Our Opinion - 2024 Jeep Compass Review The Jeep Compass might not have the best of everything, but it does have some of the most important features that people looking for small SUVs look for. The Compass comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, all-wheel drive, and a four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower that is turbocharged. Some of its more powerful competitors start at higher prices, but this one comes with all-wheel drive as standard. The Compass comes in a range of trims, from the base Sport model to the off-road-ready Trailhawk model, which has a wider turning radius and lower gearing for light off-road driving. There are better compact crossovers for driving, speed, and space, like the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V, but the Compass is still a good choice. What's New? In 2024, Jeep will only make a few changes to the Compass. Later this year, though, this small SUV gets new looks and features. While Jeep has yet to say much about them, we’ll keep this area up to date as soon as we learn more. New 19-inch wheel styles will be available later in the model’s life cycle, and the front grille has been changed. One more thing is that the tough Trailhawk now has a new all-terrain tire. Pros and Cons Pros A strong 2.0-liter turbo. A normal 4WD. All of them come with a big monitor. Cons Too pricey for this group. It’s not offered in hybrid. Bad care, shady around the edges. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Each Compass has a brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that makes 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. All types of the Compass now come with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed transmission as standard. There is a low “crawler” gear ratio on Trailhawk versions, and there is also a “Rock” mode that keeps the Compass in first gear and only moves the wheels that have grip. When we took the Compass to our test track, we saw that the turbo four’s power was perfect for its small size. It can get the SUV to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. Even though it looks big and boxy, the Compass seems more flexible and reacts well to inputs. The weight of the steering is just right, but there is no input from the road. There is a noticeable lean when making tight turns, but the Compass seems skilled, in charge, and firmly set on the road. When we first drove the Compass on an off-road track, we saw that it could handle some small hazards. We also didn’t see any skids from the all-wheel-drive system. Safety The Jeep Compass has a huge number of tools that help the driver. You can find out more about Compass’s crash test findings on the websites of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Some important safety factors are: Normal automatic stopping in an emergency. Normal help staying in your lane. You can get adaptive speed control. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The inside of the Compass is roomy enough for four adults to sit comfortably and conveniently. In this group of cars, the back seat is neither the biggest nor the smallest. People in the back seats can rest their legs on the higher seat bottoms, which makes even long rides more comfy. Even though it looks like it has a good load space and a boxy shape, the Compass is not the biggest in its class. It might only be able to hold a few bags for long trips, but it’s big enough for an airport run. The backs of the rear seats slope up a bit when they are folded down, and the last Compass we looked at could only fit 17 carry-on bags when the seats were folded down. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The new 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine in the Compass gets 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. It is more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine it replaces. We want to test drive the Compass as soon as possible on our 75 mph highway fuel economy route. Infotainment and Connectivity The standard 10.1-inch touchscreen can connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphones wirelessly, recognize speech, and help with directions. Towing and Payload Capacity The little Jeep Compass can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped, but there are better choices for pulling a trailer. This is about the same as the Mazda CX-5 and 500 pounds lighter than the Volkswagen Tiguan and Honda CR-V. Price and How to Choose In the past, we suggested the least expensive Compass Sport because it came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an all-wheel drive. On the other hand, the extra features in the Latitude Lux trim make the Compass more comfortable to live in. The bigger 18-inch wheels are more important than the heated steering wheel, heated leather-trimmed front seats, remote start, and rain-sensing windshield wipers that come standard with the Latitude Lux. The only standard paint color that works for this trim is white, which is a shame. The five high-end options aren’t much better, either.
