Item: 2017 Jeep Compass
Author: Justin Cupler

Overview

One of four compact crossovers available from Jeep, the venerable Compass distinguishes itself with a bargain price and the ability to leave the road when the mood strikes. If that sounds good to you, don't wait too long to visit the dealership. After a brief run of 2017 models, the Compass will be history.

What's New for 2017

The Limited model has left the lineup.

Choosing Your Jeep Compass

The Compass starts out with a 2-liter four cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and your choice of a five-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The optional 172-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder comes with the manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

The larger engine is required with all-wheel drive. There are two such systems that can go into any Compass model:

Freedom Drive I is an all-wheel drive setup designed for on-road use—it's similar to what you would find on other passenger-oriented crossovers.
Freedom Drive II provides genuine off-road prowess thanks to a host of extra equipment: all-terrain tires, skid plates, hill start and descent assist, and a specially tuned CVT with crawl control.

The four trim levels differ mainly in comfort and convenience features:

CarsDirect Tip

The Compass is very competitively priced across all trim levels, so you can get some nice features on the high end that might otherwise be out of reach. The Freedom Drive packages are available on all trims, which means you can choose where to concentrate your options budget: on comfort and convenience or off-road performance.

Get your price on an Jeep Compass »

Read our review on the Jeep Compass »

John Diether

Automotive Editor - August 12, 2016

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Expert Review

Expert Rating

Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Justin Cupler

Automotive Editor - February 06, 2017

Stuffed between the blocky Patriot and the Cherokee, the Jeep Compass gives compact crossover buyers yet another option. The Compass is yet another attempt by Jeep to draw in the growing small crossover customer base, but it fails to deliver where its competitors succeed, and it has struggling sales to show for it.

Pricing and Equipment

The Jeep Compass starts at $19,940 for its base Sport trim with front-wheel drive. Adding all-wheel drive pushes the base price to $21,940. But due to the base Compass' lack of common features we expect in today's crossovers, like power windows and door locks, we believe buyers will gravitate to the $24,340 Latitude trim, which comes standard with:

Power windows and door locks
17-inch wheels
Chrome exterior accents
Heated front seats

Performance Pros

Jeep gives buyers a wide selection of powertrain options, including a pair of engines and three transmission options.

Can be surprisingly well-prepared for light off-road adventures with the Freedom Drive II’s hill-descent control, skid plates, extra inch of ride height, and improved approach and departure angles.
172-horsepower 2.4-liter engine has ample power to move the small crossover.
Up to 30 miles per gallon highway (2.0-liter with the five-speed manual transmission)

Performance Cons

The base 2.0-liter engine is good on gas, but lacks the power to motivate the Compass.
Fuel economy drops to a dismal 23 mpg with the continuously variable transmission, top all-wheel-drive package, and 2.4-liter engine.
CVT drone is overwhelming at times.
Ride quality suffers on bumpier roads.

Interior Pros

Neat options, like flip-down tailgate speakers, stand out among small CUVs.
With 39.4 inches of rear seat legroom, the Compass is plenty roomy for backseat passengers.

Interior Cons

Max cargo capacity is unimpressive at 53.6 cubic feet.
The cabin is cheaply thrown together.
The base model lacks modern amenities, namely power windows and door locks.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

Small crossovers aren't typically great off-roaders, but the Jeep Compass impresses. With its Freedom Drive II package added, this small people mover can trek farther off the beaten path than some of its competition, thanks to its skid plates, all-terrain tires, and upgraded all-wheel-drive system.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

The Compass’ crash test ratings are worrying. The IIHS hasn't tested it yet – and with a redesigned Compass hitting the market very soon, we doubt it will even bother with the older model – but NHTSA rated the current model at four stars overall. The most alarming part was its three-star rating in frontal crash safety.

The Bottom Line

The Jeep Compass may work for younger buyers looking for something inexpensive that can also handle some off-road duties. Families, however, should be alarmed by its low crash test scores. Its lack of features may also become intolerable through the years.

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Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Not Available

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

Standard: 2.0L I-4 / 158 HP / 141 ft.lbs.

Available: 2.4L I-4 / 172 HP / 165 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Standard: 5-spd man w/OD

Available: 2-spd CVT w/OD6-spd auto w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

23 / 30 / 26 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	Standard: 2.0L I-4 / 158 HP / 141 ft.lbs. Available: 2.4L I-4 / 172 HP / 165 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	23 / 30 / 26 Mpg
Brakes	Front Disc/rear Drum
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel	Compact Steel
Fuel Tank	13.6 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$52

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	53.6 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume	101 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length	175.1 "
Exterior Width	71.4 "
Exterior Height	65.0 "
Front Headroom	40.7 " / 39.9 "
Rear Headroom	39.9 "
Front Legroom	40.6 "
Rear Legroom	39.4 "
Front Shoulder Room	54.6 "
Rear Shoulder Room	54.0 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	3,107 Lbs. / 3,118 Lbs. / 3,181 Lbs.
Wheel Base	104 "
Turning Radius	17.8 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	16.0 " Painted Aluminum / 17.0 " Painted Aluminum / 18.0 " Painted Aluminum
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone / Clearcoat Monotone With Badging / Pearlcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Manual / Dual Power Remote Heated
Bumpers	Body-colored
Grille Moldings	Body-colored W/chrome Accents / Colored
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Cloth / Cloth/vinyl / Cloth/leather / Mopar Katzkin Leather
Front Seat Type	Bucket
Heated Front Seats	Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Armrests	4-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats	60-40 Bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Clock, Seek-scan / Clock / Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers	4
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof	Express Open/close
Rearview Mirror	Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Driver
Tinted Windows	Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	1

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Sentry Key

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation	60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2017 Jeep Compass for Sale

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