2023 Toyota RAV4 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 last redesign in 2017. It resembled a smaller version of the Grand Cherokee, with our test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels in a dark sparkly finish that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass made a stronger case as a premium SUV, especially in the Trailhawk Elite specification. It boasted a new dashboard design with updated digital instrumentation and infotainment systems, soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and enhanced sound deadening, elevating its sophistication. The Trailhawk Elite was the priciest version, with the lineup starting from the base Sport trim and moving up through North, Trailhawk, Limited, RED, and Trailhawk Elite models, with prices ranging from $29,495 to $42,795, excluding destination charges.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4, in its gas-powered form, offered Canadian shoppers four trim levels, ranging from the RAV4 LE at just over $35,000 to the RAV4 Limited, which featured ventilated seats and a price tag exceeding $45,000. The design remained consistent with the 2019 introduction, particularly in the Trail trim, which stood out with its two-part face. The US equivalent of the Trail trim featured a more aggressively styled grille, blacked-out wheels, a faux skid plate, and black cladding around the wheel arches, giving it a rugged appearance. Inside, the Trail trim added orange accents, with seats sporting a stripe down the middle and contrast stitching. The interior also included a frameless rearview mirror, adding a touch of premium feel. The RAV4 offered a more truck-like nature compared to the car-like experience of the Toyota Venza, with various upholstery options and seating adjustments across trims.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Dubbed the "Tigershark" engine, it lacked the acceleration prowess of other SUVs. Weighing around 1,600 kilograms, the Compass could have benefited from a turbocharger, especially for mountain adventures. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, 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 automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard drivetrain engagement. The Compass featured Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud modes, and the Active Drive AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with a different AWD system, hill descent control, and increased ground clearance. Despite its nimbleness, the Compass exhibited bouncy handling on uneven pavement, and its driving dynamics needed improvement.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4, with its standard all-wheel drive, featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered unobjectionable performance rather than excitement. The RAV4 Trail trim came with 19-inch wheels and a suspension setup similar to other RAV4s. While not the quietest, the engine was less noisy than some competitors. The RAV4's AWD system included a Snow drive mode, and the vehicle's performance was more about reliability than thrill.

The 2022 Jeep Compass shared similar interior dimensions with the Renegade and Cherokee, offering 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 cabin boasted a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and improved perceived quality. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,693 litres with the back seat folded, surpassing the Cherokee in cargo capacity.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and provided 958 millimetres of headroom in the front and 1,001 mm in the rear with the moonroof. It offered 1,039 mm of front legroom and 960 mm in the second row. The RAV4's interior featured convenient storage options, including a shelf along the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space measured 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded, placing it ahead of some competitors but behind the Honda CR-V.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, with a 10.1-inch option available on upper trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and additional features included a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless charging pad. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, though it had some limitations in filtering search results.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard and a 10.5-inch screen for the Limited trim. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Toyota's Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Drive Connect services were included, with some requiring a subscription. The Limited trim featured an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system, while the Trail trim had a base six-speaker stereo. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version for the Limited trim.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring included from the Trailhawk grade. Highway Assist was expected to be added later, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance. The Compass had some issues with false positives from the forward-collision warning system. At the time of review, crash test results were not available, but the previous rollover resistance rating was three stars.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features, including lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The updated TSS 2.5 suite included Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The RAV4 performed well in IIHS evaluations, earning a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award.