Jeep Compass Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision

in Car Comparisons
Rear view of a Jeep Compass

Source: Flickr

The Jeep Compass is a subcompact crossover option from Jeep, offering a design reminiscent of a classic Jeep but with more power on the road and a little more agility than other creations from Jeep. Of course, no car is perfect. If you’re considering these items, you might want to consider the Jeep Compass pros and cons before making any choices.

Even the best car on the market isn’t without its issues, which is why it’s helpful to get a complete picture of a car before buying. After all, you don’t want to invest in the Compass for its solid starting price only to be blindsided by its overly sensitive brake pedal. Let’s jump into some benefits and disadvantages of the Jeep Compass.

What We Love: Jeep Compass Pros

Interior space and standard features stand out as some of the best Jeep Compass pros and cons. Let’s discuss what makes the Jeep Compass shine.

Decent Interior and Cargo Space

First on our list of Jeep Compass benefits is the solid interior and cargo space offered to passengers and drivers. There’s ample room to stretch out and pack plenty of luggage in the back.

The front seat of the Jeep Compass offers plenty of head and legroom compared to other subcompact SUVs, and those in the back get plenty of room for their legs. The headroom in the back is a little cramped, but the headroom makes up for it.

The Jeep Compass provides 27.2 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, one of the best in its class. If you fold down the second row of seats, you’ll double that room.


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Solid Starting Price

Jeep isn’t exactly known for providing cheap prices, but the Jeep Compass is one of the few with a reasonable starting price. According to edmunds.com, the starting price for the Jeep Compass is $28,400. This number is far more rational than many similar cars and makes it well worth an investment in this version of the Jeep.

Unfortunately, it is critical to consider that the higher the cost, the less value you’ll get from the Jeep Compass. The highest trim level of the Jeep Compass has a starting price of $37,999 - which isn’t worth it. Stick with the lower trims to make the most of your money.

Effective Standard Features

Finally, tons of standard features come with the Jeep Compass. You’ll find a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen, natural voice recognition, navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

There are also plenty of automated driver assistance features built into the Jeep Compass. You’ll access items like standard automated emergency braking, standard lane-keeping assist, and the option to upgrade to adaptive cruise control.

The Jeep Compass also comes with standard all-wheel drive and has plenty of available upgrades if you want to add more to the standard layout of the Jeep Compass. It has some decent offerings for the lowest trim’s price point. 


THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE JEEP COMPASS

 If you’re interested in saving money by picking a used Compass, it’s vital to get the right model. You might wonder - what is the most reliable year Jeep Compass offers interested drivers?


What We Dislike: Jeep Compass Cons

Limited outward visibility and extreme noise in the cabin are on the negative end of the Jeep Compass pros and cons. Let’s go over these so you aren’t blindsided.

Limited Outward Visibility

One of the worst parts of the Jeep Compass is that it offers limited outward visibility, which can make the driving experience a little more dangerous. There are large pillars on the back windows, which can make it uncomfortable to try to see if there are any obstacles or any cars that might be in the way on the road.

The high beltline and square hood also take a stab at the overall visibility you will get from your Jeep Compass. It’s a small vehicle, and these are large additions that lower the visibility of what is already there.

If you want, you can add an optional surround-view camera to the back of your Jeep Compass. This feature should make it much easier to get a good view.


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Sensitive Brake Pedal

The Jeep Compass brake pedal tends to be more sensitive than other similar models, which can be a good and a bad thing. It won’t take much to stop the car, but too much pressure will cause you to slam to a hard stop on the road. Too fast of a stop could injure yourself or someone else on the road depending on your surroundings.

An overly sensitive brake pedal could also put ample wear and tear on your vehicle. The more often you slam it, the more harm your vehicle will take. It will take practice to master the brake pedal inside the Jeep Compass. 

Intense Cabin Engine Noise

The final significant fault in the Jeep Compass is the intense cabin engine noise. When you start to pick up high speeds on the highway, the cabin will quickly fill with engine noise and wind from the road. This noise will disrupt conversations and become annoying to the person behind the wheel and passengers inside.

If you’re someone who must drive long distances on the road, it can be problematic for significant cabin noise. It makes for an unpleasant time as a driver and might wear you down in time. Unfortunately, the Compass isn’t an excellent selection for long-distance, fast driving if you hate noise.

Final Thoughts

There are a multitude of Jeep Compass pros and cons to consider. The Compass provides decent interior and cargo space, a solid starting price, and effective standard features. However, it offers limited outward visibility, a sensitive brake pedal, and some intense cabin noise once you pick up speed on the road.

We hope this information was helpful! The more you know about a vehicle, the easier it will be to determine if a car is right for you. Though there are many places where the Compass excels, its shortcomings might be too much for some people. It’s your choice whether the Compass fits your needs or has too many downfalls to be practical in your driveway.



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