Jeep’s latest iteration of the Compass compact SUV now sports new styling that gives it some of the visual appeal of its bigger brother, the Grand Cherokee. However it has to make do with carry-over mechanicals that do little to help its cause. The interior, which is almost entirely shared with the Patriot, is not particularly impressive either. The 2011 Compass does have one significant ace up its sleeve however - a retail price that easily undercuts its rivals.
Quality: The Compass gets the same interior as the recently updated Patriot, and, to be honest, it’s not quite up to par. Mismatched panel textures, inconsistent fitment and a centre console that simply flops around, leaves an impression that this is not an interior that will stand the test of time.Material quality is also behind others in segment, thanks to hard, easily-scratched dash plastics.
The leather-trimmed steering wheel feels good to hold and is probably the most well-finished item in the entire interior, but that’s no surprise - it’s been pinched from the excellent Grand Cherokee’s parts bin.
Comfort: The floor-mounted rear cupholders make it difficult for anyone to get comfortable in the centre rear seat, but there’s adequate room for four adults in the Compass’ cabin. The manually-adjusted front seats have good cushioning, but a tilt-only steering column and the lack of adjustable lumbar support aren’t conducive to driver comfort.
Headroom and legroom is good at both front and rear, however the rear seat squab could do with more under-thigh support. The back seat adjusts for recline to give passengers some extra comfort, although it results in a slight loss of cargo capacity.
Equipment: The Jeep’s equipment list is pretty sparse, with manual air-conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, foglamps, power windows and power-adjustable/heated wing mirrors. A four-speaker stereo with single-disc CD/DVD/MP3 player is the only sound system available, and Bluetooth phone integration and USB audio input are cost options.
Storage: Back seats up and with the cargo cover in place, the Compass’ boot measures 328 litres - just big enough for a modern pram (but not much else) Fold the back seats down and a long, flat floor is created, with a maximum cargo capacity of 1269 litres.