Devon test drives a Jeep Compass (Used)

The one star rating is all you need to know. Look elsewhere!

Performance: Two engines are available with the Compass. Standard 2-liter four-cylinder producing 158hp is best had with a manual gearbox because you’ll really need to work this engine hard. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 172hp is optional but well worth paying extra for. It feels much more up for the job. Even with all-wheel-drive optioned it still doesn’t feel as sluggish as the 2-liter with just front-wheel-drive.

On the road: We haven’t had the chance to take the all-wheel-drive Compass on any off-road terrain. But we were bitterly disappointed with its on road dynamics. The car leans too much into corners and bends and the ride comfort is just too fidgety and unsettled. The 2-liter engine sounds coarse when pushed hard while the 2.4 feels more relaxed at highway speeds. Wind and road noise will be unwelcomed companions on the highway.

Behind the wheel: The elevated driving position is great but we wish the steering wheel adjust for reach instead of height only. Some drivers will struggle to get comfortable. Over the shoulder visibility isn’t great either thanks to thick side pillars. The optional touch-screen infotainment system can be a bit fiddly to operate on the move. There’s plenty of space for four-passengers in the cabin and the boot isn’t massive but it has plenty of handy storage to compensate.

Equipment: Sport trim offers a five-speed manual gearbox, air-con, cd-player and alloy wheels. Latitude trim adds color matched exterior rearview mirrors, sport mesh seats and upgraded sport seats. Top of the range Limited adds projector headlamps, fog lights and a rear back up camera.

Buying & Owning: The Jeep Compass is aimed to undercut cars like the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan. But we think that you’re better off picking one of those than the Compass. Even if the purchase price is lower, resale value isn’t all that great and running costs are a mere average compared to its rivals and that’s just not good enough reason to want to buy one other than the badge.

Quality & Safety: The cabin doesn’t really feel classy and the plastics used feel cheap. We aren’t sure about reliability either because Jeep has scored low in that department. Six airbags come standard with stability control, anti-lock brakes and all-wheel-drive optional to help keep things under control. Compared to its rivals the Compass scored much lower in crash safety. A engine immobilizer and alarm system keep theft at bay.

If you have to have a Jeep the Cherokee is worth paying the premium for. Even its rivals are worth paying the extra for.

Likes: It's a cheap Jeep with an okay amount of kit standard.

Dislikes: Other than its cheap price, this Jeep is utterly disappointing in everything else.

Pathological tries out a Compass from Jeep

The previous generation of the Jeep Compass was an absolute joke that had no one laughing. It literally was one of the worse crossovers you could opt for, but with deep discounts it kept it a favorite among rental car lots and budget buyers. The new Compass however Jeep is hoping to change things but has it done enough?

 You only get the choice of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder pumping out 180hp. You can opt for a six-speed manual gearbox but that only comes with the entry-level Sport and Latitude Trim levels. Our tester car was the top of the range Limited which came with a nine-speed auto gearbox. It came with mixed reviews as many felt that it was just way too many gears for the amount of horsepower the engine produced, while others thought that the engine and trans pairing was more ‘okay’ and just not that refined. Driving around town the Compass did feel very comfortable and easy to maneuver around, while on the highway you’ll wish you had fewer gears as the engine often gets lost in all the gears. The engine is flexible when up to speed and doesn’t really make too much of a racket while at cruising speeds. The engine stop/start technology isn’t as smooth as it could be but it does a decent job and you can deactivate it if you find it annoying.

The front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support and adjustability, while those in the second row won’t have anything to complain about as it is decent in space. The boot space is also generous too but it isn’t class leading. The infotainment system is easy to use and simple in operation, but the several menus can get quite distracting while on the go. The one area that we wish that FCA would improve on is the interior quality. It just doesn’t seem up to snuff with the rest of the competition. It’s great that Jeep has improved interior quality and also improved the Compass dynamically, but it still isn’t as great as it could be.

Our tester car (Limited) came with a sunroof, heated leather seats, navigation system with back-up camera. 4x4 system, dual-zone climate control, HID headlights and a security group package. It’s really hard trying to justify this version of the Compass as it is close to $40k and well for that amount of money there are some real heavy hitters that will give the Compass a run for its money in quality and refinement.

