Jeep Compass review

In the past, the Jeep Compass was a boxy, ugly and unattractive machine, but the new version that sits between the smaller Renegade and bigger Cherokee is altogether more stylish. A mid-life makeover has improved the cabin quality, while onboard technology has also been given a much needed update.

Throw in decent practicality, high equipment levels, along with more efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol engines, and the Compass is an effective and fun family crossover, although it still lacks some of the finesse of its top European rivals.

About the Jeep Compass

After a brief hiatus, the second-generation Jeep Compass went on sale in dealers in late 2017, replacing the original model which was dropped in 2015. The good thing about this break is that it gave time for the old Compass to fade from memory before the new one arrived, because the difference between the two is night and day.

The latest Compass is a far more attractive and capable proposition than its predecessor. Like many evolutions in the class, the latest Compass has a look that embraces its off-road side, and the traditional Jeep seven-bar grille and squared-off wheelarches give it a look like a shrunken Grand Cherokee.

A facelift in 2021 brought in a few subtle tweaks to the exterior design, while the interior was treated to a thorough refresh, helping the Compass become a little more competitive with a host of talented rivals. Prices range from around £31,500 to more than £42,000, and this puts the Compass in the same ballpark as the VW Tiguan and larger Skoda Kodiaq.

That means it's a bit pricey when compared to some rivals, such as the Peugeot 3008 and Vauxhall Grandland, but puts it on a par with cars like the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. Jeep is trying to pitch itself as a prestige brand, though, so you could consider the Compass as a less expensive alternative to cars such as the Volvo XC40, Jaguar E-Pace and BMW X2.

Under the skin, the Jeep Compass shares much with the Fiat 500X, and therefore the Renegade, too. It has a longer wheelbase than the Jeep, though, so it has more space inside. The previous engine lineup included 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Multijet diesel units, along with a 1.4-litre  MultiAir petrol, although these have now been replaced with a 128bhp 1.3-litre petrol, a 128bhp 1.5-litre mild-hybrid and a 1.3-litre 4xe plug-in hybrid petrol with 237bhp.

The front-wheel-drive 128bhp pure petrol model uses a six-speed manual gearbox, while the mild-hybrid version has a dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the all-wheel-drive PHEV a six-speed auto 'box.

Available trim levels differ depending on which engine you specify. If you opt for the regular petrol-engined Compass then you have the choice of either Night Eagle or Limited specifications, while the mild-hybrid car adds more expensive Upland and S trims to the lineup. The plug-in hybrid model is paired with Upland, S or Trailhawk equipment levels.

Engines, performance and drive

On the road, the Jeep Compass is not quite as planted as the best crossover rivals, but feels competent enough. There’s too much body roll if you attempt to take corners with gusto, and the chassis begins to feel unsettled at higher speeds that cars like the SEAT Ateca take in their stride. Off road though, the Trailhawk version with its extra low range gear ratios, should make mincemeat of pretty much any of its more road-focused rivals.

The steering is decently weighted and the ride composed – at least on smooth tarmac – but the overall experience is less fun than the best rivals. We didn't think much of the (now discontinued) 166bhp 2.0-litre diesel model when we tried it; it was let down by its noisy engine and a slow-to-respond nine-speed auto gearbox.

Although the plug-in hybrid model looks quick on paper, we found its six-speed auto 'box pretty sluggish in real-world driving and too slow to kick down when asked. The engine is noisy, too, so we'd recommend taking a more relaxed approach in driving the 4xe PHEV.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

The previous 138bhp 1.4 MultiAir unit generated 230Nm of torque, which helped the Compass complete 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds. The 168bhp version of the same engine made 250Nm of pulling power, but it came with a heavier four-wheel drive set-up, so posted the same 0-62mph sprint time.

The (now discontinued) 1.6 MultiJet II entry diesel, delivered 118bhp and 320Nm of torque. Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, it managed 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds. Moving up to the 2.0-litre MultiJet II brought the combination of all-wheel-drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission, along with an increase in power and torque to 168bhp and 320Nm. The top-spec oil-burner reaches 62mph from a standstill in 9.5 seconds with a 122mph maximum.

The current 128bhp 1.3-litre petrol model needs 10.3 seconds to move from 0-62mph, while the 237bhp plug-in hybrid is by far the quickest Compass you can buy - dispatching the benchmark sprint in a claimed 7.3 seconds with a 125mph maximum.

MPG, CO2 and running costs

Previously, if you wanted the most efficient Compass then you needed to choose the 118hp 1.6 MultiJet diesel 2WD manual, which returned around 43mpg with CO2 emissions of 157g/km. The most powerful 166bhp diesel is paired with a nine-speed auto and four-wheel-drive (available solely in TrailHawk spec), so the figures are inevitably poorer, with claimed economy of 38.7mpg and emissions of 191g/km.

