2024 Jeep Compass Review: City Cruiser With Attitude
When it comes to buying a new compact crossover in the USA, there is no shortage of options. Every automaker has something to offer, but while many focus on perfecting city driving, the 2024 Jeep Compass has the brand's penchant for off-road adventure added to the mix. Powered by a 200-horsepower turbo-four, it's not the liveliest contender when compared to the Mazda CX-50 or Ford Bronco Sport, but it makes up for this with a spacious and high-quality interior, as well as a great standard four-wheel drivetrain. It also has that sturdy, bold style that appeals to local consumers that high-value Japanese or Korean rivals don't, but is that reason enough to choose it over them?
New for 2024
The changes to the new Jeep Compass SUV are primarily cosmetic. For starters, the grille has a fresh new insert, and there will be updated 19-inch wheel designs later in the year. But there are also some new tires to be found on the Trailhawk trim, as well as some new appearance and equipment packages across the lineup. However, Jeep has yet to detail exactly what these will comprise.
2024 Jeep Compass Price: Which One to Buy
As with most Jeep cars, the Compass comes in an almost absurd number of trims. The price of the 2024 Jeep Compass starts at $28,400 for the Sport trim. From there, you move up to the $33,265 Latitude, the $34,565 Altitude, and the $34,990 Latitude Lux. The more premium features start to appear in the Limited, which will cost you $36,245, while the Trailhawk is the more off-road-focused trim and sells for $36,395. Just prior to the special Red edition is the High Altitude at $$39,240, just $275 cheaper than the top trim.
With so many options, picking the right model seems daunting, but if you're aiming for value, you'll want to stick to the lower end of the range. The Sport already has most of what you'd need, but upgrading to the Latitude or Latitude Lux may be worth the slight increase in price. This is especially true if you opt for the Convenience and Driver Assist packages, which add many of the desirable upper-level features without needing to spend on a full upgrade.
Sport | Limited | Trailhawk |
---|---|---|
Entry Level | Mid-Range | Off-Road King |
$ 28400 | $ 36245 | $ 36395 |
2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine (200 hp/221 lb-ft) | Equipped with the Latitude Lux’s features, plus: | Equipped with the Limited’s features, plus: |
17-inch alloy wheels | Black roof | Black-and-red interior color scheme with cloth and leather |
LED headlights | Automatic wipers with de-icing system | 17-inch alloy wheels with gloss-black paint and on-off-road tires |
Blind-spot assist | Dual-zone climate control | Full-size spare tire |
10.1-inch infotainment display | Rear parking sensors | Raised suspension |
Adaptive cruise control | AWD system with crawler gear and Rock driving mode |
Best Deals on 2024 Jeep Compass
Interior and Features
A spacious interior laden with features and boasting the option of near-premium materials make the Compass feel like an upscale product.
The interior of the Compass is simple and sweet, with a dashboard that hosts a tablet-style touchscreen and just enough physical buttons to make the SUV feel modern without being as futuristic as so many EVs. You can get a similarly large instrument gauge cluster if you want. The cabin is otherwise well put together, with durable but quality materials used throughout. The overall impression is not quite premium, though it comes close, and you can upgrade to the point where it feels luxurious. As for the standard list of features, it's quite long, with a strong focus on driver-assistance tech.
Space
You get about as much space inside the Compass as you would with just about any other car in the segment. The front legroom is particularly good, and adults should feel pretty comfortable in the back, too. Meanwhile, headroom is pretty standard around the cabin, though it may be a little lacking for taller folks. The standard manual driver's seat means it may take some effort to find a comfortable position, but visibility is good all around. Unless you opt for one of the packages, you'll need to upgrade to the Latitude Lux to get a power-adjustable driver's seat and front seat heating.
Cargo
A key concern for any shopper in the SUV segment is practicality, and considering the industry giants the Compass goes up against, it won't be setting any records. Behind the second row, you'll find 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which should still be enough for most daily or even weekly needs. Folding down the rear seats supplies you with 59.8 cu-ft, but even this falls far short of the 70+ cubes you'd find inside the Honda CR-V.
There are enough bins and cubbies around the cabin to store a variety of smaller items, including a total of four cupholders, four door pockets, a glove compartment, and some space under the center armrest. The cargo area also comes with an underfloor tray.
Jeep Compass | Honda CR-V | Ford Bronco Sport | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 Seater | 5 Seater | 5 Seater |
Headroom | 39.2 in. front 38.5 in. rear | 38.2 in. front 38.2 in. rear | 41.5 in. front 41.7 in. rear |
Legroom | 41.8 in. front 38.3 in. rear | 41.3 in. front 41 in. rear | 42.4 in. front 36.9 in. rear |
Cargo | 27.2 -59.8 ft³ | 39.3 - 76.5 ft³ | 32.5 - 35.2 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
Like so many SUVs with a more affordable price tag, the Compass starts out with cloth, but it doesn't feel low-grade at all. But at the Sport level, Black is your only color choice. This expands once you upgrade to the Latitude, which not only adds Steel Gray to the palette but also combines the cloth with vinyl for a slightly different type of upholstery. Similarly, the Trailhawk uses a combination of cloth and leather, presented in Black with Ruby Red stitching. All the remaining models coat their interior space with leather alone, with Black being the only choice for all but the Limited, which also offers Steel Gray. If you want something a little more luxurious, premium leather can be optioned for the Trailhawk, Limited, RED, and High Altitude. For most of the range, black and silver accents help to give the cabin personality, replaced by Piano Black in the Trailhawk, or Liquide Chrome in the Limited and High Altitude.
