2022 Jeep Compass vs 2022 Lexus NX

The 2022 Jeep Compass received exterior styling updates and new wheel designs, but it retained much of its look from the 2017 redesign. The High Altitude test vehicle featured 19-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark sparkly finish, giving it an upscale appearance despite its compact size. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, luxury-grade leather seats, and added sound deadening, elevating its sophistication.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned and available in four model series (NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h, and NX 450h+), showcased a refined design with a signature spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate. The NX was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, offering more passenger and cargo space. The interior featured NuLuxe simulated leather, with real leather and open-pore wood trim in the Luxury model. The F Sport trim added sport-bolstered seats, a unique steering wheel, and dark interior trim, creating a sporty and minimalist look.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. Despite its "Tigershark" name, the engine lacked acceleration and was noisy at high revs. The nine-speed automatic transmission paired with the AWD system aimed to maximize fuel efficiency but resulted in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA estimate of 25 mpg. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass AWD handled light off-roading and snowstorms well, but the driving dynamics needed improvement.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and 39 mpg combined, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The F Sport trim added adaptive variable sports suspension and 20-inch wheels, providing a taut and lean driving experience. The NX 350 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and averaged 25 mpg in combined driving. The NX's handling impressed, but the turbocharged engine lacked the refinement of German rivals.

The 2022 Jeep Compass offered spacious seating for four adults and their luggage, with front seats providing eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The High Altitude trim included premium leather upholstery, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and a redesigned dashboard with a new Uconnect 5 infotainment screen. The Compass had 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, exceeding the cargo capacity of the more expensive Cherokee model.

The 2022 Lexus NX provided comfortable seating with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim featured better-bolstered seats and padded areas for leg bracing. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB ports. The NX's panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat, and the Luxury trim included a Thematic Ambient Illumination system. The NX offered 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than the previous version. It came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, with a 10.1-inch upgrade available. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and voice text-to-reply capability. The system also offered over-the-air updates, a navigation system, connected services, a WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The voice recognition system was fast and accurate, but the overall ease of use could be improved.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the Lexus Interface infotainment system with a 9.8-inch touchscreen display, upgradeable to a 14-inch screen. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural commands, and the NX offered a complimentary three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect. Additional technologies included a digital mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and a digital key capability.

The 2022 Jeep Compass came with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Highway Assist, which paired adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, was to be added later in the model year. The Compass also offered a parallel and perpendicular parking assistance system and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. However, the lane-keep assist was too insistent at lower speeds, and the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives.

The 2022 Lexus NX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which featured Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a safe stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Safe Exit Assist, and rear pedestrian detection. Premium trim added an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.