Compare the2022 Audi Q3VS 2022 Jeep Compass

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/06

Both the Q3 and Compass have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Compass’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi Q3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Compass doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Q3 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Compass doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q3. But it costs extra on the Compass.

Both the Q3 and the Compass have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q3 is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Q3	Compass
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	39%	41%
Neck Stress	343 lbs.	445 lbs.
Neck Compression	35 lbs.	38 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	235/363 lbs.	326/489 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	36%
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	235 lbs.
Neck Compression	83 lbs.	92 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	261/249 lbs.	299/387 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q3 is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Q3	Compass
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	102
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	95 G’s	134 G’s
Hip Force	333 lbs.	335 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	632 lbs.	928 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	485 lbs.	663 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Q3, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 3.8% to 4.2% less likely to roll over than the Compass, which received a three-star rating.

Warranty

The Q3 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Compass’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Compass’ (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Audi Q3’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Compass’ engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Q3 has a standard 680-amp battery. The Compass’ 650-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Q3 second among small premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Compass isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 20th in reliability. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 5 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Q3 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (184 vs. 177) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 172) than the Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Q3 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (228 vs. 177) and 86 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 172) than the Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q3 45 TFSI is faster than the Jeep Compass:

	Q3	Compass
Zero to 60 MPH	8.5 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.4 MPH	76.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q3 40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the Compass 4x4 (23 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

The Q3 has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q3 higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Compass (6). This means the Q3 produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Compass every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Compass:

	Q3	Compass
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.95 inches
Opt Rear Rotors	12.2 inches

The Q3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Compass are solid, not vented.

The Q3 stops much shorter than the Compass:

	Q3	Compass
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q3 has larger standard tires than the Compass (235/55R18 vs. 215/65R16). The Q3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Compass (255/45R19 vs. 235/45R19).

The Q3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Compass Sport’s standard 65 series tires. The Q3’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Compass 4x4’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q3 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Compass Sport. The Q3’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Compass 4x4.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q3’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Compass (105.5 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q3 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Compass.

The Q3 40 TFSI Premium Plus handles at .79 G’s, while the Compass Trailhawk pulls only .73 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q3 40 TFSI Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

Passenger Space

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q3’s rear seats recline. The Compass’ rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Q3 is 1.9 inches lower than the Compass (17.5” vs. 19.4”). The Q3’s rear step up height is 2.7 inches lower than the Compass’ (18” vs. 20.7”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q3 easier. The Q3’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

The Q3’s cargo area is larger than the Compass’ in almost every dimension:

	Q3	Compass
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34”/65”	32.4”/65.7”
Max Width	54”	53.8”
Min Width	39”	38.1”
Height	28”	29.6”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Q3. The Compass doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Q3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Q3 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Compass uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Q3’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Compass’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Q3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower 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 Q3 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 Q3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Compass’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q3’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Compass’ headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

The Q3 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Compass has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited.

The Q3’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Compass offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Q3 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Compass and isn’t available on the Compass Sport.

The Q3’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Compass Sport doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q3 is less expensive to operate than the Compass because typical repairs cost less on the Q3 than the Compass, including $86 less for a muffler and $126 less for a fuel pump.