Acceleration

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
3	4	3	4.6

Adequate away from a stop and around town, but modest reserve power demands careful planning before passing or highway merging. Compasses made available for test periodically hesitated during acceleration. Test AWD Limited with manual transmission did a lackluster 9.3 sec 0-60 mph. Manual-transmission versions feel only slightly quicker than those with CVT. One manual-transmission test model suffered ragged clutch action. We have not yet tested a Compass with the 158-hp engine, but expect its performance to be marginal at best.

Fuel Economy

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
5	6	5	5

Test AWD models with CVT averaged 17.2 mpg in mostly city driving, 22.4-24.4 mpg with more highway use. AWD with manual transmission averaged 19.1 mpg in test that included gas-eating performance runs. Compass uses regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
6	6	6	5

Comfortable and stable. Easily absorbs most road imperfections. Some float over larger dips, jiggling over highway expansion joints. Little difference between models with 17- and 18-inch tires.

Steering/Handling/Braking

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
5	5	5	4.8

Accurate, natural-feeling steering. Slight wander in gusty crosswinds flaws otherwise confident straight-line composure. Body leans moderately in corners, but while Compass rides lower than most compact SUVs, it feels no more nimble. Large turning circle hurts close-quarters maneuverability. Brakes have good pedal feel.

Quietness

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
5	5	5	4.5

Somewhat quieter than similar Caliber. Wind rush decently squelched, but road noise fairly prominent, especially at highway speeds. Unrefined engine growl intrudes during acceleration.

Controls

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
6	6	6	5.6

Gauges easy to read. Large, simple audio and climate controls within easy reach, though manual-transmission shift lever can block access to climate dials. Available rear-facing fold-down speakers in liftgate are a picnic plus. Compass does not offer Caliber's chilled glovebox compartment. No opportunity to test navigation system. Cabin decor a tinge higher-grade than Caliber's, but still imparts cut-rate feel with lots of hard-plastic surfaces.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
6	6	6	6.1

Generous head room. Seats mounted higher in Compass than in Caliber, expanding ample leg room. Available height-adjustable seat a boon for driver comfort, but still didn't create ideal positioning for all testers. Fold-out digital-media holder in center console a thoughtful touch, but obscures armrest, interferes with manual shifter use. Visibility to front corners and over-the-shoulder impeded by thick roof pillars, and to rear by headrests.

Room/Comfort (rear)

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
5	5	5	4.8

Adult-size head and leg room. However, flat, soft seat lacks support, may prove uncomfortable on longer trips. Low step-in height, but narrow door opening complicates entry/exit.

Cargo Room

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
7	7	7	7.2

Cargo area enhanced by flat-folding front-passenger seat. Unlike Caliber, rear seatbacks fold completely flat. Open hatch barely clears the head of six-footers. Handy load-floor liner removes for easy cleaning. Decent interior storage, though door map pockets too small to be really useful.

Value within Class

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
4	4	4	5.5

Jeep enters uncharted territory with Compass, its first modern SUV without pretense of off-road prowess. Compared with others of its ilk, Compass lacks the overall refinement of the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, especially in interior decor. Fuel economy is good for the class, but the 4-cyl engine feels underpowered and coarse. Compass makes sense as a functional wagon for people who crave Jeep style but don't need go-anywhere Jeep capability. For most others, there are better alternatives.

Total Score

AWD Sport, CVT	AWD Limited, man.	AWD Limited, CVT	Class Average
52	54	52	53.1

Scores for all Compact Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		36
Average Score		53
High Score		60