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| 65.9 | Cargo Volume (cu.ft) | 59.8 |
| 184 | Torque (lb-ft) | 172 |
| 31** | Fuel Economy (mpg combined) | 25 |
The battle of compact crossovers continues to heat up, as the 2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2022 Jeep Compass go head-to-head in our comparison to see which one is the better vehicle in the small SUV segment. The 2022 Taos is a relatively new nameplate in the crossover space, whereas the Jeep Compass has been battling to maintain its position in the market against an onslaught of worthy competitors for many years. So how do these two fresh model years stack up against one another?
Well, in the case of the Volkswagen Taos, you have three different trims to select from. The base S trim gives you all your standard features out of the gate, while the SE trims offer a bit more convenience features, and the SEL raises the standards on compact luxury. The Jeep Compass, meanwhile, is available across six trims, scaling features and capabilities across the Sport, Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude.
The highlight for many crossover SUVs these days isn't just about their size and performance capabilities; it's what they offer you inside that counts just as much as what they offer under the hood. For the Taos and Compass, both vehicles provide a generous smorgasbord of technology that helps aid drivers in safety, infotainment, and handling. But which one offers the better selection of tech? Well, it's easy to say the Taos, but let's explain why.
The Taos comes with a lot of expected technology, from the availability of adaptive cruise to wireless smartphone charging. Both push-button and remote start ensure that the Taos is more than up to date for the expectations from modern SUV shoppers. The added safety features in the form of pedestrian monitoring, park distance control, and the intelligent crash response system also mean you're in safe hands. The Taos comes with the standard electronic stability control and anti-slip regulation, so wet roads and slippery surfaces don't pose a threat to the way the Taos handles.
On the infotainment front, Volkswagen made sure to stockpile all the latest features into the compact SUV, starting with the Composition Media touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Multiple USB ports, as well as SiriusXM Satellite Radio availability, help round out many of the Taos' infotainment capabilities. But some other added features such as dynamic road-sign display and the Volkswagen Car-Net connectivity so you can remotely access your Taos really help add value to the SUV. Also, the switch to an all-digital cluster with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit helps the crossover really embrace today's tech-driven car culture.
The Jeep Compass also has a lot of tech-heavy features. This includes the Uconnect 5 infotainment suite with available navigation. Much like the Taos, smart device integration comes standard across all trim variations and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth wireless support and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot connectivity. USB ports are also standard, along with telematics and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
The Jeep Compass also comes with Alexa support, travel and traffic services, as well as all the other standard driving aids you might expect from a new generation crossover SUV. Safety and assist features such as roll-mitigation, electronic stability control, and blind-spot warnings with cross-path detection are standard across every trim. Parking assistance, thanks to ParkSense, and lane management systems are also present. However, while the Compass does match the Taos with traffic sign recognition and remote entry, the added bonus of the full digital driver cluster with Volkswagen Car-Net support for remote connectivity to the vehicle via smart device integration helps bring the Taos to the next level for those willing to embrace the tech-savvy aspects of the SUV.
One important aspect of a compact crossover SUV is its ability to offer the functionality of a larger utility vehicle without being a gas-guzzler like a larger utility vehicle. This has been a challenging hurdle for many automakers to overcome for non-hybrid vehicles. However, the Volkswagen Taos has managed to suffice quite well when it comes to fuel economy, significantly outperforming the Jeep Compass.
In the case of the Jeep Compass, it tops out at 22 miles per gallon in the city and up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway. Unfortunately, every trim after the Latitude has a slightly lower highway fuel economy rating of just 30 miles per gallon. So if you were hoping to get the most mileage out of the Compass as possible on the highway with a higher trim, just the opposite is true.
For the Taos, it has a consistent fuel economy across every trim thanks to the 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, which maintains 28 miles per gallon in the city and up to 36 miles per gallon on the highway. The best part is that no matter how you configure the Taos, you still hit those EPA estimates. So scaling up to the SEL trim doesn't deny you the ability to achieve 36 miles per gallon on the highway. This makes for an excellent reason to target the Taos, especially given that the starting MSRP is a lot lower than the Jeep Compass as well. That and the better fuel economy enable a lot of savings from the 2022 Volkswagen Taos.
One of the reasons most people opt for crossover SUVs over typical sedans has a lot to do with space. The interior space of an SUV is just a lot roomier than a compact or midsize sedan. Even in the subcompact or compact SUV space, they still provide more room than what you typically get in a sedan. But when you're comparing two SUVs from the same segment against each other, it's a matter of which vehicle offers you more interior room, carrying capacity, and cargo space.
For the 2022 Jeep Compass, you can sit up to five people across two rows. This includes two captain chairs up front and a 60/40-split bench in the second row, which you can also fold down. You have an interior cargo volume of 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row, enough to store plenty of gear, material, items, and luggage. If you need additional space, you have access to 59.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity with the second row folded.
The Jeep Compass also comes with a lot of the standard interior features, including available luxury items, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a satin-chrome Wizard Black interior accent, and power-adjustable seats with lumbar support. Premium leather seat trimming is also available for those who want it across the various trims.
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos not only manages to give the Jeep Compass a good run for its money in the interior features department, but actually manages to surpass it when it comes to interior capacity. The Taos has 27.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second row. So you have all the space that the Compass has, plus a little bit of extra room for storage. While it might not seem significant, in the case of the Taos and Compass, it's the difference between being able to squeeze a notebook between the groceries in the back of the vehicle versus having to carry it in your lap.
The Taos also manages to beat out the Compass in the maximum cargo category. It features 65.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the second-row seat folded down. So while both the Compass and Taos seat up to five people, you gain more standard cargo capacity behind the second row and even more cargo capacity with the 60/40-split second-row folded, giving a clear edge to the Taos.
Topping off the 2022 Volkswagen Taos' interior features are available CloudTex trimming, front armrest storage compartments, and an optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob with matching leather seats. Much like the Compass, you also have access to a power-driver seat with lumbar support, as well as a manually adjustable front passenger seat. So not only do you have access to many of the same interior comfort and convenience features, but the extra space at a lower cost is certainly a huge win in favor of the showdown between the 2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2022 Jeep Compass.
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*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.