Features and Infotainment
The Compass comes standard with a good list of features that includes six-way manual front seats, a small 3.5-inch driver-information display, manual air conditioning, keyless entry, push-button start, and a pair of 12-volt power outlets. The large 10.1-inch touchscreen is present right from the start, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Wi-Fi, and voice commands. This setup comes with a set of six speakers as standard, which can be upgraded to nine Alpine speakers. The Latitude Lux gets an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. These features are available to lesser trims, but not the Sport. For dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a seven-inch driver-info display, you'll need to upgrade to the Limited. Further up the list, you'll get remote start, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, GPS navigation, HD Radio, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. A wireless charger is also available, along with ventilated front seats and driver-seat memory.
Sport | Latitude Lux | High Altitude | |
---|---|---|---|
Manual air-conditioning | S | S | N/A |
10.1-inch touchscreen | S | S | S |
Eight-way power driver's seat | N/A | S | S |
Heated front seats and steering wheel | N/A | S | S |
Dual-pane power sunroof | N/A | O | S |
Performance
The turbocharged four-pot is adequate for daily needs and off-roading but it feels a bit lethargic around town.
Despite a plethora of models to choose from, the Jeep Compass only gets one engine - a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit that develops 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. A four-wheel drivetrain is standard on every trim, while an eight-speed automatic transmission handles the gearshifts. Performance is adequate, with the Jeep Compass launching from 0-60 mph in a little over eight seconds, according to independent tests, and it can reach a top speed of 130 mph. Properly equipped, the 2024 Compass can tow up to 2,000 lbs with regular trailering.
Like any Jeep, the SUV excels at off-road driving, thanks to its high ground clearance and standard 4x4 drivetrain. The Trailhawk is particularly excellent with an off-road-focused suspension. While not as adept in this regard, the rest of the lineup is more at home on the road. Steering is light enough for city streets and parking lots, but it's not overly communicative. As for ride comfort, it is neither bad nor exceptional, but you won't find any reason to complain.
Fuel Efficiency
Where most compact crossovers place a focus on good gas mileage to promote their value, the Jeep Compass has only mediocre mpg figures to fall back on. According to the EPA, the combo of a turbo-four engine and 4x4 drivetrain only achieves 24/32/27 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles.
These low numbers and a fuel capacity of just 13.5 gallons mean that the Compass can only travel 364 miles before needing to fill up.
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 8-Speed Automatic 4X4 | |
---|---|
Power | 200 hp |
Top speed | 130 mph |
MPG | 24/32/27 mpg |
0-60 | Est. 8.3 sec |
Safety
Though recent tests are inconclusive, the Jeep Compass has proven to be mostly safe, and it has a good list of driver aids.
The last comprehensive safety review of the Jeep Compass was back in 2022 when the NHTSA gave it four out of five stars. For 2024, the NHTSA only conducted side crash and rollover tests, with five out of five and three out of five as the result, respectively. The IIHS awarded the SUV a score of Good in every crash test for 2023, but the headlights could be anywhere between Marginal to Good.
The suite of safety features starts off with ABS, EBD, stability and traction control, hill-start assist, and seven airbags. Driver-assistance features comprise forward collision avoidance, blind-spot assist, lane management, and a rearview camera. These can be bolstered with front and rear parking sensors, park assist, traffic sign recognition, and a surround-view camera. Only the Trailhawk gets hill-descent control.
Sport | Latitude Lux | High Altitude | |
---|---|---|---|
Forward collision avoidance | S | S | S |
Blind-spot assist | S | S | S |
Lane-keep assist | S | S | S |
Parallel park assist | N/A | O | O |
Surround-view camera | N/A | O | O |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Reliability
Jeep cars are generally designed to take a beating, so the high reliability rating of the Compass should come as no surprise. A consumer-verified survey from J.D. Power saw it earn 77 out of 100. Despite this, the car is not immune to recalls. The last was in 2023 for non-adjustable instrument panel lighting. Before that, there were three recalls in 2022.
The warranty for the 2024 Jeep Compass covers basic repairs for three years/36,000 miles, and powertrain concerns for five years/60,000 miles. Roadside assistance is also covered for the same period as the powertrain warranty.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Maintenance |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 3 Years / Unlimited Miles |
Design
Jeep seems intent on keeping the Compass current and stylish, which explains the new insert for the grille, though you still get the standard Jeep seven-slot design. The surround varies between trims, from gloss black to silver, grey, or chrome. These aren't the only trim-defining features, as the Altitude also gets a two-tone exterior and the Trailhwak sports a signature red and black hood decal. Slim LED reflector headlights curve around the hood, with daytime running lights and the option for fog lights. The Compass starts off riding on 17-inch wheels, swapping out for 18s once you hit the Altitude, while the top-tier High Altitude gets 19-inch alloys. Said top trim is also the only one to come standard with the dual-pan panoramic roof, while almost all the rest can option it.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Jeep Compass A Good SUV?
The compact crossover segment has grown increasingly fierce, and while it may have failed to impress when it first launched, the current-gen Jeep Compass is closer to being on par with segment leaders. It might not be quite as good, but it does offer a relatively punchy engine, a good amount of space inside the cabin for people and stuff, and a decent list of features. However, it more than makes up for any weaknesses with its compelling off-road character. Few small vehicles are this hardy and adventurous while still being able to cruise the city streets in comfort. If this dual nature appeals to you, then the Compass is definitely worth considering, but if you spend the majority of your time in town, there are better options.