2023 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from conservative styling to a more modern SUV-focused lineup. Historically, Buick's designs were characterized by softer lines and functional interiors, appealing to an older demographic prioritizing comfort over cutting-edge design. However, the Enclave marked a shift, with its 2018 redesign pushing it further upmarket. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh, featuring exterior enhancements like a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs, particularly in the Avenir trim. Inside, the Enclave boasted upgraded materials, a restyled centre console, and available heated and cooled seats, enhancing its appeal as a near-luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a refined design ethos, moving away from Jeep's rugged roots. The Compass shared its design language with larger Jeep models, offering a more upscale look. The 2023 model introduced new wheel designs for the Sport, North, and Trailhawk trims, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Compass provided a comfortable cabin with two-tone black and gray interiors accented by caramel highlights. The Limited trim, in particular, offered a luxurious feel with leather seats and sophisticated digital displays. However, the Compass's pricing, especially in the Limited trim, raised questions about its value proposition compared to larger compact crossovers or small luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a straightforward powertrain with a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. All Enclave trims in Canada came standard with all-wheel drive, offering a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave was renowned for its quiet and smooth ride, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, providing good acceleration and a surprisingly engaging engine sound.

The 2023 Jeep Compass, on the other hand, introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep's Active Drive AWD system, transformed the Compass's driving experience. The turbo engine's broad torque range improved performance, although it wasn't as powerful as some might expect. The Compass offered various driving modes, including Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud, with the Trailhawk trim adding a Rock mode and enhanced off-road capabilities. While the Compass's new powertrain addressed previous shortcomings, its AWD system was sometimes slow to engage, and the SUV's tall, narrow design contributed to noticeable body motions on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in interior space and comfort, offering easy ingress and egress, excellent visibility, and standard power-adjustable heated front seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row, which could comfortably seat adults. The Enclave also provided generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, expandable to 2,758 litres with all seats folded. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, although concerns about potential spills affecting the electronic shifter components were noted.

The 2023 Jeep Compass offered a comfortable interior for four adults, despite its narrow design. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone climate control. Higher trims offered leather seats, power-adjustable driver's seats, and heated front seats. The Compass's rear seat provided adequate space for adults, with generous foot room and supportive seat cushions. Interior storage was limited, with a small centre armrest bin and a wireless charging pad occupying potential storage space. The Compass offered competitive cargo space, with 770 litres behind the rear seat, expandable to 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded. Some models featured a foot-activated power liftgate for added convenience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision, enhancing the Enclave's tech offerings.

The 2023 Jeep Compass came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Uconnect 5 technology, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM services. Depending on the trim, the Compass offered a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, navigation, and a nine-speaker Alpine audio system. The Alexa Built-in digital assistant provided voice control for various functions, including cabin temperature adjustments. The Compass also featured a parking assist system and a surround-view camera, although the latter was more useful given the Compass's compact size.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant strides in safety, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard across all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Premium trims added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder as standard features. Advanced driving assistance systems included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Compass's lane-keeping inputs were sometimes intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2023 Compass, while the IIHS had incomplete results, with the Compass previously qualifying for a Top Safety Pick rating.