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Introduction
Jeep Compass – 2007 Review: Minus navigation systems, travel is aided by two handy inventions – the map, and the compass. A compass will point you toward a general direction, yet fails to represent alternate routes or more suitable destinations. The map lays out the road for travel and unveils countless alternatives along the way. So, to bring things back around, buying a Jeep Compass is like using a compass: if all you want is to go in the general crossover direction, pick the Jeep and go. Smarter travelers, however, may want to use a map and find better alternatives at destinations like Honda, Hyundai, and Suzuki.
What We Drove
Over the course of one week we put in several hundred miles behind the wheel of a four-wheel-drive 2007 Jeep Compass Sport, which carried a sticker price of $22,180. Though a front-wheel drive Compass starts at $15,985 (including a $560 destination charge), our four-wheeler started at $17,735 and climbed with the addition of a continuously-variable automatic transmission ($1,000); Package E, which included air conditioning, power items, keyless entry, and more ($2,600); a Boston Acoustics sound system ($595); a power sunroof ($800); and cruise control ($250). The Compass is significant for two reasons: it represents the first car-based Jeep not destined for off-road use, and it marks Jeep’s jump into the increasingly popular crossover market.
Performance
Except for the Grand Cherokee SRT-8, few Jeeps have been recognized for on-road performance, and the four-cylinder Compass isn’t about to change that. Of course, it won’t be known for off-road performance either, but that’s another issue. The 172-horsepower 2.4-liter engine does its best to motivate 3,089 – 3,351 pounds of curb weight, and actually is acceptable in getting the Compass up to speed around town and on the highway. With the standard five-speed manual transmission, drivers might have the opportunity to play with the revs and tap some fun from the Compass. Unfortunately, we experienced a CVT-equipped model, which took its time in transforming high-revving engine power into forward momentum. Fuel economy averaged 22.4 mpg.
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