Overview & Reviews

Most people think of Jeeps as tough off-road vehicles that love to get muddy, but when the Jeep Compass debuted for 2007, it wasn't like other Jeeps. It didn't look rugged, it wasn't trail-rated, and as far as we could tell, it didn't even like dirt. Instead, it was a car-based design built for the majority of small-SUV buyers who wanted a fuel-efficient runabout that was easy to drive around suburbia. Four-wheel drive was available, of course, but it was a single-speed system -- enough to get you through a snowstorm and that's about it.

As you can imagine, Jeep purists didn't much care for the Compass, which they regarded as the antithesis of all things Jeep. The company evidently took this early criticism to heart, because the latest iteration has revised styling and newfound capabilities that edge the Compass closer to "real Jeep" status. Even so, the Jeep Compass faces stiff competition among today's compact, car-based SUVs. Its low base price and interesting features may be compelling at a glance, but for those who dig deeper, its subpar engines, modest cargo capacity and relatively crude driving dynamics will likely prove significant liabilities.

Current Jeep Compass
The Jeep Compass is a compact SUV offered in Sport, Latitude and Limited trim levels. Standard equipment on the base Sport includes alloy wheels, full power accessories, cruise control, air-conditioning and an auxiliary audio jack. Stepping up to the Latitude gets you heated front seats, a height-adjustable driver seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls, while the Limited gets items like leather upholstery, a power driver seat, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera and automatic climate control. Notable options include a navigation system, Bluetooth and a USB port.

Every front-wheel-drive Jeep Compass Sport or Latitude model comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 158 horsepower. A 2.4-liter 172-hp four-cylinder engine is standard on the Limited and all four-wheel-drive Compasses. It is optional on the others. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the Sport, but a six-speed automatic transmission can be specified instead. The Latitude and Limited come standard with the six-speed automatic.

Of the two available four-wheel-drive options, the light-duty "Freedom Drive I" system operates in front-wheel-drive mode under normal conditions and automatically sends power to the rear wheels only when needed. The Freedom Drive II Off-Road package (available on 4WD versions) includes hill ascent/descent assist and a host of other all-terrain equipment, but unfortunately it requires the undesirable continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) -- which also comes standard with the optional Altitude and High Altitude packages.

In reviews, we've found the Jeep Compass to be one of the least appealing compact SUVs. At its core, the Compass still shares its underpinnings with the thankfully departed Dodge Caliber hatchback, and suffers from the same weak and noisy engines. Acceleration is slow regardless of which engine you opt for, though the six-speed automatic does improve on the CVT's whiny, sluggish operation. In terms of refinement (or lack thereof), the 2.4-liter is almost as rough and loud as the 2.0, and neither achieves impressive fuel economy.

To be fair, the Freedom Drive II package makes the Compass an unusually capable crossover in the dirt, but if that's what you're after, there are superior alternatives, including Jeep's own Cherokee. And aside from Freedom Drive II, there's little else to recommend the Compass over its peers. Rear passenger space is adequate overall, but legroom is tight back there relative to the norm, and the harsh, bouncy ride haunts both seating rows. Maximum cargo space behind the front seats also trails the pack.

Used Jeep Compass Models
Introduced for the 2007 model year, the Jeep Compass is in its first generation, but there have been significant changes made. From 2007-'10, the Compass featured different exterior styling that was less indicative of other Jeep models. It was rounder, a little more avant garde, and if we're honest, not very attractive. Prior to an interior overhaul for 2009 that addressed both design and materials quality, the cabin was one of the worst on the market. It was upgraded yet again for 2011, which was also the first year for the current car's more capable Freedom Drive II equipment and "baby Grand Cherokee" styling. The six-speed automatic debuted for 2014 as a considerably more civilized alternative to the CVT, though the underlying shortcomings of the engines were not addressed.

User Reviews:

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  Jeep should be ashamed.. - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By slh22 - January 27 - 10:06 am

  I purchased my Compass brand new in 2007 and was so excited to have a reliable vehicle--wow was I wrong! Since buying my Jeep, Ive had nothing but repairs. A new transmission around 30,000 miles, new sway bar, two new ball joints, front and rear brakes replaced, and now both of my outer tie rods need replaced--all of this with only 65,000 miles on it. Jeep really should be ashamed of the poor quality they put into this model. Coming from a "Jeep Family," I will never buy another one.

