Jeep Compass

Very briefly: in America, everything is about the show. In Italy it's the looks that count. So when American brand Jeep teams up with Italian parent company Fiat to develop an SUV, the looks will be just fine.

The imposing front containing the vertical grille so characteristic of Jeep gives the Compass more personality than any of its competitors even at first sight. Even 75 years after the appearance of the first Jeep, something of the magic of that archetypal model is still present in this latest model.

The clean lines and chrome accents give the Compass a very modern look at the same time. One drawback: all those dead straight lines do create more driving noise at high speeds or in unfavorable wind directions than its more streamlined counterparts.

Space and equipment

A sense of drama is also unmistakable inside. Everything about the Compass is just that little bit bigger, taller or fatter than average, and with that the car manages to impress. Added to that for the test car is beautiful creamcolored upholstery. The high seat, the view over the large bonnet and the thick steering wheel give the driver the feeling of driving a mighty car.

Simultaneously, American Jeep and its new Italian parent company seem to be getting more and more in tune. Finish quality and ergonomics have been greatly improved over previous Jeep models. That also makes this almost theatrical SUV a rational choice. The space in the rear is above average and the equipment is well taken care of for a car in this price range.

Though there are a few points of criticism. In terms of active safety, among other things, a camera that reads traffic signs is missing. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are available, but not standard. The Beats audio system can sound very good, but that requires fiddling considerably with the tone control. Finally, the headrest sat just too low for the test driver, pressing annoyingly against the cervical vertebrae. But of course, this is highly dependent on posture.

Performance and consumption

Fully Italian is the powertrain of the Jeep Compass. Those who opt for a petrol engine always get a 1.4-litre "MultiAir" one from Fiat. Depending on the version chosen, it delivers 140 or 170 horsepower. The test car was equipped with the strongest variant, combined with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic.

The output of 170 hp / 250 Nm is more than enough, but the engine has to work hard to perform. Simply pressing the accelerator initially only results in a lot of engine noise, only then does the corresponding performance follow.

Once at speed, the automatic shifts back and forth without any prompting, even though the speed is almost constant. This is a known problem with this automatic (which the Fiat 500X also suffers from) and which the manufacturer just can't seem to solve.

Terrain riding

The handling of any SUV is strongly determined by its off-road capability. If a car is proficient off-road, it comes at the expense of its capabilities on paved roads and vice versa. Because many cars in this segment are bought just for looks, they emphasize off-road use. Any four-wheel drive is then only a safety feature for extreme weather conditions.

The Compass is available with front-wheel drive only, but the Jeep brand owes it to its standing to offer four-wheel drive as an option as a minimum. Therefore, the version driven here features a clever combination of mechanical and electronic off-road technology. That way, the price could be kept down and a good balance is struck between handling and off-road ability.

The handling on public roads is therefore average. Due to indirect steering, Jeep also ensures that the driver cannot make abrupt movements that could throw the car off balance.

Off-road driving

In off-road driving, the Compass is above average. The all-wheel drive is of course mechanical. In doing so, Jeep provides a so-called "diff lock" between the front and rear axles. That way, the drive power does not go to the axle that experiences the least resistance (because it has no grip in mud or sand, for example!), but always to both axles. All other off-road technology is purely electronic. Here the electronic anti-slip control plays a major role, because it can be adjusted to the type of terrain at the push of a button ("Selec Terrain").

In practice, this works adequately in light and even medium-heavy terrain. The electronics are always quick enough to make the appropriate adjustments, and the substantial entry and exit angles ensure that the Compass climbs and descends without a problem (although descent assist or low-gearing are lacking). It was noticeable, however, that the entire bodywork creaked at the seams off-road, as if the car was not intended for such use.

For those who want to conquer even tougher terrain, there is a so-called "Trailhawk" version, which offers all the traditional mechanical off-road technology and therefore goes much further.

Conclusion

Despite all the fancy excuses, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are bought primarily for their looks. Jeep capitalizes on that with the Compass, which, thanks to its origins and appearance, has more charisma than almost all of its competitors.

At the same time, it is noticeable that Jeep is getting better at responding to the wishes of European consumers. Despite all the sense of show, the Compass does not fall short of the more rational competition in terms of space or technology. Depending on the trim chosen, the Compass puts its money where its mouth is and this SUV can actually go off-road.