2020 Jeep Compass Road Test and Review

The 2020 Jeep Compass puts the Jeep brand within reach of some who might not otherwise be able to afford a new vehicle. With the Jeep name and seven-slot grille, the Compass has serious off-road abilities. At the same time, it includes some very un-Jeeplike attributes like its transversely mounted engine and front-drive-oriented platform.

While that might imply that the Compass isn’t a ”real Jeep,” Jeep engineers have gone out of their way to give the Compass off-road capabilities its competitors can’t match. Of course, it should be emphasized that off-roading is only part of the Compass’s repertoire. If you have a lengthy commute but still want to drive a Jeep, the Compass is a good solution. As compact SUVs go, there are less expensive choices and there are choices that have better on-road manners. But as an all-around small SUV that can seriously go off-road, the Compass has no peer. 

The exterior design of the Compass compact SUV is properly purposeful. Where other small SUVs seem to embrace cuteness, the Compass has a more serious look. Its classic seven-slot Jeep grille is more muted than on some other Jeep models, but it is definitely in evidence. Behind it, a broad hood sweeps back to a fairly upright windshield, another Jeep-typical touch.

The cabin has small side windows, and the roof rails are integrated into the overall flow of the roof rather than protruding above. The rear is simple, dominated by large taillights while the back windshield is rather small. An open-air dual-pane sunroof can lend a light, airy feeling to the cabin. The Compass is 2.5 inches longer than the Honda HR-V subcompact crossover and 7 inches shorter than the ubiquitous Honda CR-V compact crossover, so in some ways, it sits between the two segments. Taken in its entirety, the Compass has a contemporary, upscale look that says Jeep.

Aside from the prominent Jeep badge on the hub of the Jeep-style steering wheel, there isn’t much in the Compass’s interior to remind you that you are in a Jeep. Instead, you could be held the wheel of virtually any well-designed small SUV.

The dash uses a very conventional approach with two large round gauges flanking a prominent and configurable digital readout. The Compass’s interior features dual-zone temperature control as standard equipment. Also standard is a height-adjustable load floor in the cargo area that can be particularly handy, as is the underfloor tray. The full-length floor console between the two front seats features a sliding armrest and houses cupholders. A rear-seat armrest is included in the 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The front seats are buckets, cloth-covered in the two lower trim levels and with increasingly sophisticated leather in the two uplevel versions. Rear passengers might find their space a bit claustrophobic due to the small rear windows, but all in all, the Compass interior is comfortable.

The 2020 Compass matches the larger, pricier Jeep Cherokee in the infotainment offerings. Depending upon the trim level, buyers get 7- or 8.4-inch touchscreen displays featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. FCA’s Unconnect systems are well-liked for their intuitive operation and large on-screen icons. In our test Compass, we again appreciated the easy integration of Apple CarPlay with an iPhone. You can make phone calls, access music, send and receive messages, and receive voice-guided navigation optimized for traffic conditions using a familiar system. Android phone users will find the Compass’s Android Auto delivers similar well-integrated features.

All drivers get the benefit of a media hub located in the center stack that includes a USB port and auxiliary input jack. The Compass has a second USB port behind the center console for second-row passengers. A 12-volt charger located in the front center stack is standard across all trims as is a second one in the rear cargo area. A 115-volt outlet is standard on the top two trim levels and available in the Latitude trim. An Alpine premium audio system with nine speakers including a subwoofer is available on all but the base version the Compass.

All Compass models are powered by a naturally aspirated 180-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The engine has been dubbed Tigershark by FCA, and while that name might have a bit of hyperbole, we found the engine surprisingly competent in every Compass we drove.

The engine delivers 175 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,900 rpm, and it can be mated to any of three transmissions. Those who enjoy shifting for themselves will favor the old-school six-speed manual transmission that is standard on both 4x2 and 4x4 versions of the Sport trim and on the 4x4 version of the Latitude trim. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the front-drive versions of the Latitude and Limited trims. The Limited 4x4 and the Trailhawk, which is only available as a 4x4, get a nine-speed automatic. The 2020 Jeep Compass offers a choice of two 4x4 distinct systems, Active Drive and Active Drive Low, the latter only available in the Trailhawk version.

