Jeep Compass

The Jeep Compass is a completely new style of vehicle from Jeep. It is the first vehicle produced by Jeep which does not really have all the classic Jeep styling cue's and is therefore not immediately recognisable as a Jeep product. This styling has been the source of much criticism for the Compass. Another departure in terms of design for this model is that this is a "car based" Jeep and not based on the traditional rugged chassis design. Using a car platform certainly shows in the way the Compass handles on the road, with a smooth ride, direct steering and refined cabin at speed. But how does this effect the off road performance? Well, the Compass is still a capable off road vehicle, although the smooth on road ride turns into an uncomfortable bouncing off road. The 2.4L engine provides reasonable pace and the 5 speed manual transmission is slick - most owners are expected to opt for the CVT or continuously variable transmission which is a $100 option. The Jeep Compass has some well thought out storage and cubby hole spaces throughout the vehicle, but overall the cargo space is a little disappointing. Economy is good with 25mpg possible in highway driving and the low list price of this entry model makes the Compass something of a bargain.