Jeep Compass review

If you’re looking for an SUV that’s hardy enough to withstand the rigours of family life, who better to build it than a company that made its very name from four-wheel-drive cars that were tough enough to take to war? Yes, now entering its third generation, the Jeep Compass promises to be just the right kind of general-purpose vehicle to haul your little troopers off to boot camp. Or, perhaps, school. 

That all said, while it shares showroom space with the star spangled Jeep Wrangler, which devours terrain like nervous dates do breath mints, the Compass is not really intended for conquering wild open frontiers. It may dress the outdoorsy part, with its purposeful-looking bumper shields and bodyside cladding, but – with front-wheel drive only – the first versions to be launched are more at home on urban tarmac than they would be in isolated tundra.

In due course, the Compass range will extend with plug-in hybrid power. For now, there’s a choice of mild hybrid petrol or full electric power (in the Compass Electric), and this review tackles both versions. The Compass Electric line-up will, itself, expand to offer two battery sizes and front or four-wheel drive to match the offerings of its rivals.

Speaking of which, the Compass is similar in size to the Kia Sportage (our current favourite family SUV), slightly smaller than the super-practical Skoda Kodiaq and bigger than the keenly priced Skoda Karoq, all of which count among its rivals, along with the Citroën C5 Aircross, Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland. The Compass Electric, meanwhile, faces adversaries as diverse as the Kia EV3, Renault Scenic, Skoda Elroq and Smart #1, as well as the Vauxhall Grandland Electric. 

Read on to find out how the Jeep Compass and Compass Electric rank against the best family SUVs and electric SUVs.

How fast is it and which engine is best?

Strip off the Compass’s combat fatigues and you’ll find the same underpinnings as are used by the smart-casual Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland. All three models share a 1.2-litre 143bhp mild-hybrid petrol engine, while the Peugeot e-3008 and Vauxhall Grandland Electric employ the same 213bhp electric motor as the Jeep Compass Electric.

The petrol-engined car is front-wheel-drive only, but a 192bhp 4XE plug-in hybrid is in the works, combining the same petrol engine with an electric motor that powers the rear wheels. A 370bhp four-wheel-drive dual-motor electric version is in the pipeline, too.

Much of the time, the 1.2-litre petrol engine feels more potent than its modest size and power output suggests. Around town, the mild hybrid system serves up a small but welcome electric boost that helps when pulling away, further assisted by a smooth and prompt-shifting automatic gearbox. There’s enough power to join fast-flowing motorways with confidence, too. Only on extended gradients does the engine feel a bit breathless, and the petrol-engined Kia Sportage has a bit more overtaking urge.

The Compass electric is a different kettle of fish, with much more power, all delivered instantly, and this helps to make it more relaxing to drive than the already calming petrol engined car. Its acceleration is similar to that of the entry-level Skoda Elroq, but there are much quicker versions of that rival – a more powerful twin-motor Compass will arrive later.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The Compass is a substantial, weighty car, but its handling is tidy. The steering feels meaty enough to make you feel involved in the process of driving, and while it’s not razor sharp, it’s accurate enough that you can track around corners instinctively. There is a little more body lean than in the Vauxhall Grandland, but not so much that the car feels unstable. There’s little reward for pushing on, though; the Kia Sportage and Skoda Elroq are both more fun to drive. 

The Compass impresses more for its ride comfort than it does for its handling. On the 18in wheels that come standard with First Edition petrol cars, all feels calm over the kind of shallow road surface scars that cause the Vauxhall Grandland to fidget at all speeds, and things remain calm on the motorway – although the Sportage and Skoda Elroq are more comfortable still.

The Compass’s more comfortable ride compared with the closely-related Grandland comes courtesy of its different suspension settings, which were conceived – Jeep being Jeep – with off-road agility in mind. That being so, the Compass sits a little higher from the road than the Grandland or e-3008, plus its front and rear bumpers are designed in such a way that it can climb over modest obstacles. The front-wheel drive Compass and Compass Electric models we’ve tried coped well with a fairly steep, winding dirt track with deep ruts; a Kia Sportage might have struggled.

