2025 Jeep Compass

Pros

• For its size, it provides a lot of room for cargo and seating.
• Adjustable touchscreens and portable phone connections
• Excellent off-road capabilities for the Trailhawk level.

Cons

• Unclear system of internal control.
• There’s a lot of engine noise inside.
• More visibility from the outside.
• Some advanced driver assistance tools can be inconvenient to operate.

How does the Compass Move? The Jeep Compass has the finest base engine in its class. Our test car took 8.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, which is faster than most other extra-small SUVs. When you drive the car in real life, it feels weaker than it is because of the transmission’s eagerness to shift up and slowness to shift down, combined with the strong engine.

In addition, the Compass could perform better on winding roads. When you’re traveling around corners, the body roll makes you feel like you’re always moving. When driving slowly, the brakes might feel mushy, and stopping from 60 to zero miles per hour took longer than we expected from a car without off-road tires.

The good news is that the Compass is a terrific choice for going off-road: The Subaru Crosstrek is the only car in its class that cannot travel as far off-road if you select the Trailhawk trim level.

How warm and cozy does the Compass appear? While the Compass provides a pleasant ride, it is not as comfortable to ride for extended periods as it could be. The front head restraints are situated too far forward, and the front seat pillows are too thin to provide adequate support. Taller drivers may experience an unusual forward press on the head. The suspension does an excellent job of smoothing out larger bumps and holes in the road, but the ride is still rough enough to sense the imperfections in the pavement.

The air conditioning effectively maintains the car at a reasonable temperature, although the fan may be extremely loud, especially in tiny cars. However, the sound in the Compass will not be the only one. The noise from the engines is constant, and the freeway is especially noisy due to wind and road conditions. Most likely, you’ll switch on the radio.

What condition is the inside in? We enjoy how the Compass has greater inside space than most other small subcompact SUVs. Front riders have ample space for their heads and legs. There isn’t much space in the rear, but there’s plenty of legroom. The door apertures are small, making it difficult to go in and out.

Another issue is that the Compass needs to make driving more challenging. It can take time to determine the proper order for the various parameters. For example, the controls for the entertainment system are located adjacent to those for the driver assistance system. The entertainment system controls are located lower on the center stack, with the temperature controls. It can be inconvenient only to be able to utilize the touchscreen for certain tasks, and the menu layout on the driver information display is difficult to navigate.

Visibility could be better due to the small car’s square hood, high beltline, and thick pillars, which make it more difficult to see where it is. The extra surround-view camera is quite useful.

What is wrong with the technology? In our test vehicle, the 10.1-inch tablet was large and clear, but it was also slow and unresponsive at times. (We sometimes noticed a loading screen.) It takes a lot of practice to get the hang of the user interface. Several tools were difficult to find, and voice commands have not introduced any new functionality to compensate for this.

Using the car’s personalized home screen will save you time by eliminating the need to search through menus for commonly used directions. Additionally, the wireless link for connecting a smartphone to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay functions flawlessly.

The driving aids are less intriguing. In medium or severe settings, lane-keeping assistance can be picky, and you may feel like you have to fight the car to stay on the road. Also, the various devices’ sirens aren’t helping matters because they’re too loud and annoying.

How is the store’s situation? You’ll be happy to learn that the Compass is similar to compact cars: It boasts one of the most spacious trunks, with 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row. However, there isn’t as much room for tiny items in the cabin. Because the central bench is so short, the door pockets can only accommodate small water bottles. When compared to other small SUVs in the same price range, such as the Honda CR-V, the Compass falls short in key aspects. Said compact SUVs have greater storage space and are better suited for tiny stuff.

The second row has enough space for child car seats. However, the lower anchors are hidden between the seats, while the top anchors are virtually in the trunk’s false floor. The Compass does not make it as simple to install a car seat as some of its competitors.

How much fuel does it use? According to the EPA, the Compass gets 27 mpg on average, which is slightly lower than usual for a car of its size. On our mixed-traffic test route, our test Compass only earned more than 25 mpg, implying that how you drive has a significant impact on how well the turbocharged engine consumes gas.

Is the Compass of any use? When you consider the pricing, the Compass is a compact SUV. For the same price, you get less space, less functionality, and less flair. The Compass includes a powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, which is standard. However, it is not a fantastic deal when compared to what else you could acquire for the same price, such as a Mazda CX-50, Honda CR-V, or Subaru Forester if you enjoy the outdoors.

The majority of the contact locations inside our test vehicle were soft-touch, but plastics that seem thin are common. Our test car did not creak or rattle, but much of the interior trim moved around and did not feel as substantial as we would have wanted.

The warranty only covers basic parts for three years (36,000 miles) and the engine for five years (60,000 km). It’s reassuring to know that roadside support is valid for five years or 60,000 miles, while several competitors only provide it for the duration of the standard warranty.

The Compass is marketed as a “baby Grand Cherokee,” although it is actually the previous generation Grand Cherokee, not the finer newer model. The Compass’s body design is the one feature that truly makes it resemble a Jeep. After removing the emblem from the steering wheel, the interior of the vehicle appears rather regular. The Trailhawk trim level provides extra off-road exploration choices as well as features exclusive to Jeeps. Another concern is if the price is worthwhile.

We recommend the Latitude trim because, unlike the standard Sport trim, which does not include any packages, it is a decent value and has a few packages that may be added. Along with the Sport’s features, the Latitude includes improved seating, remote engine start, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. If you want more advanced driver assistance, choose the Driver Aid Group or Convenience Group package.