2007 COMPASS LIMITED

The Jeep Compass shares many of its components with the . Both vehicles are car-based crossovers, making the Compass the only Jeep not able to handle serious off-roading. The first front-wheel-drive Jeep, it also offers a choice of four-wheel drive. The Compass comes in three versions, Sport, North and Limited.

Interior and cargo area

The front seats are comfortable, but the backrest is narrow for husky individuals, who will also find the side supports constricting. The passenger-side backrest fold down on the seat cushion to provide more cargo space. The steering wheel is only tiltable. The driving position is good with quite generous head and leg room.

Narrow doors make it difficult to enter, but especially exit, from the rear of the vehicle. Only two people can fit into the seat because the driveshaft tunnel for the 4X4 version and the two upholders on top take up all the space. Seating comfort is only average because the bench is firm, overly convex, and a little too low. Fortunately, both seatback sections can be reclined to several different angles. The seat is split 70/30 and folds flat to the floor.

The liftgate opens wide to provide easy assess to a good cargo area. The floor is flat and lined with plastic.

Convenience and safety

Interior fit and finish are commendable but not perfect; we could hear several cracking sounds in our test vehicle. The quality of materials is average and in several areas, such as the top of the dashboard, the plastic looks cheap. Soundproofing is inadequate, particularly for road noise. There are many good storage spaces. In certain versions the seats can be obtained with a stain resistant, odour resistant, antistatic fabric.

Photo: Jeep Instruments and controls are well laid out. Only the driver-side power window control is lighted at night. The heating system is just adequate. At the Head/Defrost setting, there isn’t much air at foot level, particularly on the driver’s side. The system is slow to heat up. From third speed and up, the fan is noisy.

Among the vehicle’s unusual features are the two speakers built into the liftgate that flip down and aim the music rearward when the hatch is up. There is also a lamp mounted in the headliner than snaps out to double as a flashlight.

The solid side rails do not allow you to tie down the objects you are carrying on the roof rack. Even with cross bars, you’d want to be able to attach objects to the side rails.

Safety-wise, the Compass comes with dual front airbags, two side air curtains, antilock brakes and four head restraints. The two rear restraints do not adjust high enough for people of average height or more. Side airbags are optional. Visibility is hindered by the wide roof pillars and the two rear head restraints. The windshield is not high, making it hard to see the front end of the hood. Headlight intensity and range are weak.

In U.S. government tests, the Compass obtained four out of five stars for front-occupant protection in a frontal collision (the Caliber received five) and five stars for all-occupant protection in a side crash. It earned four stars for rollover resistance.

Engine and

The 2.4-litre 4-cylindre engine puts out 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration is adequate, but pickup is lacklustre, especially from 70 km-h. The engine runs quite smoothly and climbs through the gears relatively easily. With a fuel economy of 11 litres per 100 kilometres and only a 51-litre tank, fuel autonomy is not impressive.

The second-generation continuously variable transmission (CVT2) usually performs very well. The four-wheel-drive system can route up to 90% of torque to the rear wheels when the front wheels spin. There is also a lock mode that blocks the torque split 50/50 between the front and rear axles up to 50 km-h. The system works very well in both modes.

On the road

Despite being a touch firm, the fully independent suspension delivers a smooth ride most of the time. However, reactions on some bumps were almost stiff, with the occasional lively bounce. Handling is good with normal leaning into curves when the driving gets more sporty.

The power steering is well weighted, stable, precise and quicker than average. The turning circle is short. It transmits little road feel. The brakes are powerful and show good fade resistance.

At a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre, we noted that the engine compartment is well laid out but that the engine air intake has to be removed to gain access to the battery. There are holes in all the fender liners and a big opening under the front bumper through which debris could enter and damage the condenser and outside temperature sensor. The underside is sturdy but poorly treated against corrosion, and several joints are not sealed. The design of the casing that holds the fuel and brake lines will let dirt accumulate. Several electric cables are exposed and unshielded. The overhead cams of both engines, developed in conjunction with Hyundai and Mitsubshi, are chain driven.

Conclusion

It’s hard to class the Compass, a Jeep in name only that won’t get a second look from true Jeep enthusiasts. In comparison, the Caliber fared better in U.S. crash tests. The Compass is not a bad vehicle, but it leaves much to be desired on a number of levels, and that will be a handicap faced with the competition.

PROS: versatility, road comportment, pleasant steering, choice of versions, good front seats, efficient 4x4 system

CONS: soundproofing, four seating positions only, rear access, small fuel tank, poor fuel economy, weak headlights, visibility

JEEP COMPASS 2007

Engine: 16-valve, 2.0-litre 4-cylinder; 16-valve, 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder Horsepower: 158 hp at 6,400 rpm; 172 hp at 6,000 rpm Torque: 141 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm; 165 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm Transmission: 5-speed manual; CVT automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: disc/disc : 263.5 cm Length: 440.5 cm Width: 176.1 cm Height: 163.1 cm Weight: 1,393 to 1,499 kg Tires: P215/60R17; P215/65R17; P215/55R18 Maximum towing capacity: 907 kg Airbags: dual front, two curtain airbags. Side air bags are optional.

Fuel consumption with 2.4-litre and 4X4: Transport Canada rating: City 10.1 L/100 km (28 mpg) Highway 8.4 L/100 km (34 mpg) Test result: 11 L/100 km (26 mpg) Test temperature: - 50C to 70C

Fuel tank capacity: 51 litres

Fuel requirement: regular grade gasoline

Acceleration: 0–100 km/h: 10.4 seconds 60–100 km/h: 7.3 seconds

Competition: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, , Nissan X-Trail, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn Vue, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4.

Warranty:  Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km  Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km  Surface corrosion: 3 years/unlimited km  Perforation damage: 5 years/160,000 km  Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module).

Factory replacement parts:  Rear bumper: $599  Front brake disc: $92  Brake pads: $101  Muffler: $318  Front fender: $691

Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $827 to $1,215

Price according to trim level:  Sport: $17,995  North: $20,255  Limited: $22,355

Main options:  4X4 system: $2,000  Air conditioning: $1,100  Sunroof: $850  CVT2 transmission: $1,200 (Limited: $1,300)  Navigation system and 6-disc changer: $2,895

Price as tested: $27,100

Freight and preparation: $1,100

Dealers: Quebec: 157 Canada: 595

© December 2006. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec