Jeep doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing: No 2022 models have earned a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus designation, and the Grand Cherokee was the last Jeep to receive the award in 2019. More recently, the 2022 Wrangler Unlimited failed to secure an award after it tipped over in an IIHS crash test. The 2022 Jeep Compass breaks the trend, landing the agency’s second-highest Top Safety Pick rating. The compact SUV narrowly missed the higher Plus designation, however, due to marginally rated base headlights.
In order to be named a Top Safety Pick, the 2022 Compass earned a good score in six key crash tests: driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraints tests.
Must-Have Safety Tech
2022 Jeep Compass | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
Crash tests aren’t the only criteria to qualify for an award — vehicles must also have standard safety technology to prevent a crash from occurring in the first place. Top Safety Pick winners must offer an available front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating in vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation. The Compass scored a superior rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle evaluation and an advanced rating in the vehicle-to-pedestrian test.
All trims of the 2022 Compass come with standard forward collision warning; automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection; lane departure warning with lane keep assist; and blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.
Base Headlights Aren’t a Plus
2022 Jeep Compass | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
The Compass’ base headlights disqualified it from the highest IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award. While the SUV’s available LED headlights earned a good rating and its base LEDs were acceptable when coupled with high-beam assist, Jeep only added the high-beam assist in May. Base headlights without the feature earn a marginal rating and fall short for the Plus designation.
Other Safety Considerations
IIHS recently developed an updated side-impact test using a heavier barrier traveling at a higher speed to simulate the impact of a large SUV or pickup truck. In the updated evaluation, the 2022 Compass earned only a marginal rating. Although it does not impact the 2022 result, the test will be implemented in the coming year. According to IIHS, vehicles with a marginal or poor rating demonstrate structural problems and major injuries to test dummies. IIHS says the new criteria will be used for Top Pick awards in 2023.
2022 Jeep Compass | Cars.com photo by Jennifer Geiger
In addition to the standard safety features required to qualify for an award, the Compass adds driver-assist technology including adaptive cruise control, park assist and a 360-degree camera system as an option on mid-level trims; these features come standard on top trims. The 2022 Compass also performed well in Cars.com’s Car Seat Check, earning high marks across most categories.
Keyword: 2022 Jeep Compass Scores IIHS Top Safety Pick Award