The Jeep Compass: An Overview

The Jeep Compass is manufactured by the Jeep division of Chrysler, owed by the DaimlerChrysler parent company. The vehicles are built at a Jeep assembly plan located in Belvidere, Illinois. The Compass was first made available for the 2007 model year and is considered a compact crossover SUV. Jeep has built the Compass on the Mitsubishi GS platform and its layout includes a front engine, front wheel drive or four wheel drive options. The engine is a 2.4 liter I4 and it comes standard with a five speed manual but is offered with an automatic transmission as well. The wheelbase of the Compass measures 107 inches, while the length measures 173.4 inches and a width of 69.3 inches. The height on the vehicle is 64.2 inches, providing plenty of head room for passengers. Related vehicles are the Mitsubishi Lancer, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, and the Mitsubishi Outlander as they are all on the same platform. Other vehicles on the market that the Compass can be compared to, include the Honda CR-V, the Kia Sportage, and the Mazda CX-7.

Jeep first introduced the Jeep Compass, also known by the company as the MK, at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January, where it was received quite well. The Compass was first produced on May 30, 2006. The Compass, along with another Jeep vehicle, the Patriot will be taking over the position in the vehicle lineup that the Jeep Liberty held previously. The Compass is considered an entry level sport utility vehicle and has gotten quite a bit of attention because it is one of the first crossover sport utility vehicles that have been offered by Jeep. Many consumers favor the Compass because it provides the Jeep look, feel, and quality of a Jeep with a relatively modest base price of $15, 985 in the United States. This is a great price for a crossover sport utility vehicle, especially when you consider that it is offered by Jeep, a name that consumers are willing to pay for.

The Compass is often compared to the Patriot by consumers, but the two differ in their styling as well as their marketing. The Patriot is thought of more as a traditional Jeep wagon with four doors while the Compass is more of a sporty crossover vehicle with a hatch. The Dodge Caliber is also compared to the two vehicles as it is a combination of the two vehicles. While the vehicles are often thought of as very similar, they target two totally different consumer bases. The Compass is more for those that have a lifestyle on the go that want a sporty vehicle that will ride well and look good. The Patriot can be used by those that are looking for an off road vehicle or even those that are looking for a family vehicle and the Caliber can offer something for both consumer bases.

The Compass is criticized by many because it is bigger than the average Jeep vehicle used to be. Many question the effectiveness of the vehicle for off road purposes, but Jeep is attempting to break into new markets, those which contain consumers that want the sport utility vehicle but also need a functional vehicle for every day use. These new vehicles are entry level and will provide the consumer with the space that they need to transport kids as well as the power that they need in a vehicle if they go off road, or even if they just drive steep hills on their way to go camping and the like. The Compass is a great option for those that are looking for the best of both worlds as the Compass provides comfort as well as power and style.