Jeep Compass – Review: Minus navigation systems, travel is aided by two handy inventions – the map, and the compass. A compass will point you toward a general direction, yet fails to represent alternate routes or more suitable destinations. The map lays out the road for travel and unveils countless alternatives along the way. So, to bring things back around, buying a Jeep Compass is like using a compass: if all you want is to go in the general crossover direction, pick the Jeep and go. Smarter travelers, however, may want to use a map and find better alternatives at destinations like Honda, Hyundai, and Suzuki

Except for the Grand Cherokee SRT-8, few Jeeps have been recognized for on-road performance, and the four-cylinder Compass isn't about to change that. Of course, it won't be known for off-road performance either, but that's another issue. The 172-horsepower 2.4-liter engine does its best to motivate 3,089 – 3,351 pounds of curb weight, and actually is acceptable in getting the Compass up to speed around town and on the highway. With the standard five-speed manual transmission, drivers might have the opportunity to play with the revs and tap some fun from the Compass. Unfortunately, we experienced a CVT-equipped model, which took its time in transforming high-revving engine power into forward momentum. Fuel economy averaged 22.4 mpg.

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