If you want an SUV that can handle both muddy tracks and tarmac, then the Jeep Compass is an excellent choice. It draws from the American brand’s 80-year history of building off-road-capable vehicles, fusing genuine go-anywhere ability with all of the modern interior features and technology you’d expect from a mainstream family car. It also comes with a varied engine and drivetrain line-up, ranging from regular front-wheel-drive models to the flagship trail-rated Trailhawk.
With the Jeep Compass having a wheelbase 70mm longer than its sister car, the Renegade, it’s actually similar in size to something like a Nissan Qashqai. So it’s not surprising it offers a respectable amount of space for rear passengers. The rear seats can accommodate 3 adults at a push, but it can be a bit of a squeeze. Rear legroom is excellent, though, and headroom is also decent enough for taller adults – although it’s worth noting the optional panoramic sunroof does lower the ceiling height slightly. The 438-litre boot is easy to access, with a wide tailgate and a flat floor making it easy to load bulkier items. Fold the rear seats down and 1251 litres of storage becomes available.
The Compass gets a large central storage cubby under the armrest, although the glovebox is slightly narrow for a car of this type. The front door bins are reasonably large, but the rear bins can only hold a medium-sized water bottle.
The most efficient version of the Compass is the entry-level front-wheel-drive diesel – powered by a 1.6-litre engine that returns a claimed 43.5mpg. Opt for the larger 2.0-litre diesel, and 4-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox become standard. This version trades fuel economy for extra pulling power, managing up to 38.7mpg.
For drivers who do fewer miles, the petrol engines offer affordable running costs. The base front-wheel-drive petrol is not far behind the equivalent diesel, with the 140hp 1.4-litre engine managing up to 36.7mpg. The 170hp version of the same engine is equipped with 4-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, meaning fuel economy tumbles to 30.7mpg.
One area where the Compass falls short of its rivals is in the way it drives – with the Ford Kuga being the best in the class. Equally, the interior of the Compass is well designed with a respectable amount of equipment, but it lacks the modern techy feel of the 3008 and the latest Qashqai.
That said, the 4-wheel-drive models boast great off-road ability with an array of switchable modes to help tackle almost any type of terrain. Therefore, if you want a family SUV that is a capable all-rounder, it’s an excellent choice.
The Jeep Compass shares its engines and drivetrains with several other models built by the Stellantis group, including the Fiat 500L and the Jeep Renegade – meaning it uses tried and tested parts so it should be dependable. The Jeep Compass also has advantageous coverage compared to rivals, with a 5-year/75,000-mile warranty.
The Compass has a 438-litre boot, expanding to 1251 litres with the rear seats folded down.
The Jeep Compass range starts with the base Longitude trim level, followed by Night Eagle, Limited, S and the flagship Trailhawk model.
No, front and rear parking sensors are only standard on the Limited and Trailhawk trims, with the S model getting standard rear sensors. All models are fitted with a reversing camera.
The Jeep Compass is a similar size to the Nissan Qashqai and offers more legroom for rear passengers. The interior is spacious and features several well-designed storage bins. The boot is a decent size too, with a flat floor making loading easier.
The Compass is an offbeat alternative to the standard family offerings from Ford, Nissan, Peugeot and SEAT, which also happens to be a thoroughly competent off-roader in 4-wheel-drive specification.
Get a fantastic price with no hidden fees when leasing a Jeep Compass with Vanarama. We’ll give you the best deal possible and provide you with our free 30-day returns policy if you’re not completely satisfied with your new vehicle.
Take a look at what other happy customers have said on our excellent Trustpilot reviews or get in touch with our friendly team of advisors for more information about leasing a Jeep Compass.
Leasing a car offers several benefits. The process is incredibly simple. There’s no hassle or stress when it comes to selling the car, as you simply hand it back to Vanarama at the end of your contract. The contracts themselves are incredibly flexible, allowing you to tailor the budget and time of the contract to one that suits you. And insurance and maintenance are all taken care of for you.
The Jeep Compass boasts a unique set of talents – with rugged styling, a spacious interior, modern technology and great practicality all blended into one package. It’s also a unique leasing alternative in the family compact-crossover/SUV class, with copious amounts of off-road ability that its rivals can’t match.
The interior of the latest Jeep Compass has moved on from the budget feel of the old model and is now far better quality. Its 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment system has a crisp display that’s easy to read. It also has a simple menu system, with most essential tasks requiring only 2 or 3 clicks to access.
Thanks to its off-road heritage, the Jeep Compass excels off the beaten track – with its vast array of talents and switchable driving modes meaning you can drive it equally safely on wet fields, muddy tracks, snow and gravel. Jeep’s ‘Active Drive Low’ set-up adds a crawling gear ratio to help it climb steep inclines, with the engine able to send all of the power to 1 wheel if needed.
Around town, it’s quiet and comfortable and on faster roads, hard acceleration means the engines can become quite vocal, but the Compass becomes a hushed motorway cruiser once up to speed.
Under the bonnet, the entry-level diesel uses a 120hp 1.6-litre engine, getting the Compass from 0-62mph in 11 seconds – an adequate time rather than a groundbreaking one. The range-topping 2.0-litre diesel increases power to 170hp and improves pulling power. It’s fitted with 4-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic gearbox and takes 9.5 seconds to get from 0-62mph.
The petrol engine is a 1.4-litre unit which can be specced with 140hp or 170hp. The 0-62mph run takes 9.9 seconds for the lower output – with the more powerful version taking 9.5 seconds. Again, opting for the more powerful version adds 4-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic box as standard.
Jeep Compass SUV
The standard body style for the Jeep Compass is a 5-door, 5-seat SUV. It’s available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, manual or automatic gearboxes, and front- or 4-wheel drive.
Trim Levels Available: Longitude, Night Eagle, Limited S, Trailhawk
All versions of the Jeep Compass are well equipped with LED taillights, 17-inch alloy wheels and electrically folding mirrors. Inside, standard-fit equipment includes keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, automatic windscreen wipers, an 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system, satnav, a DAB radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Standard safety features include lane departure warning, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a reversing camera.