By Charles Donaldson
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Jeep?” Is it when Radar on the hit TV show, M.A.S.H, sent an entire Jeep home piece by piece, or is it the ruggedness and off-road all-terrain ability that is synonymous with the word “Jeep?” Either way, both thoughts are correct and amusing.
For kicks and giggles, I once drove a Jeep up the rocky side of a mountain – Okay, perhaps, it was a hill, but it was rated a #5 on the off-roading scale and it scared the heck out of me. My point is, Jeeps are extremely capable and do not need a road or even a path to get you to your destination. There are many models in the Jeep stable and one of them is the 2019 Compass that has earned the boasted “Trail-Rated” title that gives it street cred or in this case, off-street cred!
Pricing and Trims
The 2019 Jeep Compass is available in five trim levels: Sport 2WD ($22,790), Latitude 2WD ($26,090), Altitude 2WD ($27,410), Limited 2WD ($29,290), and Trailhawk 4WD ($30,290).
What’s new for 2019?
The Sport models are available with the optional Upland special edition package that includes 17-inch Trailhawk wheels, front Trailhawk fascia with Matte Black tow hooks, front suspension skid plate, Gloss Black grille with black rings, fog lamp bezels and badges, Gloss Black roof, silver anodized interior accents, bright chrome exhaust tip and Trailhawk all-weather mats.
A new High Altitude Appearance package is available on the Limited models and contains 19-inch Satin Gloss Granite wheels, Uconnect 8.4-inch infotainment center with navigation, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps with signature LED light, LED tail lamps, Satin Gloss Granite grille surrounds, “Altitude” badging, Gloss Black roof and deep-tint glass, anodized gunmetal interior finishes and tungsten interior stitching.
Interior Highpoints
The 2019 Jeep Compass states that it seats 5, with 2 in the front and 3 in the back. Like most vehicles of this size, the person sitting in the middle in the back seat will not be the most comfortable. That said, all will experience plenty of head room. With the rear seats up, the Compass provides 27.2 cubic feet of cargo room and 59.8 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down.
I found that the interior materials to be soft and comfortable with easy access to all of the tech elements and general buttons and knobs. The Compass Sport is equipped with a 3.5-inch black and white digital driver’s display and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that runs Jeep’s Uconnect 4 infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.
Exterior Highlights
The 2019 Compass borrows heavily from its larger siblings: the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, which includes wearing the same Seven-Slot Grille. The Compass has smooth lines while still projecting a rugged look. The Trailhawk models deliver a tougher feel with different front and rear bumpers for better clearance and red tow hooks, plus beefier tires.
Performance Specs
A 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or an available 9-speed automatic transmission. The Compass is available in both 2WD and Jeep’s Active 4WD drive system that operates much like an all-wheel drive setup.
Cool Features:
- Rugged Trailhawk option
- Respectable fuel economy
Safety & Integrity
The 2019 Jeep Compass earned the IIHS “Good” scores and a “Superior” score for its optional front-crash prevention for the small crossover SUV category. In the federal test it didn’t perform as well producing a marginally low rating of four-stars for overall scoring and a very low three-stars for rollover. Jeep does offer active safety features including forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors (except on the base version) blind-spot monitors, rearview camera, traction control, and 7 airbags.
In Summary – The Jeep Compass was last redesigned in 2017 and for 2019 offers a handsome vehicle both inside and out at an affordable price point. It may not be as off-road ready as some of its other Jeep family members, but Jeep made sure it was more rugged and off-road capable than most of its compact SUV competitors. Jeep lovers will appreciate the Compass’ design that features a low-priced entry fee.
Specifications.
2019 Jeep Compass High Altitude 4×4
Base price: $29,695 as driven: $37,360 (including destination & optional features)
Engine: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 180 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 175 lbf-ft @ 3,900 rpm
Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic
Drive: 4WD
Seating: 5-passenger
Cargo space: 27.2/59.8 cubic feet (rear seats up/down)
Curb weight: 3,327 pounds
Ground Clearance: 8.2 inches
Fuel Capacity: 13.5 gallons
Fuel Economy: 22 MPG City, 30 MPG Highway
Wheelbase: 103.8 inches
Warranty: 3 years/36,000-miles
Also Consider: Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota RAV4