Jeep Compass 2.0 Limited is a good companion
Jeep Compass is the cheapest model in the American brand's offer. He is smaller and lighter than his older brothers, but still retains family traits and character traits. Does the "little Grand Cherokee" still have a chance to appear in Poland?
Jeep is still trying to gain acceptance in markets other than the US. Year after year, more vehicles are being exported overseas and as a result, their sales team, which closed last year, recorded the highest sales since the brand was founded, with 731 units worldwide. Jeep Compass with 121 units sold, it is the third best selling Jeep in the world.
These figures do not have a direct impact on the Polish market, because here the new jeeps are rather exotic. This does not mean that the struggle for the client stops. On the contrary, gentlemen from the States are constantly adjusting the offer to the needs of Polish customers. It has been updated again this year and although it is a bit limited compared to other markets, it will definitely have some new products.
Looking at Compass from the outside, one gets the impression that there are not so many changes. This impression is clearly deceptive, because a facelift took place here - only very delicate and purely cosmetic. Major changes include a smoked taillight and new details. The Jeep grille now has a bright grille, and the fog lamp frame has been given some chrome. In addition, the North and Limited versions will receive new body-color heated mirrors and a windshield with increased sound insulation.
The design of the new Compass cannot be denied character, especially at the front. The high mask and narrowed headlights command respect, and this effect is enhanced by high ground clearance. There are also details that taste the best. Take, for example, the new halogen headlights at the front - Willys puts a light bulb in front. Looking at the back side, we see not very original forms that cause a deja vu effect - “I've seen this somewhere before”.
Not limited to the front and rear of the car, we already notice a few clunky lines, like the overly curved roofline or the weird, protruding rear door handles and wheel arches. There are angles where it looks good, but there are also angles where we don't really understand what the designers really wanted to achieve. An example is a crease in the tailgate that looks like a dent at first glance. Handles are inserted into plastic racks - the same can be found between the front and rear doors. If it was garden equipment or a pressure washer, I wouldn't mind, but it covers most of the car for more than a hundred thousand zlotys.
Let's go inside. For the test, we got the highest version of the Limited package, which we recognize mainly by the leather upholstery of the seats and armrests. Added this year is the option to choose brown perforated leather with beautiful stitching, making the cockpit much livelier. We now find a vinyl dashboard and chrome accents on the steering wheel, shifter and door handles, creating a stylish and elegant interior.
Jeep pays attention to details, but focusing on one thing, he forgets about the other. The dashboard uses soft material. It is a pity that only where the driver often arrives. Everything else is made of hard plastic, which definitely spoils the impression with its empty sound. The machine lever is illuminated by too much flat chrome - some accessory is missing. A simple logo would have been nice.
The luggage compartment holds 328 liters of luggage up to the seat line and 458 liters for loading suitcases up to the roof. It is quite spacious and roomy, but it has an incomprehensible gap between the seats and the trunk floor, which I do not understand. When transporting several loose small items, we often have to look for them in the hole formed there, especially after a sharper braking.
Already in the basic version, marked Sport, we can find a good package, but the Limited should appeal to more demanding buyers. The list of accessories is quite long, including automatic air conditioning, heated front seats and mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a multimedia kit with a 6,5-inch touchscreen. It plays CDs, DVDs, MP3s, and also has a built-in 28 GB hard drive for the user and Bluetooth connectivity. The display also shows the image from the rear view camera and navigation.
I don't quite understand why automakers keep offering outdated multimedia systems. Of course, all the options we need are there somewhere, but we get to them slowly and not every button is clearly described. Screen resolution or touch response is on par with cheaper GPS a few years ago. There is no Polish language either, voice dialing works differently and only recognizes English commands. Good luck with the Grzegorz Pschelak challenge.
The Musicgate Power sound system, equipped with 9 speakers of the famous Boston Acoustics, deserves a big plus. Even at high volumes, the sound is clear and with strong bass. Part of a good job. A nice addition are the speakers that slide out of the trunk lid - good for a barbecue or a fire.
