Basic powertrain
Under the hood of the 2010 Jeep Compass lies a small 4-cylinder engine producing 172 horsepower. More importantly, it delivers substantial low-end torque for surprisingly quick sprints off the line and commendable performance about town.
Sadly, I still can’t appreciate the merits of the automaker’s continuously-variable transmission (CVT). All I could think about was its annoying slips and sounds under hard acceleration, which literally gave the impression that the engine was over-revving.
On the plus side, my tester came with the optional Freedom-Drive I active full-time 4x4 system with selectable 4WD LOCK, endowing the Compass with some off-road capability (not "Trail Rated," though). Above all else, this system allows commuters to get out of tricky conditions like deep snow or slippery street corners.
Another sad realization I had was fuel economy — nowhere near as promising as the numbers announced by the company. Through my week of testing, which included everything from deserted byroads to high-speed boulevards to poorly-maintained city streets in rush-hour traffic, the Compass could not post a better average than 10.2 L/100 km. That’s a lot more fuel than what is normally expected of a compact SUV.
Unsuspected heroism
The true character of the Jeep Compass revealed itself in ways that caught me a little off-guard. While it fared pretty well in the Greater Montreal area, there wasn’t anything spectacular about it. Then, one day, it stumbled upon a damsel in distress, more accurately a late-season snowstorm. In my part of the country, that meant 47 centimetres of snow (how’s that for springtime!).
A funny thing happened: the little Jeep put on its superhero costume and tackled every single obstacle in its path, never hesitating in the process, not even on remote country roads where layers of white powder had been voluntarily left over muddy sections.
Of course, I didn’t found the Compass to be more comfortable or exciting as a result. Having said that, I did enjoy how it made a mockery of small snow banks and other natural pitfalls. It never flinched.
While this small SUV may not deserve a medal of honor or courage, it definitely managed to display superhero-like qualities at times. Call it a wagon rather than a truck, one that will appeal to Jeep fans both downtown and uptown.
Under the hood of the 2010 Jeep Compass lies a small 4-cylinder engine producing 172 horsepower. More importantly, it delivers substantial low-end torque for surprisingly quick sprints off the line and commendable performance about town.
Sadly, I still can’t appreciate the merits of the automaker’s continuously-variable transmission (CVT). All I could think about was its annoying slips and sounds under hard acceleration, which literally gave the impression that the engine was over-revving.
On the plus side, my tester came with the optional Freedom-Drive I active full-time 4x4 system with selectable 4WD LOCK, endowing the Compass with some off-road capability (not "Trail Rated," though). Above all else, this system allows commuters to get out of tricky conditions like deep snow or slippery street corners.
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| Call it a wagon rather than a truck, one that will appeal to Jeep fans both downtown and uptown. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Another sad realization I had was fuel economy — nowhere near as promising as the numbers announced by the company. Through my week of testing, which included everything from deserted byroads to high-speed boulevards to poorly-maintained city streets in rush-hour traffic, the Compass could not post a better average than 10.2 L/100 km. That’s a lot more fuel than what is normally expected of a compact SUV.
Unsuspected heroism
The true character of the Jeep Compass revealed itself in ways that caught me a little off-guard. While it fared pretty well in the Greater Montreal area, there wasn’t anything spectacular about it. Then, one day, it stumbled upon a damsel in distress, more accurately a late-season snowstorm. In my part of the country, that meant 47 centimetres of snow (how’s that for springtime!).
A funny thing happened: the little Jeep put on its superhero costume and tackled every single obstacle in its path, never hesitating in the process, not even on remote country roads where layers of white powder had been voluntarily left over muddy sections.
Of course, I didn’t found the Compass to be more comfortable or exciting as a result. Having said that, I did enjoy how it made a mockery of small snow banks and other natural pitfalls. It never flinched.
While this small SUV may not deserve a medal of honor or courage, it definitely managed to display superhero-like qualities at times. Call it a wagon rather than a truck, one that will appeal to Jeep fans both downtown and uptown.
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