Jeep Compass
Ratings
2 stars
Summary
Not Recommended. Not as good as it looks, and it doesn't look that good. Exactly the opposite of everything a Jeep should be.
Review
As the 4x4 market changes, Jeep's traditional products are in danger of being left behind.
Problem is, cars like the Grand Cherokee are in thrall to American sales ' and the folks back home don't want them to change. Which means that, while Land Rover has been moving the game forward with its latest Range Rover and Discovery, old-style Jeeps have been dropping further and further off the pace. Hence vehicles like the Compass, which is Jeep's first attempt at a soft-roader.
Unfortunately, 'attempt' is the word. The Compass comes late to a market that's brimming over with talented vehicles. Jeep is banking on its famous badge to attract buyers - but unless you absolutely must have that, you'll pay more attention to what the car is actually like.
On the face of it, the Compass is a pretty promising package. Its looks are a matter of taste, but at £18-19 grand you can hardly argue with its kit list. That brings you alloys, cruise control, air-con and leather, plus ESP and all the major airbags. There's only one spec level in the Compass range - Limited - which, in Jeep-speak, normally means everything but the kitchen sink.
You do get a choice of engines, however. These are a 2.4 petrol unit and a 2.0 CRD turbo-diesel; performance is roughly similar, but the latter gives you 43.5mpg as opposed to 32.5. Add the optional auto box to the 2.4 and you pay an extra £1110 to add half a second to your 0-62 time and increase fuel consumption to 29.7.
The diesel is a VW unit, which you'll know best from the Golf. It's brilliant there, but struggles to shift the bigger Jeep - although it's still far better than the gutless, nasal 2.4. Not that either version is much fun on the road. A lumpy ride and vague handling see to that.
But what really ensures that anyone with taste will hate the Compass is an interior that simply defies belief. Its unimaginative layout is bad enough, but the cheap, harsh, shiny plastics in which it's finished are unforgivable. Seriously, if you're thinking of buying a Compass, go and sit in one. Then go and sit in a Kia Sportage.
We can't think of one reason why you'
d choose this Jeep over its Korean rival. Except its badge - and as we've already said, if that alone is enough to sway you, you could be making a major mistake.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
3 star
The Compass looks kind of like a chiselled Cherokee. Jeep?s going for a blend of modern and retro; whether it manages is an open question, but image is probably this car's strongest suit.
Handling
2 star
It doesn't so much handle as just go round corners. This is a good, safe car to drive, but you shouldn?t expect any entertainment. Its dynamics never feel fluid; its steering is never enticing.
Comfort
2 star
By Jeep's normally high standards, the seats feel distinctly average. A generally hideous cabin environment isn?t helped by a ride that never really settles, and neither engine is refined enough.
Quality & Reliability
2 star
Perceived quality in the cabin is about as bad as it gets - the materials used are just unbelievably cheap, and its design looks like something they rejected when they were making the Cherokee. Reliability should be fine, though, with both engines sourced from dependable manufacturers.
Performance
2 star
The 2.0 CRD is a gem in the VW Golf, but the Compass is 25% heavier, and it shows. The diesel still toils less than the ghastly 2.4, though, which is a real don't-touch-with-a-barge-pole job, especially in auto form.
Roominess
3 star
Cabin space is reasonable for a vehicle of this size, especially in the front seats. For carrying cargo, the rear seats fold down easily to create a luggage area that's useful, if hardly enormous.
Running Costs
3 star
Pretty good by Jeep standards, with even the petrol auto getting close to 30 mpg and the diesel returning more than 50 on a run. The resulting CO2 figures are decent, and group 12-13 insurance won't break the bank.
Value for money
3 star
In terms of metal for your money, or indeed bangs per buck, this is a big car with lots of kit at a low price. But it?s only a bargain if you would have bought it anyway at a higher price ? and even when it?s this cheap, we?d far sooner have a Sportage or late-letter used Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-
