2022 Jeep Compass vs 2023 BMW X7

The 2022 Jeep Compass, despite receiving some 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 the High Altitude test vehicle featuring attractive 19-inch multi-spoke wheels that matched the paint, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Compass High Altitude impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats, enhancing its premium SUV appeal. The lineup offered various trims, starting from the base Sport to the top-tier High Altitude, with prices ranging from $26,020 to $35,085, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW X7 underwent a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a bolder design inspired by the BMW 7 Series sedan. The front end featured LED accent lights and a controversial oversized kidney grille, while the sides and rear remained largely unchanged. The interior received a refresh with a curved glass housing for the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen, along with a more elemental dashboard design. The X7's interior materials were of premium quality, with options for leather upholstery and various wood trims. Despite some criticism of the new front-end styling, the interior revisions added a modern and elegant touch.

The 2022 Jeep Compass was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 177 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. This "Tigershark" engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, lacked the power and refinement of its competitors. The transmission was often reluctant to downshift, resulting in a busy and unrewarding powertrain character. The Compass offered Jeep Selec-Terrain with Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, and the AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. Despite its 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the Compass struggled with driving dynamics, feeling bouncy on uneven pavement. The EPA estimated 25 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing averaged 23.8 mpg.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup started with the xDrive40i model, featuring a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, delivering 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, producing 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite its nearly 6,000-pound weight, the X7 handled well, with potent acceleration from the V8 and a composed ride. The X7 balanced performance and comfort, offering a slightly firmer ride compared to other luxury SUVs, but maintaining BMW's engaging driving experience.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned as a smaller compact SUV, offered enough space for four adults and their luggage. The High Altitude trim featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The redesigned dashboard housed the Uconnect 5 infotainment screen, and the center console provided increased storage. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2023 BMW X7, as a large SUV, provided ample space for passengers and cargo. The second-row seats accommodated taller passengers, while the third row offered adequate head- and legroom for average-sized adults. The X7 featured a split tailgate and a button to lower the suspension for easier loading. With the third row stowed, cargo capacity increased to 48.6 cubic feet, and folding the middle seats expanded it to 90.4 cubic feet. Front-seat passengers enjoyed generous storage options, including a large center console bin and door pockets.

The 2022 Jeep Compass featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.1-inch upgrade available. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with over-the-air updates. The Compass also offered a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. While the voice recognition system was fast and accurate, it struggled with certain requests, such as finding the nearest hospital.

The 2023 BMW X7 came with the latest iDrive infotainment system, which, despite its intuitive layout, had some drawbacks. Many physical buttons were replaced with touchscreen controls, making simple tasks like adjusting seat settings more complicated. Voice commands were available but took time to process and interrupted audio playback. While the system was effective for navigation and texting, it lacked the convenience of physical buttons for frequently used features.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring as standard. Additional features included Highway Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. However, the Compass experienced some false positives with its forward-collision warning system, and safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.

The 2023 BMW X7, while lacking crash test results from the NHTSA and IIHS, offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive headlights. The M60i trim added a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, and a highway driving assist feature. During testing, these features performed reliably, with no false alarms or unpredictable responses.