We enjoyed our short time with the Compass and found it to be light years better than the outgoing model. However, the nine-speed auto gearbox isn’t refined and FCA reliability record hasn’t been great. If you want the most capable compact crossover of the lot than this is your best bet, however you can buy a Subaru XV and it’s just as capable. It may not have the flexible engine but the running costs are lower and the refinement is much better.

Likes: Light years better than the previous generation, Trailhawk version has the most off-road prowl.

Dislike: Refinement of the transmission and build quality needs to be improved; otherwise this fresh new design is just a coat of primer.

Our pick: Ditch the Sport and go right for the Latitude. You get plenty of kit standard and the price isn’t too expensive like the Limited. The Trailhawk is the option for those who are going to do off-roading in this, but at the price point. You minus well consider a Subaru XV which is similarly priced, more refined and more reliable.

Short drive review

Kia Niro

Likes: A hybrid crossover is definitely a smart move on Kia's part. Spacious interior for five with a decently sized boot.

Dislikes: Leisure-hybrid-acceleration. The auto gearbox can be jerky at low speeds.

Overall: It's the hybrid for those who aren't trying to appear snobby.



Land Rover Evoque

Likes: It's stylish and fully capable off-road. The convertible version makes no sense but it looks good.

Dislikes: It can get expensive quickly. Build quality is still iffy no matter how you look at it.

Overall: It's the smallest and the cutest Land Rover of the range.



Honda Accord

Likes: We personally love the way it looks. We love the way it drives and we love the new turbo engines.

Dislikes: Sleek styling makes visibility slightly compromised.

Overall: This maybe the best Accord, ever, and there's a hybrid available.



Alfa Romeo Giulia

Likes: No matter which engine you choose, both are up for the job. Dare we say more fun to drive than a BMW 3-series?

Dislikes: The interior build quality is iffy in build quality. Resale value is weak.

Overall: It's full of Italian flare and charm.



Jeep Compass

Likes: A handsome little thing with real off-road capabilities. The interior is much improved over previous generation.

Dislikes: Engine stop/start isn't very smooth. It needs a 2-liter turbo engine option.

Overall: A decent option in a very crowded segment.

Part one of four: Cars that are best avoided (used)

Cars we feel are best avoided. Part one of four.

Jeep Compass
This little Jeep was dreadful to drive. The standard 2-liter engine is sluggish with the automatic, while the 2.4 offers a bit more oomph off the line. Interior plastics were cheap feeling and the overall package the Compass offers isn’t compelling enough in our eyes. Unless you get one of these heavily discounted, you’re better off paying extra for its much better rivals. We highly suggest looking elsewhere.

Nissan Versa
Nissan prides itself in having the most inexpensive new car you can buy with the biggest rear seat in class. We do applaud Nissan for the roomy rear seat and low running costs, but those two features don’t really make up for how unappealing the styling of the Versa is. The 1.6 offers decent pace around town but you’ll struggle with it on faster paced roads. The standard trim offers an antiquated four-speed automatic and the higher trims don’t even feel worth the price tag. Paying more than $16k for is a false economy.

Smart Fortwo
The Smart Fortwo actually isn’t a bad concept. A small two-seat vehicle with dent resistant body panels for tight urban areas. We really do like that idea, but the execution of the car is appalling even for standards set by Mercedes. The gearbox is the biggest let down. Up shifts are woefully slow and jerky unless you ease your foot off the accelerator pedal between each shift. Ride comfort is firm due to the small wheelbase and yet the handling is sloppy if you push it anywhere near its limits. Running costs aren’t low either because the engine requires premium fuel. We strongly suggest waiting for the next generation Fortwo which will get a proper gearbox and hopefully a smoother ride.

BMW 320i
We have nothing against the idea of a cheap BMW. In fact we love the idea of a cheap BMW but not when it comes in the package of a 320i. It’s not the engine that we dread because it’s smooth and flexible with decent running costs. It’s the standard kit list which disappoints. Bluetooth doesn’t even come standard. You’ll have to pay extra to remove the halogen headlights and of course it doesn’t come standard with real leather. Driving this without the adaptive M suspension is disappointing too and that option isn’t cheap either. Plus you’ll want to leave the stop/start system off because there is no smooth transition when the engine reengages. Unless you have to have the BMW badge we strongly suggest looking at its indirect rivals first because you get more money for similar money and maybe even less.