The electric height adjustment of the driver's seat, with manual backrest adjustment and steering column height adjustment, allow you to take a comfortable position behind the wheel, and since we've already done it, go ahead! In Poland, we have a choice of two engines - a 2.0L petrol and a 2.4L diesel. The options prepared for us are not particularly customizable; gasoline means front-wheel drive, diesel means 4×4. In the US, all-wheel drive can be selected for any version, and a 2.4-liter petrol engine is waiting for us there. Well, it probably makes sense, because here we are more likely to take into account combustion costs, but no one likes to be limited in advance.
We tested version 2.0 with a six-speed automatic producing 156 hp. at 6300 rpm and 190 Nm at 5100 rpm. Effect? With a mass exceeding 1,5 tons, the car becomes heavier and only near the red field on the tachometer does it become livelier. The engine is a VVT with variable valve timing, but that doesn't help either. Expect decent, steady acceleration that will be more than enough on Polish tracks, but on the German autobahn it will put you in the middle, and maybe even at the end of the field.
Fuel consumption is the biggest obstacle separating Jeep from conquering the European market. Despite the emphasis on economy, the amount of gasoline consumed is still too high. Almost 10,5 l / 100 km in the city with a quiet ride and 8 l / 100 km on the highway - far from a record result, which will quickly confirm the richness of our portfolio. The 51,1-liter fuel tank also looks unattractive, allowing you to drive no more than 500 kilometers.
Compass did not perform well in the Euro NCAP safety tests, where it received only two stars in 2012. The ABS and BAS braking systems, the traction control system, and the ERM system, which prevents the car from tipping over by controlling the gas and braking force, will help to avoid an accident. ESP can also affect the throttle, which affects performance. By disabling traction control, the car will come out of the headlights a little faster, but the front end will then float a little - and there will be understeer earlier in the turn.
In the event of a collision, active head restraints, multi-stage front airbags, side airbags in the front seats and curtain airbags covering the entire side of the car take care of us. In 2012, Euro NCAP deducted points from Jeep for the design of the dashboard, because in the case of headlights, it injured passengers in the front seats. However, nothing seems to have changed here. Parents with small children will be pleased to have an additional set of belts of the appropriate size.
In terms of handling, the cheapest Jeep leaves mixed feelings. Its soft suspension works great on Polish roads and absorbs bumps well, but such settings must have taken their toll on driving dynamics. The car dives under hard braking, handles a little inaccurately and reacts late to faster corners. The body rolls quite a bit in a turn, and the presence of a rollover protection system only fuels the imagination - “If there was a need to install such a system, then there is a real risk, right?”
Jeep is one of the few manufacturers that truly cares about the off-road performance of their vehicles. After all, the legend of the Jeep is based on this. I tested it on a rocky road of dubious quality and I have no particular complaints, because both myself and the Compass left without harm to health. The manufacturer claims the ability to climb a hill at an angle of 20 degrees and roll down a 30-degree slope. Perhaps, but I would take on this task only on a diesel - it has almost twice as much torque and, most importantly, it drives the car on four wheels. I would also be afraid to drive into wet mud or loose sand, because I have a hard time believing that a two-wheel drive car can drive freely over such difficult terrain.
The last remark is connected with the jamming of the car, and it turned out just when driving off-road. While the windshield is actually good at dampening sounds coming from the front, the rear is worse, with too much suspension and wheel noise reaching our ears.
By contacting Jeepem Compassem extreme impressions are impossible to resist. The front is beautiful, the back is unremarkable, and the side looks wrinkled. Inside, we have both high-quality leather and soft plastic, and unpleasantly hard. Interesting details were taken into account, while others were forgotten. It's convenient, but at the expense of ride quality. Collecting separate comments in the final verdict, it seems that Compass can still be liked, and its main advantages are comfort and style. In version 2.0, it is more for people who like a quiet, decent ride, as well as trips out of town with family or friends.
See more in films
We must not forget about the price - after all, this is the cheapest jeep. The Compass price list starts from PLN 86 and ends at PLN 900, although we can still choose several add-ons and packages. The version we tested costs about PLN 136. The most interesting option in the offer is a diesel engine with all-wheel drive, but this package is also the most expensive. If someone can turn a blind eye to the level of fuel consumption and these few shortcomings, then the Compass should suit him.
