Performance is adequate if not mind-blowing, and as CVT’s tend to go, things feel relatively smooth and calm when driving gently. Still, the full-throttle experience and laggy, spongy response won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Additionally, some random surging and clunking at low speeds took away from the experience.
Thankfully, interested shoppers can save their cash and get a five-speed manual transmission instead. With the CVT on board, highway mileage in the low-mileage tester settled somewhere around 10L/100km at real-world speeds.
Pleasant to drive
On the road, Compass is surprisingly refined and pleasant to drive. It rides nicely, handles and steers like a small car, and even keeps wind and road noise levels in check. Easy to manoeuvre and park, too.
The slightly elevated driving position is a plus, and even compared to some of the bigger and pricier crossovers from Japan, the Compass will hold its own where dynamics are concerned. Only complaint here dealt with brake pedal feel, which is vague at best.
Hit the dirt?
Hitting the road less travelled? Bearing in mind that the Compass isn’t geared up to tackle the Rubicon trail, it should offer enough ground clearance and 4x4 traction to handle just about anything owners might be thinking of throwing its way. In most any situation, the 4x4 system responds intelligently to the terrain, and the factory tires are adequate for mild or moderate off-road work, too.
Some will wish for more tire-spinning power to escape mud ruts, and the lack of low-range gearing means Compass will have to remain parked at the entrance to any particularly nasty trails.
Perhaps the largest downfall in the dirt is Compass’s suspension. Where it rides admirably on the road, the underpinnings fail to impart a truly solid and rugged feel over rough terrain-- instead becoming noisy and rough in some situations.
4x4 from $21,000
End of the day, Compass should feel confident enough where light to moderate all-purpose off-roading is concerned-- and it excels as a relatively thrifty, functional and flexible year-round access pass to weekend adventure. It brings a whole pile of utility and fun factor to its price range-- which is typically occupied by compact sedans. Pricing for a Jeep Compass 4x4 starts under $21,000.
Thankfully, interested shoppers can save their cash and get a five-speed manual transmission instead. With the CVT on board, highway mileage in the low-mileage tester settled somewhere around 10L/100km at real-world speeds.
Pleasant to drive
On the road, Compass is surprisingly refined and pleasant to drive. It rides nicely, handles and steers like a small car, and even keeps wind and road noise levels in check. Easy to manoeuvre and park, too.
The slightly elevated driving position is a plus, and even compared to some of the bigger and pricier crossovers from Japan, the Compass will hold its own where dynamics are concerned. Only complaint here dealt with brake pedal feel, which is vague at best.
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| With the CVT on board, highway mileage in the low-mileage tester settled somewhere around 10L/100km at real-world speeds. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Hit the dirt?
Hitting the road less travelled? Bearing in mind that the Compass isn’t geared up to tackle the Rubicon trail, it should offer enough ground clearance and 4x4 traction to handle just about anything owners might be thinking of throwing its way. In most any situation, the 4x4 system responds intelligently to the terrain, and the factory tires are adequate for mild or moderate off-road work, too.
Some will wish for more tire-spinning power to escape mud ruts, and the lack of low-range gearing means Compass will have to remain parked at the entrance to any particularly nasty trails.
Perhaps the largest downfall in the dirt is Compass’s suspension. Where it rides admirably on the road, the underpinnings fail to impart a truly solid and rugged feel over rough terrain-- instead becoming noisy and rough in some situations.
4x4 from $21,000
End of the day, Compass should feel confident enough where light to moderate all-purpose off-roading is concerned-- and it excels as a relatively thrifty, functional and flexible year-round access pass to weekend adventure. It brings a whole pile of utility and fun factor to its price range-- which is typically occupied by compact sedans. Pricing for a Jeep Compass 4x4 starts under $21,000.
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