The Jeep Compass is a Nice Ride You can Afford

The Jeep name has been synonymous with off road ability since the first Wrangler showed up serving America’s military. Today the Jeep we know shows off with a lineup of awesome vehicles full of great features, especially off road capability. With a huge amount of boulder crushing equipment on models such as the Wrangler, the Jeep Compass comes in as a more affordable model that spends more time on the pavement than on trails. This version of Jeep allows many owners to enjoy the features they love about Jeep models without the higher prices of the versions that are filled with a variety of off road features.

The Jeep Compass is due for a remodel soon and has stiff competition from the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and Ford Escape. Even with that fact, the Compass shows up as a highly desirable five-passenger compact SUV that comes in at the right price for just about anyone looking to drive and SUV. Very few changes have been made for 2015, but the included changes are the addition of a dome light instead of the removable flashlight, a new green paint color to choose and a navigation system that shows up on the Latitude model.

With excellent acceleration and car-like manners the Compass offers a driving and riding feel that is mature and smooth. With a composed and well-designed suspension system that easily dispels any and all road defects along with a steering system that is dynamic and responsive the Compass makes driving a pleasure cruise along any city streets or highways. This Jeep handles a canyon run with ease, but does lose a bit of luster when it comes to off road capability as this is the Jeep model that was made for those who spend most of their time toting kids to soccer or other activities.

The Jeep Compass offers two engines to choose from depending on the model selected. There are three transmission choices to pick from; a five-speed manual, six-speed automatic or a continuously variable automatic transmission. The towing capacity is slight at 2,000 pounds, but is enough to bring a few toys out to the lake or campground for a great weekend of fun.

The first engine is found in the Sport and Latitude models and shows up as a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that offers 158 horsepower and 141 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine offers fuel numbers that come in at 23 city/30 hwy mpg for the front-wheel drive in manual, 21 city/28 hwy mpg for the front-wheel drive in automatic and 22 city/27 hwy mpg for the front-wheel drive with the CVT.

The larger engine found on the Limited models and the 4WD models of the Sport and Latitude is the 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that offers up 172 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. This model shows up with a variety of fuel number that include 23 city/28 hwy for the front-wheel drive manual, 21 city/28 hwy mpg for the front wheel drive automatic, 23 city/28 hwy mpg for the four-wheel drive manual, 21 city/27 hwy mpg for the Freedom Drive I four-wheel drive with the automatic, and 20 city/23 hwy mpg for the Freedom Drive II w/Off-Road Package four-wheel drive and the CVT automatic.

The cabin of the Compass can be set up in a variety of ways to include either cloth or leather and offer several versions of seating enjoyment. On higher trims the rear seats recline and the cargo space is generous as is the leg room for rear seat passengers. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 fashion and the passenger seat will fold flat making it much easier to carry a variety of cargo sizes and shapes. The control panel of the Compass is easy to understand ant offers an instant drivability that makes it a favorite for many who just want something larger and more substantial than a sedan to drive.

On the outside the Compass shows up first with the signature seven port grill which makes it a Jeep from the outset. The Compass does offer some differences from other models with rounder edges and corners. A stronger appearance is evident when the Freedom Drive II Off Road Group is chosen which adds skidplates and tow hooks to the vehicle. Giving a final look to the Compass, the wheels are and eye-catching six sided pattern that looks really cool whether parked in the driveway or driving down the parkway.

To help keep the base price down, the Sport trim is offered with a very limited amount of standard features. These include air conditioning, cruise control, and a four speaker audio system with an auxiliary port and not much more at all. Moving up to the Latitude model adds the automatic transmission, heated front seats, power windows and door locks and a leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. At the top end the Limited model shows up with leather trimmed upholstery, the larger engine, a six-way power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, a universal garage-door opener and an upgraded audio system with a six disc changer and hard drive.

An SUV that comes with only a few standard features needs to have plenty of great options and the Compass does just that in true Jeep style. These optional features start with the Power Value Group which adds power windows and keyless entry, and moves on up to the fan favorite Freedom Drive II for off road enjoyment. Other great features that can be added include a rearview camera, a navigation system, Bluetooth with wireless connectivity, a sunroof, a premium audio system and an engine block heater. Four-wheel drive is available for all models when the larger engine is chosen along with several Mopar accessories that can be added to make the Jeep Compass even more capable than before.

To keep this a Jeep that is affordable for all, and able to add features desired by many the Compass starts with a base price for the Sport model of $19,800. Heading through the variety of trim levels and features, a fully loaded Compass will demand a price that is well over $30,000 but have the enjoyment of some amazing features and equipment that make the Compass a great drive at any price and with a variety of equipment.