Your kids may be disappointed if the route to their school is blocked by a burst pipe, too; the Compass can wade through up to 408mm of standing water (470mm for the Compass Electric). Every model has a Selec-Terrain feature, with Snow and Sand/Mud modes that tailor power delivery to cope with those conditions. There’s also a Sport mode that maximises acceleration.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

It says a lot about the petrol-engined Compass that it’s not dramatically noisier to travel in than the Compass Electric. In the former, putting your foot down hard is met with a distinctive thrum from the three-cylinder engine, but one that’s more characterful than it is annoying, and it’s never unpleasantly loud. There is a slightly granular feeling through the pedals (more of a pulsing than a vibration) that reminds you of the mechanical activity going on in front of you, but it’s not uncomfortable.

Of course, the Compass Electric makes no such noise; there’s a quiet whine from the electric motor when pulling away, but that’s quickly drowned out by the tyre noise, which is modest in itself even at motorway speeds. In both cars, there’s a minor rustling at speed as wind passes the tops of the doors.

The fact that both versions feel very similar under braking is a compliment to the electric model’s regenerative braking system, which recovers energy that would be lost under deceleration and turns it into electricity to feed back into the battery. Many such systems bring an unnatural feel to the brake pedal, but in the Compass you don’t feel the technology handing over to the conventional brakes, and that makes it easy to pull up smoothly to a halt.

The Compass Electric has a one-pedal driving mode in too which you can drive using the accelerator alone, with the regenerative braking looking after all the slowing down when you lift off the accelerator. It’s very effective at urban speeds, but we prefer the reassurance of actively braking with the left-hand pedal when making progress on country roads.

“The petrol engine acts as if it likes to be worked hard, and the three-cylinder engine note is quite pleasing. It does eventually run out of breath, though.” – Chris Haining, Subeditor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Inside, you’ll not find as many plush surfaces as in the 3008 (and, to a lesser extent, the Grandland); soft-touch surfaces are limited to the higher regions of the dashboard and doors and the lid of the centre console. Passesngers in the rear won’t find any at all. The Kia Sportage is noticeably more plush inside.

However, while the surfaces are nothing special in the Compass, its construction feels perfectly sturdy. In fact, when you factor in the wetsuit-like upholstery, the Compass feels well equipped to withstand the spilled squash, chocolatey fingers and kicking feet of family life. 

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

While its relatives raise you a fair distance from the ground, the Compass’s slightly higher ground clearance places you that bit higher up, so you get a great view out and get to look down slightly on Kia Sportage owners. Rearward and over-the-shoulder visibility is decent by family SUV standards, thanks to the big side windows. Front and rear parking sensors are standard, and a 360-degree camera is optional as part of the Convenience Pack First Edition. Bright LED Matrix headlights are standard on First Edition cars. 

The seat itself is comfortably sculpted and (for initial First Edition cars at least) electrically adjustable every which way, including for lumbar support. You sit nicely in line with the steering wheel and pedals, the former of which has plenty of height and reach adjustment for tall and shorter folk alike.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The slim 10.25in digital display screen behind the steering wheel is clear enough, but doesn’t offer as many layout options as those of the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage.

Right next to the driver’s display, every Compass has a 16in infotainment screen with clear, attractive icons that are big enough not to be too fiddly. The screen is pleasingly responsive to touches but the menus aren’t structured as clearly as they are in a Tucson or a Sportage. wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard so you can use your preferred smartphone navigation app in preference to the car’s sat-nav; we found this rather laggy in operation, making it all too easy to take a wrong turn.

Two levels of voice control are possible; the native Jeep system (press the steering wheel button and say “Hey Jeep”), and Google Assistant (hold the button for longer and say “Hey Google”). The infotainment software (as well as that for other on-board systems) is kept current via Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.

A row of physical buttons below the infotainment screen provides direct access to certain infotainment menus as well as key climate control functions, plus the outer extremes of the infotainment screen permanently display the two climate control zones, so temperature adjustment is easy. Discrete physical climate control knobs would be more convenient still, though.

First Edition-spec cars benefit from a wireless phone-charging tray and an upgraded sound system by Focal, which sounds clear and punchy.

“The sat-nav in our test car could be slow to respond, so using a smartphone nav app via the wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is worthwhile” – Chris Haining, subeditor

How much space does it have for people?

Among human specimens, you’d have to be quite extreme in proportions before you had any problem fitting in the front of the Compass. A six-footer with broad shoulders runs no risk of feeling hemmed in, and there’s enough seat adjustment for smaller folk to feel at home, too. Basketball players and rugby prop forwards are well served for headroom, even in cars with the panoramic glass sunroof.

