The Compass rides and handles more like a car than an SUV and it offers plenty of safety features. It has a strong steel structure and a well-planned subframe. Side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control with anti-rollover sensors are standard.
Inside, the instruments and controls are well placed and easy to use. There's good interior space all around, with rear seats that fold flat to make about 54 cubic feet of cargo space. Options for added versatility include reclining rear seats and a passenger front seat that also folds flat, creating either a table or eight-foot-long space for storage. While the new interior design is a step up versus the cut-rate feel of the last version, it is still largely plastic and doesn't offer a rich or warm feel. Power windows and power door locks are optional.
For 2009, the Compass also gets more sound insulation in the engine compartment and floor, as well as revised suspension tuning on the Sport model for a more comfortable ride. Jeep's UConnect Tunes and UConnect GPS systems are also offered for the first time. Next Page