2007 Jeep Compass Review
The 2007 Jeep Compass is the most controversial Jeep product that I can ever recall. Why? Well, for starters, it’s built on a unibody “car” platform, and not a traditional body on frame design, as is standard fare for all other Jeeps. What’s more, this Jeep isn’t ‘trail rated’ - which is Jeep’s off-road certification. Even though you can get a four wheel drive Compass, you might want to stay on pavement.
So, what’s to like? Well, not much really. The Compass looks like an even more effeminate version of the Liberty ( which it is not based on , by the way ) , and isn’t even a ‘real’ truck. The interior is very bad; very plasticky and cheap-looking/feeling. Granted, the base price is very low, but most Compasses will end up somewhere in the low 20k range.
I still don’t ‘get’ mini-suv’s / cuv’s. If I don’t get much more room than a mid-size sedan, I can’t tow anything, and I can’t go offroad, why would i choose the Compass? I fail to see any benefit to this vehicle. $21k buys me a 2007 Nissan Altima, which will ride better, handle better, and get much better gas mileage. Not to mention the resale value will be drastically better. Let’s hope, for Jeep’s sake, that the rest of the country doesn’t think like me.
2007 Jeep Compass Specs
- 172 HP 2.4 liter Four-Cylinder ( I4 ) engine
- Unibody “car” frame
- Seating for 5
- Max towing capacity - 2000 ( !! ) lbs
- Curb weight : 3326 lbs
- EPA Says: 25 mpg city / 29 mpg highway ( 5 speed )
2007 Jeep Compass Reviews
Autobytel reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and writes - ‘Hard plastics are everywhere, a point that would be less offensive if they weren’t all shiny and coarse. Yes, it’s technically a Jeep (if in name only), so a good dose of utilitarianism and ruggedness are to be expected. However, that is not a free pass for stuffing the guts of the Compass with what look and feel like cheap materials.’
Automotive.com reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and writes - ‘It’s difficult to imagine getting stuck in snow or mud in the Compass Sport with these tires. The differential can be locked for the best traction from a standing start, and the Brake Traction Control dabs the brakes (at lightning speed) at individual wheels to keep them from spinning. The locked differential keeps the torque evenly distributed at 50-50, up to 10 miles per hour, at which point the torque begins transferring again, as calculated by the electronic control module based on vehicle speed, turning radius and wheel slip.’
Kicking Tires reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and writes - ‘A CVT doesn’t shift like a normal automatic, it just has a steady climb in the revs. It’s a bizarre feeling but by the time I drove back from the dry cleaners it didn’t bother me anymore. So far, and this is two hours into a week-long test, I’m more impressed by the Compass than I thought I would be.’
Car and Driver reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass Limited 4×4 and writes - ‘By far the Compass’s biggest disappointment is its interior. Injection-molded out of flinty plastic with all the passion of a rubbish-bin lid, the dash has barely a whiff of the polish of the CR-V and RAV4 and none of the design spirit of the PT Cruiser. The plain gauges and the center console rise to a high mesa, squeezing the vision forward in concert with thick A-pillars. It’s a gaffe, considering that Berube expects 60 percent of Compass buyers to be women.’
David Thomas of Cars.com reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and writes - ‘Want a thrilling driving experience? This Jeep doesn’t have one, but that’s OK; you don’t need to peel out at traffic lights if you’re driving a Compass. What you need to know is that at highway speeds, the Compass doesn’t waver. With some heavy boxes in the back and my wife in the passenger seat I was doing more than 80 without noticing it on the highway (this one was well-paved).’
Allpar.com reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and writes - ‘Overall, the Jeep Compass is an excellent option for those who were thinking about a Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, or other larger-than-really-needed SUV. It provides SUV styling and four wheel drive in a sensibly sized package that still manages to be nimble and quick on its feet (with the stick at least) and can hold four people in comfort - especially if two are kids - while still carrying a reasonable amount of cargo, and with a reasonable price.’
Automobile Mag reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and writes - ‘Looks aside, the Compass drives a lot like the Dodge Caliber on which it’s based. The 2.4-liter four uses variable valve timing to make a commendable 172 hp, but acceleration is only so-so, and the engine drones. The optional CVT accentuates the noise, so choose the light-shifting five-speed manual instead.’
Cnet reviews the 2007 Jeep Compass and likes the seats, but laments the visibility- ‘The front seats in the 2007 Jeep Compass are a comfortable place to be. The high roofline of Jeep’s first crossover utility vehicle gives the driver plenty of overhead clearance and decent forward visibility. Rear- and three-quarter visibility is less impressive, as the huge triangular D-pillar creates a wide blind spot, and the high rear window in the hatchback limits the view via the rearview mirror.’
My conclusion is this: the Jeep Compass marketing team is dead-on to market to females age 20-40. They can even expand that to 60 if they can get these ladies to drive one. This market will expand to men as more and more modifications are produced. This is a vehicle that could be dressed up nicely to create a unique presence and style. I give it about 6-12 months and these cars will fly off the lot. An affordable, comfortable and smooth riding car.
My main problem is not with the vehicle itself, but rather that it’s branded as a Jeep product. The Compass would likely be more suited as a Dodge or Chrysler vehicle. It simply doesn’t fit in with Jeep’s rugged off-road 4×4 vehicle image. When I think of Jeep, I think of the Wrangler. I’ll surely never think of the Compass and it’s ‘cute-ute’ face.