2024 Jeep Compass Reviews, Pricing & Specs

We tested a Compass in Michigan, the proud home of Big Blue and Jeep's U.S. headquarters. With luggage and a fresh key fob in hand, we beelined to the Compass Altitude with a snazzy red two-tone paint job and blacked-out trim. The tailgate wouldn't open. No door unlocked. More frantic pressing—and then, we knew. A few spaces down was a white Compass with black plastic door handles and small wheels, the exact sort of fleet vehicle a water company uses to check the meters. That, minus the flashing utility lights, was our test car.

In full rental-car dress, the Compass Sport is invisible. Nothing except the seven-slot grille identifies it as a Jeep. A Toyota RAV4 shares the same U-shaped, cladded wheel wells. The taillights and the body shape could be from any number of small crossovers in the last 20 years. Unless outfitted as a Trailhawk, with that model's red tow hooks, revised bumpers, and a mild lift, the body is generic as they come.

We last tested a fully loaded 2023 Compass Limited. On that trim, the interior shined with a black and gray colour scheme offset by caramel leatherette across the dash and doors. Even in base trim, the Compass does a good job with interior design and quality—a compliment that applies only to 2022 and later model years, when Jeep gutted the cabin and installed large screens and superior fit and finish. The base Compass has supportive cloth seats with blue stitching and textured crosshatch inserts. Even the door panels and the dash have a light gray cloth that adds shape and contrast. There's push-button start, a large 10-inch infotainment screen, and plastics that look and feel appropriate for the price. Silver plastic accents on the steering wheel—which is urethane instead of leather-wrapped—and the dash convey an actual sense of style. It's not a penalty box. Older Compass models in any trim lacked the cohesiveness and modernity of what Honda, Hyundai, and Kia offer on their compact SUVs. Still, we wish the exterior was more unique. A Jeep should be recognizable from any angle.

The naturally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine has been shelved since the 2023 model year. That anemic and noisy engine is still standard on the Cherokee, whereas the Compass uses a detuned version of the Cherokee's optional turbocharged 2.0-litre Inline four-cylinder. The turbo-four is rated at 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. With an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), the Compass scoots around town and merges onto highways with ease. This is what the Compass always needed. Engine noise is minimized, in large part because the driver doesn't have to lead-foot anymore to achieve maximum power.

Three driving modes (auto, snow, sand/mud) plus the ability to lock torque 50-50 front to rear, help optimize traction. Unlike more expensive Jeeps, the Compass has a rear-axle disconnect that in most situations will save fuel by only driving the front wheels. But it also reacts slowly under hard acceleration, such as when turning from a stop to keep up with traffic, which causes wheelspin. Pressing the 4WD Lock button will always keep the rear wheels engaged. The Compass Trailhawk has a low-range transfer case—an expensive part no other compact SUV dares to offer—for steep grades and extra-slippery surfaces like deep mud. It also includes an extra "rock" driving mode plus Falken all-terrain tires, metal skid plates, and 21.8 centimetres of ground clearance. But it costs $7,000 more to start than the Sport and most drivers won't exercise its genuine capability. Maximum towing is 907 kilograms (2,000 pounds) across the lineup.

Steering and handling are weak points, especially compared to the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV4. The steering has too much play off centre and doesn't convey enough accuracy to the driver at medium to high speeds. The handling is also mushy and grip is low. At least the ride is comfortable and well-damped. For a smaller, car-based Jeep, we expected a more car-like drive from the Sport trim. When we tried a 2023 Limited, we were more impressed with the poise and grip provided by that model's larger and wider tires.

Fuel economy is Natural Resources Canada-estimated at 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 7.4 on the highway, and 8.8 combined for all trim levels. While city fuel economy is higher than many other compact SUVs, the combined rating falls within range of its competitors.

Utility and ease of use are Compass strongpoints. From the driver’s seat, clear analog gauges flank a large colour display that cycles through various info panels. Buttons behind the steering wheel adjust the stereo's volume, seek, and audio inputs. There's a regular PRNDL gear selector, a convenient row of buttons beneath the touchscreen, and physical climate controls. The only odd part, since the touchscreen shows the climate adjustments, is the lack of any temperature readouts. We understand it's not automatic, but instead of a blue and red gradient bar, couldn't Jeep show the actual reading?

Visibility and sight lines are good. Without a sunroof, front headroom is extra spacious. Like the front seats, the rear seats have ample legroom and headroom. Plus, they have a set of rear vents, USB ports, and a fold-down centre armrest, the latter of which isn't included on luxury entry-level SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLA. The central cubby up front and the door pockets are small. Cargo space is competitive with 770 litres behind the rear seat and 1,693 litres when folded. A big benefit for Compass trims with a manual front passenger seat: It too folds, so carrying longer items is a snap.

A 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5 software comes standard, unlike other SUVs that pair smaller screens in a larger housing meant to accommodate both sizes. It's slick, crisp, and generally quick. Also, unlike similar screens in more expensive models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Compass has no legibility issues with the row of text and icons at the top of the display. Everything is always clear and menus are simple to browse and adjust vehicle settings. The only demerit is the home screen, which does not allow direct app switching for climate, radio, or anything else (you must tap a tiny square icon in each corner of the tile). That said, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB-C ports come standard. Factory navigation is optional, but it's built-in so you can pay to upgrade it later. A wireless charging pad is optional on higher trims and secures phones from shifting around.

A 10.3-inch digital instrument panel with full-screen maps is standard on the Altitude and Trailhawk Elite trim and optional on some others. On the Limited trim, the Elite Exterior Group costs $3,250 and equips a long list of features, including 19-inch alloy wheels, Alexa Built-In, connected travel and traffic services, driver seat with memory setting, a foot-activated power liftgate, front ventilated seats (heated front seats are standard), and SiriusXM radio service.

As of this writing, the 2024 Jeep Compass has not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The identical 2022 model year was crash-tested and received four out five stars, with four stars for driver and passenger in the frontal test and five stars for front and rear passengers in the side tests. It scored three out of five stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the identical 2023 Compass a Top Safety Pick, in which it scored the top ratings in all six crash tests. A driver's knee airbag is standard.

Forward emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor come standard. Blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are is standard on all but the base trim. A 360-degree cameras is optional on all trims but the base Sport and standard on Trailhawk Elite.

At $40,415 as tested (including a destination estimate, though those charges change across the country), the 2024 Compass Sport comes one way without options and yet offers a lot of SUV for the money. The Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 both undercut the Compass and come with standard AWD, but the Compass makes up ground in AWD capability and features. The Honda CR-V starts at roughly the same price once you factor for AWD and comes with less feature content. Other competitors steer and handle better, and to our eyes, have better-looking exteriors. Top trims on the Compass are way too expensive—they approach $50,000, a lofty air where a Jeep Compass has no business. Keep it reasonable, and the Compass offers a decent interior and good performance.

Note: Images show a US model.