2009 Jeep Compass

 Power: 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder, 172 horsepower

Mileage estimate: 21-24 mpg                                  

Price: $18,465 to $24,575.

Standard features include: roof rails; fog lamps; tilt steering wheel; four-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack; stability control with a rollover sensor; traction control; center console; keyless entry; power windows, locks, mirrors

Review by Jeffrey Weidel

When gas prices kept creeping up and up last year to record highs, the focus for car shoppers quickly swung away from gas-guzzling vehicles that had been big sellers for years.

One segment that gained more notoriety during the price hike was compact Sport Utility Vehicles. Instead of looking for larger, more luxurious models, the compacts became a hot commodity. A year later there remains plenty to choose from, among the standouts being the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, Subaru Forester and Suzuki Grand Vitara. Even budget buys like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage have become logical choices.

Hoping to join that list was the Jeep Compass, which underwent a redesign for 2009. While there are some wonderful improvements to the Compass, the bottom line is this compact SUV still falls short of climbing into elite status three years after being introduced.

What Jeep did accomplish was addressing some of the Compass’ major flaws. One of those was the interior, which underwent drastic changes for 2009. Gone is the cheap, hard interior plastic and in its place is a smoother textured surface. The instrument panel is all-new and takes little practice to master. Other interior improvements include a new center console, more storage slots and easy to fold up rear seats.

The Compass sits on a car-based platform that is shared by the Dodge Caliber hatchback. Both the Compass and its twin – the Patriot – are front-wheel-drive Jeep models that have trims that can be upgraded with all-wheel drive.

In either mode, the Compass remains a small SUV that’s pleasant to drive. It’s a good around town cruiser that features accurate steering and sits lower than most of the competition, giving it a stable feel in most situations.

But don’t expect to get there in any big hurry because power is not one of its strengths. All Compass trims share a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder with 172 horsepower. Being clocked at 10.6 seconds going from 0-60 mph means the Compass is not going to provide instantaneous passing power, so patience is required.

However, two more things to like about the Compass are a strong list of standard features and price.

Standard equipment includes roof rails, fog lamps, tilt steering wheel, four-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack, plus stability and traction control. 

The Compass price is very reasonable, starting at an estimated $18,465 and climbing to $24,575. Gas mileage is only average at 21-24 mpg.

Weidel on Wheels is a regular weekly feature in Gold Country Motoring.

2009 Jeep Compass

Weidel on Wheels is a regular weekly feature in Gold Country Motoring.

Tags: Auto Reviews

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