Jeep Compass review

The Jeep Compass is the sort of car you might consider if you want a family SUV which is capable off-road, and is a funky alternative to the likes of the Skoda Karoq and Nissan Qashqai. It’s immediately identifiable as a Jeep, if the Cherokee is an iPhone 13 Pro Max, then the Compass is an iPhone 13 Mini.

It’s a fairly rugged looking thing thanks to its boxy shape. Go for the Trailhawk version and you get some black cladding around the car and a black skid plate on the front for tackling those extreme off road courses, or the overflow car park of your local car boot sale.

If you get carried away and pick up more supplies than you bargained for, the Compass has a boot big enough for all your nick nacks. The back seats are ok for the kids, but lanky teenagers may struggle for knee room. Up front, space is decent and the seats are comfortable, however drivers over six feet may wish the seat went a bit further back.

At least sat further forward you can appreciate that the Jeep Compass’ interior is a huge improvement on the previous model. The design is smart and the materials in your eyeline feel nice enough. There’s also a big infotainment system with a bright display. It doesn’t feel as plush as a Peugeot 3008 though.

Sadly, it doesn’t ride as well as a Peugeot 3008 either. It’s ok on the motorway, but around town and on back roads it can feel a touch fidgety. Once you’re up to speed, you may notice some road and engine noise creeping into the cabin, which you don’t get in something like a Kia Sportage.

The plug-in hybrid Compass can handle itself off-road well - plus it can do 30 miles on electric power.

The light steering makes low speed manoeuvres a doddle, but it ends up feeling a bit vague when you try and point it down a twisty road. It doesn’t lean too much though, and generally the handling is perfectly acceptable for this sort of car.

There are three engine options available: a 130hp 1.3-litre petrol; a 130hp 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid; and the 240hp 4Xe plug-in hybrid. No diesels to be found here. The regular petrol model is nippy enough around town and comes with a manual gearbox. The self-charging hybrid offers marginal efficiency gains around town, but lacks a bit on the refinement front and can be noisy when you put your foot down.

Meanwhile, the PHEV has an automatic gearbox that is smooth enough and takes the strain out of town driving. It can be a bit slow to respond in traffic though. That said, it’s ability to drive for around 30 miles on electricity alone is a plus for those looking to lower their running costs.

The Compass comes with a raft of safety tech in case you’re slow to react in traffic. Front collision warning can detect if you haven’t seen an obstacle ahead and alert you, while lane keeping assist can stop you inadvertently drifting out of your lane on the motorway.

This makes it one of the safest cars in this class, however this isn’t quite enough to make up for some of the shortcomings. It’s just not as well rounded as some alternatives. That said, if you’re after something that looks rugged and can handle itself off-road, it’s definitely worth considering.

If you want more information about the Jeep Compass, you can read the in-depth driving, practicality and interior sections of this review. Alternatively, head to our deals page to see how much you can save on a Jeep through carwow.