The Compass Trailhawk is the most-capable off-roader of all compact SUVs. Beyond that, we were impressed with the generally high level of the 4x4 Compass models beyond the Trailhawk. If you do some light off-roading and often encounter snow, slush, and muck, they can be good solutions.

At the same time, we think that most Compasses will be driven on pavement virtually all of the time, and the crossover does a creditable job of that. Even the base front-drive Sport trim-level model can perform as a comfortable commuter car, while still offering the adventurous look of a Jeep. Just seeing it in your office parking lot can make you long for adventure. We wouldn’t make the Compass our first choice if we decided to spend a Saturday morning charging around the local canyon roads. But if we were going from one canyon road to another through the landscape, it would be a leading option.

The 2020 Compass features a board array of active safety features, some standard and some optional in packages. The Advanced Safety Group, optional across all trim levels, includes adaptive cruise control, a full-speed forward collision warning with automatic braking, a lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic headlamps, and automatic high beams. (Some of this equipment is only available on Compasses with automatic transmission.)

Meanwhile, the Safety and Security Group includes blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and a security alarm. Hill-start assist is standard on all models, and hill-descent control is standard on the Trailhawk. The Compass also offers electronic stability control and electronic roll mitigation across the range. Seven standard airbags lead the list of passive safety features.

The Jeep Compass is right in line with its top competitors in terms of interior room and cargo space. It offers 100 cubic feet of interior space, which is identical to the Honda HR-V and two cubic feet more than the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

With the rear seats up for use, the Compass has 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seatbacks, while the HR-V offers 24.3 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded, it has 59.8 cubic feet of cargo area, and the HR-V has 58.8. The liftgate is easy to open and shut, but no power option is available. We’d rather have a power liftgate than a dual-pane power sunroof, but no one asked us.

In the grand scheme of the American market, the Jeep Compass is a small vehicle, and it is equipped with an efficient four-cylinder engine. This should spell excellent fuel economy. But while the Compass' fuel economy is good, it is also affected by the vehicle’s Jeep-oriented aspirations. Off-roading prowess and high on-road fuel economy are two opposing forces.

The base front-drive Compass with manual transmission turns in an EPA-rated 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. In 4x4 form, those numbers each drop by 1 mpg. A four-wheel drive Compass with an automatic transmission offers 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined. FCA recommends the Compass tow no more than 2,000 pounds. If we had serious towing to do, we’d opt for the Jeep Cherokee, which has twice that towing capacity.

The Compass is available in four different trim configurations: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk. Both front-wheel drive and 4x4 versions are offered on each trim level, except for the Trailhawk, which demonstrates its superior off-road credentials by featuring only the Jeep Active Drive Low 4-wheel-drive system, skid plates, and red tow hooks.

If you are less likely to go off-roading in a serious way, the Sport and Latitude trims are more value-oriented. As you’d guess, each trim level adds more equipment. For those who are looking for a fully equipped vehicle, the Limited trim is your best pick, and it can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. It includes leather perforated-insert bucket seats in two styles. The driver’s seat is eight-way power-operated with power four-way lumbar adjuster, while the front passenger seat adjusts six ways.

In a very hot segment of the market, the 2020 Compass tries to spread the joy with a broad span of prices. For those who want the looks and aura of a Jeep but don’t need off-road capabilities, a low-cost front-drive version is available. At the other end of the scale, there is the accomplished Trailhawk version. Most buyers will find what they like among the list of trims and optional equipment.

The base front-wheel-drive Sport has an MSRP of $22,105 plus a rather high $1,495 destination charge. For the Latitude trim level in 4x4 configuration, the MSRP climbs to $25,355 plus destination. Those seeking luxury will find the Limited 4x4 has an MSRP of $29,905 plus destination. Off-road enthusiasts will no doubt choose the Trailhawk with an MSRP of $29,675 plus destination. All Compass models are built in the FCA assembly plant in Toluca, Mexico.