Presentation and road test of the Jeep Compass, a Grand Cherokee in miniature

Look who’s back, is the first thing that comes to mind at the Jeep Compass presentation in Madrid, as the brand boasts good sales results over the past year. No wonder, new launches, a considerable improvement in quality, and a commitment to a more urban range while keeping its essence Jeep. Precisely to complete that range, a model was missing to occupy the step between the Jeep Renegade and the Cherokee. To do so, Jeep has decided to launch the Compass in our country, a vehicle manufactured in Mexico on a global basis and available in several markets around the world, including Spain.

The new Jeep Compass shares little or nothing with the previous generation of the model that reached our country. It has improved its exterior design (taking the lines of the Grand Cherokee as a reference), its interior features quality to European taste, and the engine range is typical of the Group Fiat. That said, its off-road qualities remain intact, making it one of the best in its segment when it has to leave the asphalt. All this for a very attractive starting price of €19,950 (promotional discounts included).

Design of the Jeep Compass: Are you more of a Wrangler or a Grand Cherokee person?

The smaller models in the Jeep range have a completely distinct exterior design: on one hand, the Jeep Renegade takes the square, robust lines of the Wrangler, while the Compass draws its inspiration from the exterior of the Grand Cherokee. Notable features include the raised grille, the option of two-tone paint, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It has a specific C-pillar that sets it apart from the rest of the range (a trend in the segment, since it is not the only brand to use this design element).

Inside, the main lines of the dashboard are inherited from the brand’s flagship, though keeping certain distances and sizes. The interior is high quality, with pleasant-to-the-touch materials (nothing like the hard plastic dashboard of the previous Compass), although hard-touch materials are still present in the lower part of the dashboard. The star of the center console is the 8.4-inch touchscreen (5.5 inches as standard). Behind the wheel, it is a spacious car, both in the front and rear seats, with a slightly raised driving position.

Engine range: 4×4 traction across much of the range

The engine range of the Jeep Compass focuses on diesel (although some would like to bury this fuel early). There is only one petrol engine: the 1.4 Turbo MultiAir2 with 140 CV and 170 CV, while for diesel you can choose between the 1.6 MultiJet II with 120 CV or the 2.0 MultiJet II, available with 140 CV (4×2) and 170 CV (4×4).

The diesel variants with the 2.0 MultiJet II engine (140 or 170 CV) feature total traction as standard, in the case of the 140 CV version the traction system is Jeep Active Drive, selectable from a dial that lets us choose among several terrain types or lock the torque split between the front and rear axles (no transfer case). The 170 CV diesel version (Trailhawk) is paired with the 9-speed automatic gearbox (from ZF), and in this case the traction system goes a step further with Jeep Active Drive Low, which mimics the presence of a transfer case without actually fitting one, also featuring the terrain selector (Jeep Selec-Terrain).

The Jeep Active Drive Low works using the technology and the new 9-speed automatic gearbox, redesigning the first gear to be very short so it can be used as a low range, while the remaining gears stay unchanged. In this way, the car does without first gear, normally pulling away in second and only using first when we engage “LOW” mode, simulating a low range.

Full equipment from the base trim, with 70 safety features available

The trim levels are as follows: Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk. Even the base trim already comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights, light and rain sensors, cruise control, leather steering wheel, a radio with a 5-inch touchscreen, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning (which acts on the steering wheel).

Furthermore, the Jeep Compass focuses on safety by fitting more than 70 safety features (both active and passive), grouped into a wide range of safety systems. Notable are the blind spot warning on the mirror, pre-collision warning (with braking in case of imminent impact), unintended lane change warning (which acts on the steering wheel), rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and high beams with automatic function that switch on and off by themselves depending on traffic, among other features.

Behind the wheel of the Jeep Compass 2.0 MultiJet II 140 CV Auto

During the presentation in Madrid, we had a first hands-on experience with a Compass with a two-litre diesel engine, 140 CV and the 9-speed automatic gearbox. We liked the sense of interior space: it is a roomy car with practical details and a more than adequate boot with a capacity of 438 litres.

The 140 CV engine is an interesting middle option, although the 9-speed gearbox aims more for comfort than sportiness, giving the sensation that we have fewer horses than are actually under the bonnet. Its operation is correct; behind the wheel we don’t notice the management of so many gears, which in practice means the engine always runs at its optimal speed. That said, if we want to be more sporty, perhaps the best option is the manual gearbox with this engine, or opting for the more powerful 170 CV diesel.

We also verified first-hand the off-road capabilities of this Jeep Compass, which is without doubt one of the best in its segment in this respect. Its ground clearance is already greater than other SUVs, and it has an effective traction system in 99% of the situations the Compass will face (obviously a system with a transfer case would be ideal, but let’s be honest, most people prefer front-wheel-drive SUVs).

We did a short route on an estate with changing surfaces, low-grip slopes and ruts, where the Compass moved like a fish in water, passing through all kinds of terrain without difficulty (it is not a Wrangler, but it does not pretend to be) with 4×4 capabilities above other similar models.

Prices of the Jeep Compass 2017

The starting price of the Jeep Compass with petrol engine and Sport trim (including discounts) is €19,950. The diesel range starts at €26,740 (120 CV 4×2), and the 2.0 MultiJet II 140 CV 4×4 starts at €31,840, up to €39,240 for the top-of-range Trailhawk 170 CV 4×4 automatic. In short, for those looking for an SUV that offers a real plus off the asphalt, the Compass is an interesting alternative to consider.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadJeep Compass6 versions · from 43,200 €