centring assistance was overly sensitive. The Highlander received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance systems available from the Trailhawk grade. The Compass was set to receive Highway Assist later in the model year, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance. A parking assistance system and 360-degree camera system were also available. During testing, the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked as expected, although the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally produced false positives. As of the review, crash test results for the 2022 Compass were not available, but the NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating.