Jeep set Compass for finer tuning

The fresh presence of the Jeep brand on the Irish market is becoming more obvious following the takeover of the brand in Europe by Fiat. Fiat now owns almost 60 per cent of Jeep’s parent company Chrysler and aims to make inroads in the off-road market starting with the new entry level Compass model, which Michael Moroney reports on this week, following his recent test drive.

I took the Jeep Compass for the week of the National Ploughing Championships. Unlike the typical conditions, this year the weather was kind with little rainfall. That meant that even though I was prepared I didn’t need to put the Jeep Compass to the ultimate test.

There was never a hint of unease as the Compass drove through the rear of the stands as I made an early entry and late exit each day. So do we really need a 4x4 all of the time or would the likes of the 4x2 or two wheel drive Compass do the trick in most conditions?

The test car was a 4x4 version of the Compass that means that it was a two wheel drive model. My experiences of two frosty and snowy winters have told me that 4x4s have their place and they prove their value when the snow piles down and the frost sets hard on the ground. To me that’s what cars like the Jeep Compass drivers need to be prepared for.

This Compass comes with a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine that feels trucky and so I expected it to deliver the full 4x4 ability. The engine is 136bhp, which is lower in power and torque than the Toyota RAV4 and Land Rover Freelander competition.

The Compass seemed sluggish, noisy and a little harsh in terms of driving. It was not as smooth as some of the competition, from an ease of driving point of view. I found the clutch pedal a shade heavy in everyday shoes which I drove in half of the time.

The six speed manual gearbox is a little chunky to use and not as smooth as the RAV4 or Freelander. Then maybe that’s a feeling that Jeep wants to preserve along with its off-road heritage that competes with Land Rover in the image stakes.

Despite this, the Compass engine delivered good acceleration and economy levels. While I didn’t achieve the rated economy level of 16.4 km/litre (6.1l/100km or 46.3mpg), I was operating in that ballpark over a long driving test of 1,250km.

This two wheel drive Jeep has allowed the CO2 levels to be seen as more acceptable at 161g/km. That’s 12g/km lower than the four wheel drive version, and helps to keep the price competitive as well as the economy and running costs.

The Compass fuel tank is also on the small size, just 51 litres, when the likes of the Freelander has a 68 litre capacity. And the smaller tank made for more regular fuel stops and reduced the driving range, leading one to feel that the economy was poor even if it wasn’t.

In an overall sense there is a solid feel to the Compass. The only trouble for me was that the solid feel also translated into a solid ride, not always comfortable on rural roads. Granted the suspension has been tweaked under Fiat guidance, but it’s still not as smooth and forgiving as the competition.

The Compass comes with lots of features, including climate control, four electric windows, keyless entry and sunscreen glass. The seats are solid and easily adjustable. The standard safety equipment deal includes stability control (ESC), roll mitigation, brake traction control, hill-holder, six airbags.

The only technical fault was that the engine heater plug warning light which usually goes off to allow you to turn the engine on, worked the opposite. It fired up momentarily and then once the engine was running, it stayed on for a few minutes. Everything else worked as it should including the useful and easy to use built-in sat nav system which is an optional extra on the entry level model.

The Compass is competitive for its sector with an entry price of €30,000. Add about €3,000 for the 4x4 version and you get genuine Jeep that you need if we get another snow filled winter.

The steering is hydraulic power steering in type and gives a good tight turning circle. It still feels a shade more cumbersome to use than the competition.

The Jeep identity remains strong with the Compass especially the front grille design which has obvious Jeep identity and heritage. Fiat claims that the newer 2012 models will be even more economical and lower the CO2 band ratings saving on economy and running costs. The engineers have a January target to get the economy improvements and while they are at it they could refine the ride that little bit better.

 Jeep Compass 2.2 CRD 4x2 diesel - Specifications

Top speed 201km/hr

0 – 100km/hr 11.5 seconds

Economy 18.5 km/litre (5.4l/100km)

CO2 emissions 161g/km (152 g/km Jan 2012)

Road Tax Band D (€104)

Euro NCAP Rating NA

Price €30,000 approx