Choosing the (now discontinued) 138bhp 1.4 MultiAir petrol model offered average fuel economy of 36.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 172g/km, while the 168bhp version with a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4WD only achieved 30.7mpg on the combined cycle, with 208g/km of CO2.

Although it's the most expensive model to buy, the 4xe plug-in hybrid delivers appealing efficiency with up to 30 miles all-electric driver and CO2 emissions from 44g/km. The 128bhp pure petrol version isn't able to compete on fuel economy, but is up to £10,000 cheaper to buy: it averages around 40mpg, with CO2 emissions of 153-164g/km depending on which trim level you choose.

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Insurance groups

The Compass has a reasonable range of insurance classifications, ranging from group 19-31, with the plug-in hybrid models proving the most expensive to arrange cover for. 

Depreciation

Residual values for the Jeep Compass are surprisingly strong, with an average of 47 per cent of its original value retained after three-years/36,000-miles of ownership - pretty respectable when compared to its rivals. Whether values will fall, only time will tell, but strong brand loyalty from Jeep buyers is sure to have a positive effect on these residual scores.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our free car valuation tool...

Interior, design and technology

The Jeep Compass is certainly a prettier car than its predecessor, and the design has plenty of modern showroom appeal. It retains Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille, but wraparound LED headlamps, a sculpted bonnet and deep lower grille give the front a funky feel that's something of an evolution of the larger Grand Cherokee.

The jaunty styling is carried along the side of the car with kicked up rear quarter-lights and distinctive squared-off wheelarches. The contrasting black roof visually lowers the car for a slightly racier feel, yet there’s an element of luxury provided by a big chrome trim strip that separates the roof from the door tops, running on to create a striking trailing edge for the angular rear pillars.

A facelift in 2021 saw some minor exterior updates, with a wider lower grille included along with full LED headlights fitted as standard across the range.

While the exterior is as pleasing as the Jeep’s main rivals, the pre-facelift interior didn't score quite so highly, and it all felt rather characterless and bland. In response, the manufacturer has given the Compass a welcome boost in interior quality, also introducing a new dash design, a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen with the manufacturer's new Uconnect 5 infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital dash.

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The seats have a quality feel and the chunky steering wheel is nice to hold, but otherwise cabin quality isn’t quite up to the standard of rivals.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The infotainment system is a significant improvement, with a processor that’s five times faster than before, according to Jeep. However, it’s still not the most intuitive set-up to use and response times and screen resolution could still be better, although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is standard.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

There’s only one body style in the Jeep Compass range, but the five-door hatch enjoys estate car-like practicality in spite of its sporty crossover styling. The Compass is built on an extended floorpan from the Renegade, so offers more interior and luggage space.

There’s no shortage of room up front, either, with plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel to ensure drivers of any size should get comfortable. Visibility is good from the driving seat, too, although like any car of this size and type, the assistance of parking sensors and a rear view camera in suitably equipped models will be invaluable.

On the road, the Compass is far quieter, more refined and more comfortable than the smaller Renegade. The Compass also comes with reactive dampers said to improve ride comfort – although we’ve yet to try it on British roads.

Dimensions and size

The Compass is 150mm longer overall than the Renegade it shares a platform with, and the extra length is shared out between a longer wheelbase and extended rear overhang. As a result the car is 4,420mm long, 1,820mm wide and 1,650mm high. This compares with the Nissan Qashqai which measures 4,394mm x 1,806mm x 1,590mm. 

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Leg room, head room & passenger space

Thanks to the extended rear section, the Jeep Compass performs well on both rear legroom and boot space. There’s plenty of headroom and shoulder room on the back seat too, although some may feel it’s a little dark due to the reduced glass area of the kicked up side windows.

Boot space

The Jeep Compass has a versatile boot that will swallow 438 litres worth of luggage, which compares favourably with the smaller Renegade’s 351 litres. It’s not quite so good up against the Peugeot 3008 though, as the French rival will swallow 530 litres.

Reliability and safety

While the previous Compass was no great shakes on the safety front, with a two-star rating from Euro NCAP, the latest one is a far more attractive proposition - tested in 2017 and earning the maximum five-star score.

Adult occupant protection was awarded a laudable 90 per cent protection rating, while child accident protection scored 83 per cent; the Compass only has two sets of Isofix mounts in the rear seats.

Among the safety features that will be included on various trim levels is Jeep’s Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Information System, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view reversing camera. Four-wheel-drive versions obviously benefit from the added traction that this provides in wintry conditions, which will be of special interest to owners in out-of-town locations.

Much of the Compass’s engine, platform and electronics technology has already been tried and tested on the Renegade, so reliability should be sound. Build quality is good too, so we don’t envisage too many problems. 

Warranty 

Jeep offers the Compass with a standard three-year warranty, although you can extend cover for up to two more years at extra cost.

Servicing

Servicing intervals for the Compass are annually or every 12,500 miles. Jeep offers a range of maintenance packages tailored to the age and mileage of your car.