The Jeep Compass’ beefy styling certainly helps it stand out from the current crop of family SUVs, but it isn’t all that good to drive and feels quite cheap in places.
Larger than the Jeep Renegade but smaller than the Cherokee, the Compass is sized to fit between the subcompact and compact SUV segments. The current second-generation Compass was introduced for the 2017 model year and wears styling inspired by classic Jeep models. Question stands, Is the 2021 Jeep Compass a good car?
Exterior:
The Compass has a look that evokes that of the bigger Cherokee, scaled down to a smaller economy-car size. It’s attractive, with glints of chrome. Jeep reserves its more authentic looks for vehicles like the Gladiator, Wrangler, and Renegade.
The Compass taps Europe’s hatchbacks for some of its lines, and the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee for its thin grille and headlights. No cowboy spurs or box-truck realness here, the Compass wears the SUV equivalent of a blazer and slacks with its rounded corners and chrome-trimmed roofline.
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 muscular silhouette.
Interior:
The businesslike interior wears black plastic and synthetic leather with a little relief from its generic look in the form of orange stitching and a central touchscreen. There’s plenty of adjustment for the front seats and steering wheel to allow the driver to get comfortable, while visibility is good, thanks to a high driving position that offers a good vantage point over the bonnet. High seat bottoms in the back seat mean that passengers' legs are fully supported, and even long rides can be comfortable.
Jeep's Uconnect system is one of our favorite infotainment setups, and we're glad to see it included as standard across the Compass lineup. Uconnect is simple to use and responds quickly to inputs, and no matter which Compass you choose, you'll be treated to a well-organized touchscreen-infotainment system with a USB port and an auxiliary input. A 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as standard. Unfortunately, some interior materials feel cheap and the fit and finish generally isn’t a match for rivals. Also, we cannot express how small the infotainment is compared to it’s rivals.
Engine and Performance:
It’s strictly average in the way it rides and handles, and especially in how it accelerates. With a 1.4 litre turbo engine producing 160 HP and 250 Nm of torque, it doesn’t really pack a punch but feels competent enough. How fast is the 2021 Jeep Compass? Not very. Transmission is a 7-speed dual clutch which is just confused most of the time. It feels as though it doesn’t really know what it’s job is with the huge lag when manoeuvring at slow speeds.
What I really like about it is the ride quality. It is a good car to take on long drives as it gives the Compass a somewhat soft and willowy ride. The engine’s stop/start function is still irritating, but at least it can be deactivated. Overall the Compass feels more agile than its tall, boxy profile would suggest, responding ably to inputs from the nicely weighted steering wheel. There is some lean during tight cornering, but overall the Compass feels well controlled, solidly planted, and capable on the road.
Space and Practicality:
The Compass does practical well. The rear Compass bench seat offers above-average leg room of 38.3 inches to its passengers, but the crossover is narrow and the seat itself is more flat than sculpted. It’s adequate for two adults, but serves drivers better when it’s folded down to expand cargo space from its already-good 27.2 cubic feet.
All models do come with an adjustable boot floor, but in its lowest position it leaves quite a large lip for lifting heavy bags over. Still, it does mean that when you fold down the rear seats (nearly flat in a 60:40 configuration) you can eliminate the step up from the boot floor to the seat backs.
Verdict:
The Jeep Compass is a hip, flashy small SUV that ticks all boxes, that is if you just want to impress your non-car guy friend’s you drive a Jeep. Honestly we've found the Jeep Compass to be one of the least appealing compact SUVs. At its core, the Compass still shares its underpinnings with the thankfully departed Dodge Caliber hatchback, and suffers from the same weak and noisy engines.
Ridiculously underpowered as acceleration is slow regardless of which engine you opt for. However, the Compass does make you feel tough and rugged, the kind of feeling all Jeep vehicles emulate. It really is a good looking car, fuel efficient and comfortable for a day to day commute. With decent practicality and high equipment levels, the Compass is an effective and fun family crossover.
With its cool SUV styling and commendable off-road chops, the Compass is a true Jeep. However, in today's competitive field of subcompact crossovers, it's tough to recommend as an everyday driver.
Price: Jeep Compass 1.4 FWD AT ₱1,480,000 (discount included)
Photos by: JM Delos Reyes
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