ALL POINTS BULLETIN
The Compass gives the direction for coming Jeeps. Don’t try a fast getaway
The Jeep fleet is getting a wholesale overhaul as the American brand looks to polish its tarnished image and rebuild its battered sales results in Australia. The Compass is out first, ahead of an updated Cherokee and all-new Wrangler, with the promise of family fun.
THE PICK-UP
ALI: First up, what are those red hooks on the front of this thing?
PAUL: They are tow hitches, a sign that we have the trail-rated Compass Trailhawk. And, before you ask, that means it can go seriously off-road and is not just another front-drive wannabe.
ALI: It’s got a sporty look but I’m not sure the Compass is full-size. It seems a bit small.
PAUL: It’s a five-seater but it probably seems small after the Mitsubishi Outlander, which we had with five seats but has a back end big enough for seven.
ALI: That’s interesting, because I have a friend who is choosing between an Outlander and the Compass. They say the Jeep is nicer but they are worried about service costs and the complaints about Jeeps.
PAUL: They are not the only ones.
THE BAGGAGE
ALI: This is much more refined than previous Jeeps. But I still don’t agree with the claim on the website that it has “painstaking craftsmanship”. Still, stitched leather trims and the plastics seem good.
PAUL: It’s a lot better than one Jeep I remember, where the whole aircon control panel fell down in the guts of the dash. But it’s not cheap at $46,950 on the road, even if that includes the 8.4-inch touchscreen, alloys and even thick rubber floor mats.
ALI: The entertainment set-up is clear and easy to navigate and the Bluetooth connectivity is OK but not amazing. The audio is pretty thumping, which I like.
PAUL: It did feel a bit underwhelming to me, better than the Outlander but not as cushy as a Mazda CX-5 or even the Renault Koleos.
ALI: The airconditioning works all right but on hot days it has to be on the coldest setting to get any results.
THE COMMUTE
ALI: I don’t like snoozy starts when driving and I found the Compass a bit slow in some aspects.
PAUL: It rides nicely, no problem with bumps or speed humps, but it’s not particularly lively. It’s only a 2.0-litre diesel and, even with nine ratios in the automatic, it takes a while to get going.
ALI: I think the safety sensors are a bit of an overkill, beeping madly even when you’re in park or just changing lanes safely. I swear
I almost caused an accident when I swerved thanks to the overzealous beeps.
PAUL: Safety is great but I agree it needs to work with you and not just annoy you. It’s a five-star as you’d expect but Jeep says there are more than 70 available safety items including AEB and blind spot warning.
ALI: Speaking of annoying, the handbrake takes longer than usual to release which I find a pain when you’re after a quick getaway.
THE SHOPPING
ALI: The reverse camera display is large, clear and has lines to show where you’re going and that’s helpful. There’s a standard amount of boot space and storage holds. PAUL: It ticks the box but it’s not outstanding. Still, it was good to find a full-size spare in the back. ALI: It parks fine but that diesel engine is a bit noisy at idle.
SUNDAY RUN
PAUL: This is one for the bush, not mountain passes. It will get the job done, though, in typical weekend getaway conditions.
ALI: We drove up the mountain to visit mum and it definitely goes better when you hit the Sport button. The seats are comfortable and adjust well to suit the driver.
PAUL: What about off-roading capability and the switchable drive modes for the various conditions?
ALI: Eli loved doing a bit of off-roading and the Compass didn’t seem to mind. But I tried a few drive modes on a dirt track and I couldn’t tell the difference between the settings for Sand or Rocks and Mud.
PAUL: It does make a difference if you’re going to extremes.
THE FAMILY
ELI: I like it. It’s fun.
ALI: It’s also practical but I’m not sure there are many people who want a serious four-wheel drive in this class.
PAUL: Yes, most people just want a family wagon that sits up high. This is well beyond that, although you can get a front-wheel drive Compass if you just want the look.
ALI: And I’ll bet it’s a lot cheaper.
PAUL: The basic Compass Sport is $30,950 drive-away.
THE TICK
ALI: For looks and refinement, a tick from me. PAUL: I think there are better family SUVs, unless you’re seriously into off-roading. No tick.