2019 Jeep Compass Review

Acceleration is marginal even if you bury the pedal, with a 0-60 mph time of 10.1 seconds. The 2.4-liter engine doesn't make pleasant sounds under these conditions either. If you go light on the gas pedal, it tends to upshift a gear or two too high, exacerbating the tepid power delivery.

The brakes are initially grabby but are easy to modulate after that. Still, there's lots of brake dive and a mushy pedal. In our testing, we observed a long 60-0 mph stopping distance of 140 feet. That's likely due to the Trailhawk's off-road tires. Other Compass versions should be better.

The steering feels taut at highway speeds with a decent amount of weight. It's not overly boosted like some other SUVs, yet it's still easy to manage at low speeds. There isn't much road feel, but that's typical for this type of vehicle.

The Compass has a solid feel to it, and even the Trailhawk stays decently composed when driving on curvier roads. Its off-road-friendly tires are harsher than all-seasons and handling is numb, particularly in quick transitions. As with braking, other Compass trims will have better handling capability.

The nine-speed automatic's shift quality is OK, but its insistence on upshifting as soon as possible hurts acceleration. You must floor the throttle to get it to downshift. It likes to be driven with a heavy or a light foot. In between, where most people drive, is the most irksome.

For the class, there isn't anything else that off-roads as well as the Trailhawk. It's more capable than you think, and the electronics take the guesswork and stress out of driving. Hard to believe you can drive this thing home afterward. It has a first-gear hold feature and a lockable center differential.

The front seat cushions are firm with adequate lateral support. They're adequately comfortable for most body types. There's plenty of headroom and adequate legroom all around.

The ride is comfortably smooth, even over rough roads, with the suspension and high-profile tires taking the edge off the bumps. The Compass feels surprisingly substantial for a compact SUV.

There's a moderate amount of wind noise on the highway, and the Trailhawk's knobby tires produce noticeable road noise on rougher road surfaces. Our test vehicle did not have any unwanted vibrations or squeaks.

The climate controls are excellent, with a mix of buttons and touchscreen controls. While all operations can be accomplished through the responsive touchscreen, the Compass has buttons that provide quicker access. The overall system performance is effective, and the heated seats and steering wheel get nice and toasty.

All controls are well laid out and clearly labeled. The Trailhawk's drive mode dial is easy to use, with clear indicator lights that let you know what's going on. The infotainment system is busy in appearance, but it's customizable and easy to navigate.

The sill stepover height may be a tad high for less mobile passengers, but most will find it easy. The seat height is perfect for an easy slide in. The doors open almost to 90 degrees and the entry is wide. Even the rear door openings are squared off to provide more head clearance for rear passengers.

The driver's seat offers quite a bit of adjustment, including a very effective four-position lumbar support, which is nice. The limiting comfort factor will be for drivers with long legs since the wheel doesn't telescope out far enough for an optimal position.

The Compass is surprisingly roomy. Even with the driver's seat all the way back, there's room for shorter passengers to sit comfortably. You'll find lots of head-, legroom and elbow room front and rear. The center drive tunnel isn't too tall or intrusive, which helps free up space for the rear middle passenger.

Front and side visibility is decent, though a chunky rear roof pillar creates a blind spot at the rear three-quarter angle. The rearview camera with cross-traffic alert is helpful in this case, especially considering the rear center headrest juts into your view. Thankfully, the headrest is removable.

The newest Compass is miles better than the previous, pre-2017 version. Durable soft-touch interior materials are well-represented, and leather covers the steering wheel and shift knob. We noticed no creaks or rattles, even on the bumpiest of trails.

The armrest bin is sized for large phones or a small camera. The central cupholders have an anti-tip design and can take cups with handles. The door pockets can hold a 26-ounce water bottle and other small items. The glovebox is decently sized. The rear cupholders in the armrest are also anti-tip.

The cargo area measures 27 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 60 cubes when folded. Both are low for the segment. The liftgate's support strut, located on the driver side, intrudes on the hatch opening but doesn't affect loading. Tie-downs are located on the sides and the threshold, allowing for edge-to-edge loading.

LATCH anchors are buried in between seat cushions and are hard to find and access. The top tethers are on the rear seatback, exposed and easy to locate.

All-wheel-drive Compass models such as our Trailhawk can tow up to 2,000 pounds, which is above-average. An optional tow kit adds a four-pin harness and an integrated Class III hitch.

We're fans of the Uconnect system due to its customizability and easy-to-find functions. The top system, Uconnect 4C, comes with a large 8.4-inch screen with clear and crisp navigation graphics. But the system is sluggish, with late alerts, and real-time traffic is anything but.

Any Compass with the 8.4-inch screen has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Front passengers get one USB port and an auxiliary jack. Rear passengers get one USB port and a 110-volt, household-style outlet.

The optional lane departure warning system is sluggish to react. It occasionally warns you too soon, but usually not soon enough. The camera is sensitive to the contrast between the lane markers and the road. Our test car also had the forward collision mitigation, which functions as it should.

It's an average system as far as voice recognition goes, but it stands out due to its scope: It interfaces with the obvious (telephone, navigation, and audio source and channel selection), but you can also send pre-established texts and adjust climate control settings.

Starting things out is the Sport trim. Standard equipment highlights include 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, the smaller Uconnect system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and a six-speaker sound system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Compared to the Sport, the Compass Latitude has larger wheels, upgraded cloth and simulated leather seat upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless ignition and entry, and more choices for options packages.

The Compass Limited is the most comprehensively equipped. Standout features include 18-inch wheels, remote start, upgraded exterior trim, a 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, satellite radio, automatic dual-zone climate control, an upgraded driver information display, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and leather upholstery.

Though the Trailhawk sits below the Limited in price, it differs greatly in function and features. Only available in AWD with the nine-speed automatic, it rides on 17-inch wheels with off-road-oriented tires and has a raised suspension and its own Selec-Terrain system to help it crawl up steep ascents and over rocky surfaces. Red tow hooks, underbody skidplates and a matte-black hood accent further differentiate the Trailhawk from the rest of the Compass line.

Other popular options, depending on the trim level, include a navigation system, a sunroof, a premium Beats audio system, a power liftgate, a Cold Weather package, xenon headlights
and an Advanced Safety package that includes adaptive cruise, automatic high beams, forward collision warning and mitigation, and lane departure warning and intervention.