Verdict
The Jeep Compass is a compact 4x4 which is well priced and is the most fuel efficient car the company has ever built. It is comfortable, but visibility is poor.

Expert rating: 2.5

Pros
• Most fuel efficient Jeep ever
• Good roadholding
• Well equipped

Cons
• Vague steering
• Noisy 2.2-litre diesel engine
• Awkward styling

Full Review
1. Exterior: 2/5
A 2011 facelift sees a fresh front end with Jeep's trademark seven-slot grille and revised bumpers, and it's here where the Compass is at its most handsome. The squared-off wheelarches look awkward shrouded in heavily flared wings, but the rear door handles are neatly hidden in the bodywork.

2. Interior: 2/5
The Compass was criticised for a poor interior when it launched in 2007, but the revised model has a completely redesigned cabin. It looks more upmarket, but the plastics are hard and the leather seats of top-spec models lack an upmarket feel. Instrumentation and controls are easy to read, and the raised gearstick is well placed.

3. Practicality: 3/5
There's enough space for four adults, but a wide transmission tunnel means it's tight for a fifth passenger. At 458 litres, the boot is smaller than a Kia Sportage or Hyundai ix35. The rear seats fold flat and there's plenty of storage space in the front, with a large shelf ahead of the passenger, several recesses, cupholders and a box between the front seats and decent sized door pockets. The narrow windows restrict visibility.

4. Ride and handling: 3/5
The Compass offers a decent ride, although it can become unsettled at speed over poorer road surfaces. The chassis remains composed when cornering but the steering is vague and offers little feedback. For the first time in a Jeep, two-wheel drive is offered, although the four-wheel drive version we tested offers plenty of grip.

5. Performance: 3/5
A pair of 2.2-litre diesel engines are available with 134bhp in the front-wheel drive Compass and 161bhp in the four-wheel drive version. The diesels will reach 62mph in 11.5 and 9.8 seconds respectively and have identical top speeds of 125mph. The 161bhp version is a strong performer, although slightly noisy under acceleration. A 2-litre petrol engine is offered, while the only automatic is the 2.4 petrol. Both have a 10.5 second 0-62mph time and 115mph top speed.

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6. Running costs: 2/5
The Compass is priced from £17,000 which matches the Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35 but undercuts the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan. The diesels register low to mid-40mpg figures, and CO2 figures in the 160-170g/km area means they're slightly dearer to tax too.

7. Reliability: 2/5
Diesel Compasses benefit from engines co-developed by Mercedes, and the petrols are sold across the world in massive numbers which should offer confidence. Jeep trades on its ruggedness, however they have a worse reputation for reliability than other 4x4 manufacturers. The interior trim feels a little low-rent.

8. Safety: 3/5
The Jeep Compass hasn't been put through the Euro NCAP crash test programme, but all models have a good level of safety equipment. Standard kit includes whiplash-reducing headrests, front and curtain airbags, electronic stability control and brake assist.

9. Equipment: 3/5
Four equipment grades are offered: Sport, Sport+, Limited and 70th Anniversary. Sport models feature alloy wheels, air-con, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control and a CD player. Sport+ models add climate control, Bluetooth and a dimming rear view mirror while Limited models have heated and electric leather seats and an enhanced audio system. Range-topping 70th Anniversary models have bespoke trims and wheels.

10. Why buy? 2/5
Rugged looks and good equipment levels make the Compass a good introduction to the iconic brand.