5 reasons why the Jeep Compass remains a driver’s delight
Here's an owner's reflection on why the Jeep Compass is simply one of the most fun-filled SUVs to drive despite having some serious competition in its range.
New Delhi: Having driven a few off-roaders more recently, I sometimes catch myself wondering if I still like the Jeep Compass at home. It lives in a different city, and more recently, I found that I was finding more faults with it or drawbacks while driving or sitting in a different off-road vehicle.
Clearly, I liked the comfort and the ride of the Scorpio a damn sight more, even though it has been described by its owner as "Brick on wheels”. However, this last week I drove the Jeep Compass again, through the traffic and the clear highways and I came out thinking the love I feel for it. It is my home more than a friend in the truest way, a car becomes with its foibles. Here are the top five fine things from the Stellantis off-roader.
5) Intoxicating pickup
It is an SUV that is supposed to just carry weight and people comfortably, and feel big in traffic. However, put your foot down on the pedal and suddenly that 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine comes alive. That pickup is indeed intoxicating, and that gradual neck pushing speed is something you won’t to keep experiencing again and again.
4) Stable ride
Yes, the Jeep Compass has a good ride quality in terms of tackling off-road driving. It is able to take on any off-road in perfect harmony. However, what people miss is how amazing it is while driving at high speed. It is composed and planted, taking high-speed corners and at no point when it is speeding do you get the roll-over feeling.
3) Amazing steering response
In many places, the Jeep might miss in numbers, but where it doesn’t miss the mark is with the steering wheel feel. It is responsive at low speeds and feels connected properly. Push it on the highway, and that same steering is suddenly firm and doesn’t wobble
2) Driver’s seat and the physical buttons
The driver's seat is commanding, and you can get a good view whilst sitting high above. Coming with a decent screen, its best feature is how many more buttons it has and how much less distracting it is. You can access most of the buttons from the driver’s seat without taking your eyes off the road. The Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity might be time-consuming. However, you can control the car in the old-fashioned style. The 360 camera in the infotainment is clear and good.
1) Good use of leatherette and soft touch
Inside the cabin is all the luxury and the soft touch, and the leather is well-balanced. You step in, and the world just shuts down. The cabin insulation over time does fade down slightly, though, but the speakers from Alpine Sound System make up for it with good cabin insulation.
The one point I won’t add here is the feel-good nature of the Compass. The Jeep Compass leave you with a feeling of having something special and a bit of history in your palms. This is the company which we all grew up seeing in Hollywood movies and even in on road markings. In a distant life, when it was brand new, it even had celebrity status with many asking what car it was if you took to a market place. In my humble view, it might have been a problem child, but it is one of the finest cars to live with overall.