Compare the2022 Hyundai TucsonVS 2021 Jeep Compass

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Tucson are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Compass doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tucson’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Compass and is not available with Sport.

The Tucson Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Compass only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Tucson’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Compass doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tucson and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Compass’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Jeep covers the Compass. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Compass ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Compass’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Jeep doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Compass.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 11th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 13 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (187 vs. 180) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 175) than the Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Tucson gets better fuel mileage than the Compass:

For better stopping power the Tucson’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Compass:

For better traction, the Tucson has larger tires than the Compass (235/65R17 vs. 215/65R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Compass Sport.

The Tucson has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Compass’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Compass (108.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Compass.

For greater off-road capability the Tucson has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Compass (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Tucson to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Tucson has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Compass (108.2 vs. 99.6).

The Tucson has .9 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom, 4.7 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The Compass’ rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Compass with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Compass with its rear seat folded (80.3 vs. 59.8 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tucson’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Compass doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Tucson’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Compass doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Tucson’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Tucson Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Compass doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

On a hot day the Tucson’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Compass can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tucson has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Compass doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Tucson has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Compass only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

Both the Tucson and the Compass offer available heated front seats. The Tucson Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Compass.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Tucson (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Compass doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Compass doesn’t offer an automated parking system.