Item: Jeep Compass
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Jeep Compass

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

<p>The Compass is priced towards the upper reaches of the class, while the Trailhawk versions are simply too expensive to recommend. Running costs will be comparative to the reasonable Renegade, although being bigger and heavier means the Compass is less efficient.</p>

<p>Resale values have yet to be released for the Compass. However, Jeep has a strong reputation for this, so the Compass is likely to hold onto its value well and possibly better than rivals.</p>

<p>In terms of kit, the entry-level Compass Sport comes with a 5.0in touchscreen is as standard, along with Jeep’s latest UConnect system. The touchscreen is bright and responsive, but not quite as intuitive as the best in class. Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk models get a larger 8.4in screen, which incorporates Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring as standard.</p>

<p>Between the dials, there is either a 3.5in driver’s display or a configurable, full-colour 7.0in one that shows information such as sat-nav directions and vehicle settings, depending on specification.</p>

<p>There’s a generous amount of safety features as well, including six airbags, forward collision warning and lane departure warning, while blindspot monitoring and rear cross-path detection are included from Limited trim upwards. This impressive level of kit enabled the Compass to score a full five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test, and it performed particularly well in the adult and child occupant protection categories (scoring 90% and 83% respectively).</p>

<p>Security experts Thatcham Research has yet to publish its results on how well the Compass guards against thieves.</p>

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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>


<p>While the four-wheel-drive Compass is impressively capable off road, its on-road manners are far less inspiring. It's smoother-riding than the previous model, but it is still easily unsettled by slight road imperfections and doesn’t offer the compliant, comfortable ride you get from rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/3008/estate/review/n17363">Peugeot 3008</a>.</p>

<p>The Compass's steering is especially poor, feeling too light and disconcertingly vague. This isn’t such a problem for town driving, but at higher speeds it robs you of confidence, as does the fact that there's a fair bit of body roll through corners.</p>

<p>The 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine never makes the car feel quick, but its strong pull at low revs suits urban driving well, even if the auto gearbox can be quite slow to swap gears, leaving a noticeable gap between shifts. The six-speed manual ’box (available with the 1.6 and lower-powered 2.0 diesel engines, as well as the 1.4 petrols) is a good alternative, providing a slick and precise shift.</p>

<p>The biggest drawback of the diesel engines is the poor refinement: they sound extremely coarse when accelerating, even if they do settle down at a cruise. This is especially a problem in the 138bhp engine (and less so in the 168bhp variant) because it needs to be worked quite hard. You can also feel vibration through the steering wheel and pedals – something that the Renegade suffers from, too.</p>

<p>We have yet to sample the petrol units.</p>

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>


<p>The Compass is a further step into the mainstream for Jeep. Once known as a pioneering maker of off-road heavyweights, it has adapted its modern line-up to target family car buyers.</p>

<p>Having seen this strategy result in sales success with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jeep/renegade/4x4/review/?aq=Jeep%20%20Renegade&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=jeep%2520rene">Renegade</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/jeep">Jeep</a> has now comprehensively reworked its bigger Compass model – the previous version went off sale two years ago – to relaunch it into the booming <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUV</a> class.</p>

<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5pEM8Tsx2Ng"></iframe></p>

<p>The Compass is available with a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre diesel engine (the latter with either 138bhp or 168bhp), as well as a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol (also in two outputs). A nine-speed automatic gearbox is available with the 2.0-litre diesels, and both get four-wheel drive as standard.</p>

<p>Read on over the next few pages to get our impressions of the Compass and which versions we recommend.</p>

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>


<p>There’s plenty of adjustment for the front seats and steering wheel to allow the driver to get comfortable, while visibility is good, thanks to a high driving position that offers a good vantage point over the bonnet.</p>

<p>The dashboard layout is a little convoluted and cluttered, with most things controlled through the touchscreen infotainment system, but there are also lots of other buttons below it. The UConnect system does work well, though, with a bright, responsive screen and it’s simple to navigate through the menus.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, some interior materials feel cheap and the fit and finish generally isn’t a match for rivals.</p>

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>


<p dir="ltr">Jeep only makes SUVs, but it has plenty of them for you to choose from. So, whether you want something rugged enough to ford streams and climb mountains, or a more luxurious and family-friendly car, it has something to suit you.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Despite its all-American image, Jeep is actually owned by Fiat, meaning Jeeps often share parts with cars from the Italian giant; the entry-level Renegade, for example, has plenty in common with Fiat’s 500X.</p>

<p dir="ltr">However, perhaps the most widely recognised Jeep is the Wrangler, a model that has a dedicated fan base and which closely resembles the original Jeep which saw service in World War 2.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The brand’s future plans include new small and large SUVs, plus the introduction of fully electric models.</p>


JEEP

COMPASS

<p>The Jeep Compass has impressive off-road credentials, but its poor road manners and noisy engines mean it's ultimately off the pace</p>


<p>Inside, the Compass offers the driver and front passenger generous head, shoulder and leg room.</p>

<p>It’s 7cm longer between its front and rear wheels than the Renegade, and this benefits rear passengers greatly, offering a couple of adults good leg room. Be wary of opting for a sunroof, though, because it dramatically reduces head room.</p>

<p>The Compass's boot has an adjustable floor that, at the deepest of its three settings, provides 438 litres of space, although it does leave a large lip at the boot's entrance. Ultimately, luggage capacity is only marginally higher than the Nissan Qashqai's and way off the Peugeot 3008's and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111">Seat Ateca</a>'s – either with the seats in place or folded down – and the boot is narrower due to the rear wheel arches encroaching into the space.</p>

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>


The Jeep Compass has impressive off-road credentials, but its poor road manners and noisy engines mean it's ultimately off the pace

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

<p>While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.</p>

<p>As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.</p>

<p>The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

Jeep Compass review

Performance & drive

What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is