2022 Jeep Compass vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford design language with the existing Edge body. This refresh gave the Edge a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance enhancements and higher price.

Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite attempts to modernize it with features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with extra bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching. However, the interior updates felt somewhat awkward and less cohesive compared to the exterior.

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior updates and new wheel designs, but its overall look remained similar to its 2017 redesign, resembling a smaller Grand Cherokee. The High Altitude test vehicle featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and infotainment systems. Soft-touch surfaces, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening contributed to a more sophisticated cabin.

The High Altitude trim was the most expensive Compass model, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The test vehicle came with standard AWD and option packages that included every possible upgrade, resulting in an MSRP of $40,470. The interior upgrades, such as the Elite Interior Group and Driver Assist Group 1 packages, significantly enhanced the Compass's premium feel.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD configurations. The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST came with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though some enthusiasts were skeptical about the ST badge on an SUV. While the Porsche comparison might have been ambitious, the Edge ST offered a decent driving experience, especially considering its competitors did not emphasize performance. The Edge's towing capacities were respectable, with a maximum of 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD four-cylinder, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST. However, competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with a 2.4-liter 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 power to compete with other SUVs. A turbocharger would have significantly improved performance, especially for those planning mountain adventures. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models and a six-speed automatic for FWD models.

The transmission aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but often resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The automatic stop/start system was slow to re-engage, leading to hard engagement when accelerating from a stop. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass AWD handled light off-roading and snowstorms well. The Trailhawk trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with features like a low-range AWD system, hill descent control, skid plates, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance.

The Compass High Altitude's 19-inch wheels improved grip on pavement, and its compact dimensions made it nimble in various driving situations. However, the short-wheelbase design led to a bouncy ride on uneven pavement, and the suspension struggled with speed bumps. The Compass was quieter than before, but its driving dynamics still needed improvement.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims.

The Edge's rotary shift knob was designed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited its effectiveness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its awkward location made it difficult to access and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2022 Jeep Compass shared similar interior dimensions with the Renegade and Cherokee, despite being positioned for different segments. The Compass was spacious enough for four adults and their luggage but lacked extra room for additional items. The High Altitude trim's upgrades made it more convincing as a premium SUV.

The test vehicle's front seats offered eight-way power adjustment with heating and ventilation, and the Compass included a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. The Elite Interior Group option package added premium leather upholstery and light-gray contrast stitching. Occupants enjoyed a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned, soft-touch dashboard. The new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen was integrated into the dash, and the primary controls were reworked for 2022. The new center console offered twice the storage of the previous model, but the bin beneath the armrest remained small.

The available hands-free power liftgate provided access to the cargo area, which could hold 27.2 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. These numbers exceeded the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous generation. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Uconnect 5 supported the pairing of two devices to Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, an Amazon Alexa skill, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. Over-the-air updates kept the system current.

The Compass offered a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, Alexa Built-In, and a wireless device charging pad. Buyers could upgrade to a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. 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 was impressive but not as user-friendly as the best technology in the industry.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings depending on the trim level. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests.

Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go and lane centering) and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base Edge SE trim.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features for 2022, with standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. A parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system were also available.

During testing, the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems mostly worked as advertised, though the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds, and the engine struggled with adaptive cruise control. The forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives, and the Jeep braked too early and hard in some situations.

As of this review, neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had published safety ratings for the updated 2022 Compass. The NHTSA carried over the previous three-star rollover resistance rating, and Jeep needed to improve headlight performance based on the 2021 Compass' IIHS scores.