2022 Porsche Macan vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, retained much of its familiar look since its 2017 redesign. It resembled a smaller version of the Grand Cherokee, with our test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass Trailhawk Elite impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, enhancing its premium SUV appeal. The lineup offered various trims, with prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced in 2015, maintained its original design with regular updates. The 2022 model received a styling refresh, larger standard wheels, and a new centre console with haptic touch controls. The Macan S test vehicle, priced at $73,400 in Canada, featured Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, exuding a sporty and athletic look. Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsche models, with a flat dashboard and a centre console housing most controls. The cabin, adorned with red leather and metallic accents, offered a luxurious and purposeful feel.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked acceleration power, and a turbocharger would have improved its performance, especially at higher altitudes. The nine-speed automatic transmission, paired with the 4WD system, aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass Trailhawk Elite, with its off-road capabilities, offered a ground clearance of 21.9 cm, making it suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms. However, the driving dynamics needed improvement, with a bouncy ride and excessive lateral motion on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of engines, with the Macan S featuring a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6, delivering 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans had a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The Macan S excelled in performance, with precise handling and a responsive steering system. The optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes enhanced its driving dynamics, providing unyielding grip and stability on challenging roads. The Macan S achieved a fuel consumption of 13.0 L/100 km, close to the official rating of 12.2 L/100 km.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned as a smaller compact SUV, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The Trailhawk Elite trim featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard, with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, improved perceived quality and sophistication. The Compass provided 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 1,693 litres with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, despite its sporty nature, offered comfort for the driver and front-seat passenger. The Macan S test vehicle had optional 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, but the cushion and backrest were comfortable. The redesigned centre console with haptic touch controls provided a clean and advanced look, though it required looking away from the road to use. Cargo space measured 488 litres behind the back seat, expandable to 1,503 litres with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, five times faster than its predecessor. It offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.1-inch option on upper trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it struggled with specific requests.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, known as Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. The standard 10-speaker sound system could be upgraded to a Bose or Burmester audio system. The user experience was intuitive, though the voice recognition system was less reliable than competitors. The Macan lacked Android Auto support, but once configured, the need for interaction with the infotainment system was minimal.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring available from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist was expected later in the model year. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems worked as advertised, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. The NHTSA rollover resistance rating was three stars, and headlight performance needed improvement.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included lane-departure warning and a reversing camera as standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The technologies performed as expected, though the Macan lacked advanced driving assistance tech. The Park Assist system, with surround-view camera and steering assistance, was available. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS published safety ratings for the Macan.