Jeep Compass History
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The Jeep Compass is a good idea that for much of its existence has lacked the proper execution and details. At once, it's a small but chunky city-friendly hatchback and a light off-roader. But the Compass' busy, 'Jeep modern' styling never quite worked so well, and its noisy engines and sluggish CVTs make its appeal quite limited.
Under the skin, the Compass is mechanically identical to the Dodge Caliber, and closely related to the Jeep Patriot, but the Compass is styled more like a conventional hatchback than its Jeep cousin. The Compass was introduced for 2007 and updated with a new interior in 2010, along with some additional refinement improvements.
Though it was introduced as a concept vehicle at the 2002 Detroit auto show with a V-6 engine, all model years of Compass crossovers have kept the same running gear, including a choice of four-cylinder engines. It's not particularly quick with either the larger 2.4-liter, 172-horsepower engine, let alone the smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission provides a little more perk in its acceleration, but the available continuously variable transmission (CVT) zaps the life out of the four-cylinder and amplifies its noisy, somewhat rough feel. Handling, however, is a bright spot; the Compass is very maneuverable and steers most of the time with the accuracy and precision of a small car while riding pretty well.
Behind its traditional seven-bar grille, the Compass doesn't look much like the rest of the Jeep lineup. In fact, it doesn't even have a Trail Rated version, which makes it the first Jeep designed primarily for on-road driving, with less care for off-road talent. It does have an all-wheel-drive option, though the front-driver doesn't need the additional weight and complexity for most daily uses.
The busy hatchback styling has too many cutlines and looks a bit chaotic from the side and rear. For 2011, Jeep tweaked the styling throughout, giving the Compass a significant refresh that recast it as a mini Grand Cherokee; much-improved interior materials and smoother, simplified cabin trims also helped make the package much more appealing.
No matter which model year, the five-seat Compass wins points for good head room and front-passenger leg room. The seats themselves are flat, but the cabin feels spacious. The second-row seats also fold almost flat to expose a larger cargo hold. Chrysler's also fitted more sound insulation over the years, which gives the newest Compass crossovers a slightly quieter cabin.
Standard safety features on the Jeep Compass include side curtain airbags, Brake Traction Control, a driver-controlled three-mode Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Brake Assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation, and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with rough-road detection. Front-seat -mounted side airbags are optional. Jeep added active head restraints for 2010, covering both the driver and the front-seat passenger, and recent years of the Compass come with standard electronic stability control.
The very extensive options list on the Compass includes Bluetooth connectivity, Sirius Satellite Radio, 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, a moonroof, and an upgraded audio system with six-disc CD changer. A remote start system and an automatic climate control system are now also offered.
Along with the host of improvements the Compass received for 2011, it also got the Patriot's Trail Rated Freedom Drive II system, which gives this vehicle a level of off-road ability that's unusual in small crossovers.
