Our Opinion - 2025 Jeep Compass Review With the Cherokee currently on hiatus, Jeep now has one compact SUV available. Fortunately, the Compass stands out as the more appealing option, featuring greater interior space and more streamlined dimensions. The Compass isn’t as fun to drive as some of its competitors, but its 200-hp four-cylinder engine and smooth automatic transmission make it a good choice for the highway and make the ride comfortable. The Trailhawk edition has the extras needed for real off-roading, but most people who might buy it aren’t interested; for everyday use, we’d like tighter steering and quicker handling. It may look good with a low starting price and basic all-wheel drive, but the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V are better all-around cars for people who want to spend more time on smooth roads than in the woods. What's New? After 2025, the Latitude Lux will no longer be available in the Compass lineup. Instead, there will be four trim options. The only new color is Joose, a limited-edition shade. We have yet to determine what type of juice it’s supposed to stand for because it will be out later this year, but we think it will be orange. What about pomegranate? Pros and Cons Pros A small car for off-road use. Powerful and efficient powertrain. A big touchscreen. Cons Moderate performance. It’s as pricey as a small car. There isn’t a hybrid option available. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Compass has a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that can make 200 horsepower. It has an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive to send power to all four wheels. The Trailhawk version is now ready for off-road use and has a more serious all-wheel-drive system with a “crawler” gear ratio and an extra Rock mode for the Selec-Terrain system. The Compass is quick on roads, but the steering isn’t very accurate, and there’s no feedback. Overall, the small SUV seems well-controlled, but there is a noticeable lean when the vehicle gets close to a turn. However, competitors like Mazda’s CX-5 and CX-50 offer more enjoyable driving dynamics than the Compass. We did play a short off-road course with a Compass and found it to be very good at navigating small obstacles. The all-wheel-drive system also worked without any stuttering. Safety A wide range of Jeep driver-assistance systems come standard on the Compass. The following are important safety features: It comes with automatic emergency brakes. Normal help staying in your lane. You can get adaptive speed control. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The Compass’s small interior is big enough for four adults to fit easily. The crossover is neither the biggest nor the smallest in this wide-ranging class. However, the high seat bottoms in the back seat support your legs completely, making even long trips comfy.The Compass features a boxy shape and offers a decent amount of space, though other cars in its class provide even more interior capacity. There is plenty of room for bags on short trips to the airport, but it can be hard on longer ones. When we tried the last Compass, it could only hold 17 carry-on bags with the seats folded down. When the seats were folded down, the backs of the rear seats stayed somewhat upright. Like, a Ford Escape can hold 21 carry-ons. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA says that the Compass gets 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. When we get the chance, we’ll check the Compass’s gas mileage on our 75-mph highway and post the results on this site. Infotainment and Connectivity The Compass’s base 8.4-inch touchscreen can connect to smartphones running Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and recognize and navigate using natural voice. A 10.1-inch screen, which comes standard on the Trailhawk and Limited and is optional on the Latitude trim, lets you mirror your phone wirelessly. Range, Charging, and Battery Life On our test track, the Compass took 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is about the same as other cars in the same class. It’s slower than a turbocharged Mazda CX-50 (6.4 seconds) but much faster than a non-hybrid Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 (8.1 and 8.3 seconds, respectively). Towing and Payload Capacity The small Jeep Compass can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped, making it a suitable option for light towing needs. It has a weight comparable to the Mazda CX-5 but is 500 pounds lighter than both vehicles. Price and How to Choose The base Compass comes with all-wheel drive and an 8.4-inch tablet with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Latitude is a better choice. Remote start, proximity keyless entry, automatic high lighting, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel are just a few of the options that come with this car. The Compass only has white as a free paint color, which is too bad. Add $595 if you want anything else.
