The 2007 Jeep Compass is an all-new small SUV. Unlike most of Jeep's products, the Compass is meant almost exclusively for street duty.
The 2007 Jeep Compass is an all-new small SUV with seating for five passengers. There are two trim levels: Compass Sport and Compass Limited. The Sport is rather basic. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, an easy-to-clean cargo load floor and a CD player with an MP3 jack, but air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control and some enhanced interior lighting features are all optional. You get these as standard on the Limited as well as 18-inch wheels, leather seating, heated front seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Main options, depending on trim, include all-terrain tires, a sunroof, a six-disc CD changer, satellite radio, a premium Boston Acoustics speaker system and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Compass comes standard with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine capable of 172 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is optional. Two drive configurations are offered: front-wheel drive or automatic 4-wheel drive. On front-drive Sport models only, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available as an option in conjunction with the CVT. However, with only 158 hp, this engine certainly won't make your Compass any faster.
Although generally well laid out, the Jeep's interior is a sea of hard plastic with inconsistent fit and finish. The result is an interior that screams "rental car," which is a shame, because the seats are comfortable and the driving position is excellent. It's also very easy to fold the rear seat flat, plus the front passenger seat folds so you don't have to strap large items to the roof. The cargo area is small, however, measuring just 22.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 53.6 cubic feet with two folks aboard, which is less than a Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson or Toyota RAV4.
Although 172 hp is pretty decent output for a 4-cylinder engine, when equipped with 4WD and the power-sapping CVT, the Jeep Compass feels sluggish during highway merging and passing maneuvers. For the best acceleration and fuel economy, go with a front-wheel-drive model with the manual gearbox. Mechanically, the Jeep's best feature is its fully independent suspension. With the 18-inch wheels and tires and the 4WD, the Compass feels agile and responsive. It's easy to drive, and it never feels tippy. The downside is that the Compass is ill-suited for anything more than a dusty trail. The Jeep does have up to 8.4 inches of ground clearance, but it lacks low-range gearing and is fitted with all-season tires as standard.
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