The rear seats, too, are very accommodating for people of all sizes, helped by there being 55mm more leg room than in the outgoing car. Our lanky front-seat occupants would happily be able to sit behind themselves, and head room is in no shorter supply than it is in the front. The Kia Sportage is even better in both regards, though.

Adding a third rear passenger between the outer pair does make things cosy, but at least the centre occupant’s feet have only a small floor hump to negotiate, so they’ll not feel too cramped. 

There’s lots of interior storage opportunities; the door pockets will easily take a 1.0-litre water bottle, and there are deep cubbies in the centre console, a sizeable glovebox and a large open tray built into the top of the dashboard. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

The petrol and electric versions of the Compass each have a 550-litre boot that matches the Vauxhall Grandland, making it a similar size to those of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, but a lot smaller than that of the Skoda Kodiaq. It’s a very usable, square shape, though, and the opening is wide, tall and uncluttered, so it shouldn’t be too much of a chore to slide in ungainly cargoes like bicycles or pushchairs. 

The rear seatback splits and folds in a flexible 40/20/40 arrangement, but the catches to release them aren’t the easiest to reach from the boot opening. When the seats are folded down, an adjustable boot floor enables a flat load bay from the door opening to the front seatbacks. First Edition brings a hands-free powered tailgate. 

The rear seats don’t slide to and fro to balance interior room against boot space, though; that’s a facility you get in the Ford Kuga and Renault Austral, and the  the Skoda Karoq’s Varioflex option is even better, allowing you to remove the rear seats altogether. 

“At six-foot five, I found that I could comfortably sit behind a six-foot tall driver, and I didn’t have to crouch for head room.” – Chris Haining, Subditor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The price is practical, too. Of the hybrids, First Edition is priced head-to-head with the entry-level Grandland and substantially undercuts the 3008, while being pretty generously equipped. On top of the infotainment, visibility and interior features already mentioned, you get heated seats, a heated steering wheel, multicoloured ambient interior lighting, wireless phone charging, an illuminated grille, privacy glass and 18in alloy wheels (20in on the Compass Electric). 

Likewise, the Compass Electric too is a good few grand less than its similarly equipped Stellantis rivals, but it’s undercut by some versions of the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq – including models with a bigger battery and a longer range.

A lower-priced Attitude spec will follow, and it’s far from meanly equipped; you get LED headlamps with automatic high/low beam, power-folding mirrors with built-in courtesy lamps, monochromatic ambient lighting, Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Positioning Assist among its long list of kit.

The Compass Electric will, of course, make the best choice as a company car because it brings the lowest possible BIK tax rating. The forthcoming PHEV will cost less in company car tax than the MHEV petrol Compass, but – as with other plug-in hybrids – you’ll need to keep the battery charged up as much as possible to maximise fuel economy.

Speaking of which, the petrol-engined Compass returns 39.9mpg – that’s more than 10mpg behind the Grandland and 5008. The Compass Electric comes close to matching its siblings on range, though; its 73kWh (usable capacity) battery is officially good for 310 miles on a full charge (its siblings manage 318 and 325 miles respectively). The forthcoming dual-motor Compass officially hits 375 miles on its bigger, 94kWh battery.

The Compass Electric can accept a charge at rates of up to 160 kW, enabling a 10-80% charge in 31 minutes. The Skoda Enyaq takes about the same time, but the Kia EV6 (with a 300kW peak charging rate) takes much less time to charge. 

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The latest Jeep Compass has yet to feature in our annual Reliability Survey, and too few Jeep owners participated in our most recent survey for the brand to appear in the rankings. 

Every Jeep sold in the UK comes with a three-year, unlimited warranty, which can be extended upon its expiry. That means the Compass has a less generous warranty than the Hyundai Tucson (five year, unlimited mileage) or the Kia Sportage (seven years, 100,000 miles)

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

Safety expert body Euro NCAP has yet to test the Compass, but the 3008 and Grandland both scored four stars out of a possible five, with identical ratings in every testing category. We wouldn’t expect the Compass to differ dramatically from that score. 

“The Jeep Compass Electric is a capable family-focused electric SUV but in this price range, it's also worth considering the Kia EV3.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buy it if…

- You’d like a family SUV with a bit of off-road capability

- You want an interior that’s designed to cope with a bit of mess

- You’re a fan of Jeep’s outdoorsy styling

Don’t buy it if…

- You’re looking for a luxurious interior

- You want a family SUV that feels sporty

- You’re working to a really tight budget

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