Jeep Compass - Pros and cons

In the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, people love SUVs and have a soft corner for capable all-wheel-drive off-roaders especially. The Jeep Compass, which is an American SUV with a very capable 4X4 drivetrain and an aerodynamic yet attractive design is the perfect combination that ticks all the boxes for every SUV enthusiast in the country. 

Unlike its predecessor, the 2020 model was first introduced back in 2018 as an all-new model. The 2020 Jeep Compass is based on the smaller Jeep Renegade compact SUV which is positioned under Compass in the car manufacturer’s lineup.

Even though the 2020 Jeep Compass is a very attractive offering in the budget SUV segment, the carmaker has still managed to balance out its sporty appeal with a slightly understated design. We will now take a detailed look at Jeep Compass's exciting features and also dive what we don’t like about the SUV.

Jeep Compass Price

Jeep compass model is available in the four-variant lineup. Here is a look at the Jeep Compass price in UAE -

Jeep Compass Engine

Under the hood, the outgoing model of Jeep Compass is powered by a 2.4-litre TigerShark 4-cylinder petrol engine which produces 180 hp of power. The motor comes mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and the power is sent to all four wheels helping the compact SUV accelerate to 100 kmph mark from standstill in 9.9 seconds.

Jeep Compass Pros

• Attractive looks: The aesthetics of the 2020 Jeep Compass are its major highlight and have received positive feedback especially the seven-slit grille at the front and the complementing design accents that draw inspiration from the much larger Grand Cherokee.

• Spacious cabin: The cargo bay of Jeep Compass is quite spacious for a car of this size, but it also comes with an electronic booth release and a full-size spare wheel. Also, several cubby storage spaces are intelligently positioned across the boot.
• Impressive knee room: As the 2020 Jeep Compass is a long-wheelbase version of Renegade, the SUV does manage to offer reasonably impressive knee room for the second-row passengers.
• Wide range of tech features: Rear-seat passengers get creature comforts such as rear AC vents, power plug socket, and rear USB ports. At the front, occupants will get a 7-inch full color LED instrument cluster and a touchscreen 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment system which comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard.

• Plenty of safety and driver assistance features: Jeep Compass has several advanced driver-assistance features such as active cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Standard safety features offered in the American SUV include ABS with EBD, forward collision sensor, hill descent control and much more. Jeep Compass also comes with an automatic drive selector called 'SelectTerrain' which configures and controls the power being sent to all four wheels depending on different terrain surfaces which include sand, snow, rocks, and mud.

• Smart storage spaces: There is also an abundance of intelligently positioned cubby storage spaces at the front of the cabin. There is a secret storage space located under the base of the co-passenger seat at the front.
• High-quality material used: The interior of Jeep Compass not only feels premium but the overall fit-and-finish is quite impressive. Panels across the cabin feel sturdy and attractive materials have been used tastefully throughout the space.

Jeep Compass Cons

• Uncomfortable second-row seats: Passengers sitting in the back might not be as comfortable as those in the front because the rear seats get a short base which means they don't offer much thigh support
• Lagging infotainment interface: Even though the infotainment unit comes with a wide range of standard connectivity features, the overall user interface tends to lag sometimes which doesn't do any favors for its user-friendliness.

Verdict

The 2020 Jeep compass is a very formidable off-roader and an attractive looking offering. The SUV manages to handle well and offers a very comfortable ride with just a little bit of understeer. The steering wheel is well weighted and the powertrain works well with the 9-speed automatic gearbox and offers a reasonable response. There is marginal body-roll which is understandable considering Compass is a bigger version of Jeep Renegade. With all the equipment that the American SUV manufacturer has to offer at such a competitive price, Jeep Compass is one of the front-runners in the segment as an all-rounder 4X4.

Also read: Jeep Wrangler - All you need to know