Compare the2022 Jeep CompassVS 2021 Fiat 500X

The Compass’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 500X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Compass Trailhawk’s standard Hill-descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Hill-descent Control.

The Compass’ 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 500X and is only available on 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus.

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 500X 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 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 500X’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Compass has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus offers a rear cross-path warning system and it costs extra.

Both the Compass and the 500X 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Compass 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Compass for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500X.

There are almost 7 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Fiat 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 500X’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Compass has a standard 650-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Compass uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

For better traction, the Compass 4x4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500X (235/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

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 500X; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

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 500X doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Compass’ wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the 500X (103.8 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

The Compass’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the 500X’s (60.3% to 39.7%). This gives the Compass more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Compass Trailhawk’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the 500X’s (35.3 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Compass has a greater minimum ground clearance than the 500X (8.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Compass to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Compass Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the 500X (8.6 vs. 7.9 inches).

The Compass has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (99.6 vs. 91.7).

The Compass has .1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Compass has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (59.8 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

The Compass’ cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in every dimension:

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 500X doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

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 500X doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

When two different drivers share the Compass Limited/Trailhawk, the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The 500X doesn’t offer memory seats.

Both the Compass and the 500X 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 500X.

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 500X doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Compass’ optional (except Sport) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500X doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Compass has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Compass has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Jeep Compass (except Sport) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 500X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Compass’ optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The 500X doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Compass is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The 500X doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Compass is less expensive to operate than the 500X because it costs $181 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Compass than the 500X, including $122 less for a water pump, $290 less for fuel injection, $137 less for a fuel pump and $324 less for a power steering pump.

The Jeep Compass outsold the Fiat 500X by over 68 to one during the 2021 model year.