Different direction
HE smallest car Jeep has produced was the Compass introduced in 2007, and it was also the fi rst with all round independent suspension. It’s available with front and four wheel drive and the 4x4 system will automatically help keep you going in difficult conditions on road as well as off.
Drive is to the front wheels for normal road use and the clever system progressively adds power to the rear wheels when the going gets slippery.
The 2.2-litre diesel version, with an engine borrowed from Mercedes, was the fi rst Jeep to better 40mpg.
There are also a 2.0-litre and 2.4 petrols but they’re a lot more thirsty. The 2.4 comes with a CVT automatic gearbox as standard but performance is poor.
The diesel is not perfect, being fairly noisy and agricultural but it’s still the best choice and makes up the majority of cars available second hand.
It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, as opposed to the 2.0-litre petrol’s five-speeder, and is available with either 134 or 161bhp.
Despite its height the Jeep handles reasonably well. It has less body roll than you’d expect, although it can get unsettled on rougher surfaces. The steering is pretty inert but it is well weighted. Four-wheel-drive versions offer plenty of traction, even on loose surfaces, and a lockable centre coupling is fitted to allow for maximum traction in snow, sand or mud.
Prices for earlier cars are now down to quite reasonable levels compared to other 4x4s.
The Compass is about the same size as Ford Focus but feels more roomy inside and of course, has a higher driving position giving a great view.
There is space for four or five in comfort and a decent sized boot. Equipment is up to a very good standard for the price, with aircon, alarm, alloys, audio remote controls, cruise, traction control and remote locking on all.
BRUCE BOOTH JEEP COMPASS DIESEL
Price: Pay about £ 8,000 for an ’11 11-reg Sport+, or £11,000 for a ’13 13-reg Limited
Mechanical: 134bhp, 2,143cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving two or four wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 125mph 0- 62mph: 11.5 seconds Combined mpg: 46 Insurance group: 26 CO2 emissions: 161g/km Main rival: Nissan Qashqai AN ALARMING number of university students have admitted to using their mobile phones while behind the wheel, as well as speeding and drink driving.
According to a survey of 2,313 young Europeans commissioned by Ford, 43 per cent said they had sent texts while driving, while 38 per cent used apps and 36 per cent answered phone calls.
An additional 60 per cent said they break the speed limit, while 13 per cent had admitted to drink driving.
Comparatively, of those who left school at 18, 45 per cent said they speed, nine per cent admitted to drink driving and 41 per cent claimed to use their phone behind the wheel.
These findings come in light of earlier research from the World Health Organisation and the European Road Safety Observatory that found car crashes are the leading cause of death among young people.