2017 Jeep Compass Review: First Impressions
CARS.COM — The Jeep Compass and Patriot long have been lambasted by the motoring press as the least appealing models in the Jeep showroom. Finally, Jeep has unveiled a replacement for both models: a curvy Compass, giving Jeep shoppers another size of Grand Cherokee clone to enjoy.
In reality, the new Compass is something of a mix between the Grand Cherokee and the Renegade. The front, rear and wheel wells are pure scaled-down Grand Cherokee, but the beltline and roof show distinct influence from the Renegade. The look is slick, much more appealing than the still-strange-looking Cherokee. It’s immediately identifiable as a Jeep, something the Cherokee struggles with, and its friendlier compact dimensions (and price) likely will make it more accessible than the costlier Grand.
Inside, there’s more passenger space than you might expect for a compact SUV that’s meant to go head-to-head with the likes of the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue or Ford Escape. Front-seat comfort is quite good, with excellent visibility. Styling is now becoming derivative, however. This is the same interior as we’ve seen in the Cherokee and Renegade, with just a few variations. A-plus for continuity, but a solid C for originality.
Backseat comfort is surprising in that it has more legroom than one would expect for a compact SUV. I found myself able to sit comfortably in the backseat with the front seat located where I would adjust it if I were driving. The issue with the backseat is headroom, or a lack thereof, when the panoramic moonroof is included. It lets a lot of light into the cabin, but takes away an inch or two of valuable headroom. Cargo space is competitive for its segment as well.
For going off-road, the Trailhawk trim is the one to have, but like the larger Cherokee, its abilities are somewhat limited when compared to some other Jeep models. They’re still far and away more impressive than any other compact SUV in the segment, however, and for the vast majority of buyers this is a nonissue anyway — most shopping malls aren’t built with moats. I’ll be getting behind the wheel of this newest Jeep in just a couple of weeks, so stay tuned for some driving impressions in the not-too-distant future.