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  Great vehicle for the price! - 2008 Jeep Compass
  By Rich Reed - January 19 - 9:56 pm

  Ive had the Compass for 15 mos., and have not gone back to the dealer for anything. I have the 5 spd. manual, as I prefer that with a 4 cylinder. Long trips give me 28-30 mpgs, while my "rural" driving returns 27 mpgs. Seldom do city driving. I use the Compass for errands, fishing, and hunting, (with dog). Therefore, the "cheap" plastic interior is just fine, and easy to keep clean. No regrets buying the Compass!

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  Good SUV - 2008 Jeep Compass
  By Don W - January 12 - 10:23 am

  We love to drive the Compass. Great use of space compared to the other SUVs we looked at. Lots of head room and rear seat room. The speed stick on the CVT is great. We do mix city/highway drives with no problems. The tail gate is a bite noisy in the extreme cold (-25c).

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  Good looking; Good runner - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By Larry J. - January 10 - 3:46 am

  I love the way the Jeep Compass handles, darting in and out of lanes, feels tight and in control. The CVT feels very good, and I have not noticed any problems when merging on the highway. I own a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, and I like driving the Compass more than the Limited. I can live with the interior in the Compass, because I opted for the 26E package, and it has all the same stuff as my 96 Limited, plus I got a sun roof and satellite radio.

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  After almost a year, Im still impressed - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By Brooks - December 4 - 1:03 pm

  This car is amazing for what it is. The key part however, is "what it is". It is everything I expected. I purchased this for my wife, and If you are looking for a good gas mileage true 4x4 (and not those pesky AWD only things running around), theres nothing better. I have been so impressed that I sold my 2005 Ford and bought a patriot myself. Im 69", and even with me driving a 66" person can fit comfortably behind me. This isnt true of most Cadillacs, more or less a compact SUV? The ESP and other features work wonders, and I honestly believe this may be the most versatile drive train on any vehicle. Not sure why they may a 2WD version though. jeep has turned it around big time!

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  Glad to get rid of it! - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By sdont - November 17 - 11:57 pm

  I traded in my honda civic for a new jeep limited in 2007. I never had so many issues with my car in 12 yrs than I did in owning the jeep for 4 yrs. It was always something. Just had to replace the outer tie rods and replace 2 low profile tires the other day BILL=$500+ (I dont know why they put those tires on SUVs, tho its the popular thing to do these days). I just traded it in for a Kia Sportage...Love it so far, just hope I never run into the issues I had with the compass!

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  Jeep Compas Needs Help - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By By John - November 2 - 2:03 pm

  I bought my Jeep Compass new in October 2006. A month later we had a major ice storm and the AWD and anti- lock brakes worked great! I was disappointed from the start about the highway mileage I was getting, the highest ever was 27 MPG. I visit my parents who live in another state regularly. This is the first vehicle I have had in the last 17 years that could not make the trip on a tank of gas. I have had both tie-rod ends replaced under warranty and the front brakes which I had to pay for. Items that you normally dont have problems with under 30,000 miles. The CD player lacks a compression mode to even the volume out. The dash board is very clunky looking. The YES seat fabric does not work.

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  Fun, Economical, Loaded - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By EnjoyingIt - November 1 - 7:23 pm

  Ive had my Compass for about a month. With all of the features that my 4x4 Limited has, it is a great value. I would have had to spend another five to seven thousand dollars to get a Honda or Toyota similarly equipped. Fun to drive, economical, and the darker colors are not bad looking in my opinion.

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  My favorite car. - 2008 Jeep Compass
  By Paula - November 1 - 11:00 am

  I wanted to get a car that was SUV- like, but gets good gas mileage. This car does that wonderfully. I get an average of 27 mpg and still have comfortable room for passengers and a fair amount of storage space in the back. It rides higher up and has plenty of leg room. I bought a standard transmission, and I love the way it shifts gears. Very smooth.

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  NOT A SAFE CAR - DOES NO HANDLE IN WET - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By sunshine - October 28 - 1:50 pm

  This car is almost 3 years old and since the beginning I have told the dealer it slides when braking and taking off on wet roads - badly. They always have said nothing is wrong. Now they tell me it must be the tires and I should spend $600.00 on different tires, to my reply was so you sold me a car with unsafe tires. I got a shrug of shoulder response. This coupled with horrible rear and rear sides visibility due to huge v shaped metal between rear and side windows and non-movable headrests make it an unsafe vehicle. I will not even take it on a trip or out if it is raining or about to rain.