Compare the2022 Jeep CompassVS 2022 MINI Countryman

The Compass’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Countryman doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Compass are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Countryman doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Compass has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Countryman doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Active Braking optional in the Compass as “Superior.” The Countryman scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Countryman only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Compass’ blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Countryman doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Compass’ standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Countryman doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Compass and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Compass 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 21 times as many Jeep dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Compass’ warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Compass has a standard 160-amp alternator. The Countryman’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Jeep 4 places higher in reliability than MINI.

The Compass’ 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (177 vs. 134) and 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (172 vs. 162) than the Countryman’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

The Compass has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Countryman doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is optional on the Jeep Compass 4x4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Countryman.

The Compass stops shorter than the Countryman:

For better traction, the Compass 4x4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Countryman (235/45R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The Compass Trailhawk has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Countryman; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The Compass’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Countryman doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Compass Trailhawk’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Countryman’s (35.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Compass’ turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Countryman’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman (8.1 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the Countryman (8.6 vs. 6.5 inches).

The Compass has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Countryman (99.6 vs. 96.9).

The Compass has 1.4 inches more front legroom, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .7 inches more rear legroom and 10.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 47.6 cubic feet).

The Compass 4x4 Trailhawk w/Towing Package offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Countryman has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer-sway Damping on the Compass uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Countryman doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Compass offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Countryman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Compass has a standard rear variable intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Compass has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Compass and the Countryman offer available heated front seats. The Compass Trailhawk/Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Compass Limited/Trailhawk keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Compass (except Sport) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Countryman doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Compass is less expensive to operate than the Countryman because it costs $472 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Compass than the Countryman, including $98 less for a water pump, $161 less for a muffler, $24 less for front brake pads, $115 less for a starter, $90 less for fuel injection, $173 less for a timing belt/chain and $479 less for a power steering pump.

The Jeep Compass outsold the MINI Countryman by over eight to one during the 2021 model year.