New JEEP COMPASS review at a glance:
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Advantages: Cavernous interior space, well mannered and sure-footed on the tarmac, plenty of kit for the money, safety features prioritized.

Disadvantages: Its engines struggle to pull a well-greased handcart, undistinguished ride, you get that sort of short-changed feeling you get when you've left Subway, whilst your stomach still rumbles. Yup, feels a bit cheap.

Summary: Fans of 4X4 will find their bearings in a jiffy with the Compass, providing they don’t stray too far off the beaten track. A vast expanse of cabin space, productive – if not inspiring – engines, safety figuring high up the agenda and a galaxy of equipment at hand stack up to make the Jeep Compass a useful, rewarding 4X4-cum-SUV proposition in our book.

New JEEP COMPASS Review:
Just the two engines to stir the loins – the 2.4-litre petrol that supposedly gives the driver 168bhp to play around with, and a 2.0-litre diesel that rattles into a semblance of life just as soon as the turbo awakes from its boredom-induced slumber.

One trim level might put some people off, but those seeking infinite choices in life wouldn’t be sniffing around the Compass any road.

Both models handle adequately, as the Compass moves in the direction the driver steers it in and the body movements are controlled by you. On road. Take a walk on the slightly more willful side though and it’s all over the shop as you kiss your equilibrium goodbye and your flask of something wet and warm introduces itself to your Rohan trousers.

The elevated driving position won’t give you vertigo, but will give the driver a good overview of the terrain and any dangers ahead. Although the steering wheel only moves up and down, so you could end up looking like you re driving a bus.

Wind-aggravation won’t ruin your chirruping at 70mph, and neither of the engines add their two'penneth to the sobriety. Unless you over-egg the accelerator and then there’s a little histrionics.

Aside from the initial outlay, which isn’t exactly colossal, ongoing costs will keep Compass owners surprisingly upbeat, as the oil-burner manages 43.5mpg, and the petrol even goes 32.5 miles to every gallon flushed into it.

The interior plastics in the Jeep Compass are harsh and unrepentant for their sins, and what's more the dash sections are less Mechano - in the way they don’t fit together – and more miss-matched, odd-coloured stickle bricks.

Part-time four-wheel drive, six airbags, stability control, anti-roll-over protection and an alarm that will keep potential thieves scratching their heads are all part and parcel of the Compass’ safety first remit.

Occupants can populate every nook and cranny of the Compass too, and you could handle more baggage than airport staff and still have room to spare. Well not quite, but you know what we mean. Rear seats and front passenger chair get closer to the ground than a limbo artiste, making the Compass ideally placed for transporting long, awkward-shaped loads.

The single trim level afforded the Compass puts enough features in the hands of the user, knobs, dials, buttons and switches that would come at a cost with many, posher rivals. Leather trim, air-con, 18” rims and the abovementioned proliferation of safety features are standard within the complete ownership package.