Buying a used Jeep Compass (2012-2016)

First time around, this Jeep for urban explorers failed to ring anyone's till. Sales of the original version averaged fewer than 500 a year and in 2010 it disappeared from local listings.

Two years later the Compass with a new look, more equipment and keener pricing, came roaring back and into the midst of a segment filled with established contenders including the RAV4 and Subaru Forester.

The new Jeep's appeal lay to an extent in its throwback looks. It didn't have the slab sides and wheel-arch extensions of a Rubicon but that knock-off Grand Cherokee grille and the overall shape delivered sufficient association with the genuine off-roaders to draw buyers in the direction of a Compass.

Three Compass versions eventually came to Australia, building hopes that sales would consistently better 500 units a month. That mark looked possible up until 2015 when the Jeep brand came in for a torrent of poor publicity relating to reliability issues affecting its larger models.

Initially the range comprised Sport and Limited versions with the Sport available in front or four-wheel drive versions with five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission and 2.0 or 2.4-litre engines. The Limited came only with CVT and 2.4 litres and pricing that kicked off at $34,000. That could be pushed easily to $40K by adding a few options.

Bargain of the bunch was the two-wheel drive, 2.0-litre manual Sport at $26,500 but the best one (so owners say) is a 2.4 manual with 4WD. CVT added $2000 and lots of city-based versions have it.

Jeep claimed that the Freedom Drive 4WD system was of benefit even in everyday use; improving grip and braking performance especially on wet roads. Its main advantage over other compact SUVs was Lock Mode, which helped the Compass owner negotiate deep sand and mud.

If you spent up big on a CVT Limited, the benefits of the extra $6000 were obvious if not easily justified. The Sport already came with power windows, mirrors and locking, air-conditioning, cruise control and projector headlamps. In a Limited the seats went from manually adjustable cloth to heated, electrically-adjustable leather, the wheels grew from 17 to 18-inch and the air-con adjusted by itself. A sunroof was optional and so too seat-mounted side-airbags.

The rest of the smaller Jeep's safety equipment was appropriate and sufficient to rate four ANCAP stars out of a possible five for occupant protection. Even without the optional airbags, side-impact protection scored a maximum 16 from 16 points.

New for 2013 were a six-speed automatic transmission and revised manual with low and high ratios but the lockable centre coupling deleted.

Also in 2013 came a Compass North version with standard satellite navigation, synthetic leather trim and reversing camera joined the main range. It was supplemented the followed year by the special-edition Blackhawk with black wheels, black grille and bumpers, heated seats and 'Blackhawk' badging.

For reasons best known to those who bought a new Jeep Compass, there is something exotic about owning an American-made car that doesn't apply to those with Germany, Korea or Thailand stamped on their build plates.

Perhaps it's the thrill of watching US television programmes and seeing Jeeps 'just like ours' being used by good and bad guys alike.

Whatever the motivation to buy one, a Compass with its kitschness and retroactive styling is still a pretty ordinary kind of ride. The cabin lacks feelings of space expected from Asian or European-made rivals, performance is sullen and someone skimped on the insulation, so it's noisy.

The 2.4 with CVT when used in traffic can sound like it is looking for a ratio or holding on for too long before up shifting. The manual is reportedly more suited to the engine's characteristics but a bit of a pain for daily commuting.

Half the problem seems to be related to engines that deliver their torque too high in the rev range. The 2.4 with its 220Nm arriving at 4500rpm is acceptable but 190Nm at 5100 makes the 2.0-litre a bit of a window rattler. What these numbers mean to real-world drivers is the need to rev the ring out of an engine when tackling steep climbs or trying to drag even a lightweight boat up a slippery ramp.

With so many revs in use, fuel consumption figures aren't that flash. Chrysler-Jeep at the 2011 launch of the Compass claimed Combined Cycle consumption from the manual 2.0-litre of 7.6L/100km and 8.5L/100km from the 2.4. Put some weight in them or tow the permitted 1500kg and those numbers will be quickly rendered irrelevant and could easily flip the buyer in favour of a bigger-engined Jeep.

The seats in base-models feel supportive and head-room is fine for most occupants. The dash is logical although the dials are smaller than they need to be. The in-dash screen fitted to the Limited looks simple enough and some functions are controlled via the steering wheel

Being trapped in the back for extended periods wouldn't be fun, as turning your head gives a lovely view of the door-pillar and not much more. Load space with the seats down looks good, although the arches intrude a bit and the profusion of speakers in cars with up-market sound look vulnerable to damage.

Steady cruising on smooth roads is a task which the Compass seems to enjoy. Going around corners and up steep hills (especially simultaneously) are activities it doesn't relish and performs these tasks with as little joy as you will find in any modern motor vehicle.

>> Jeep design and build quality have been the source of owner complaints and numerous warranty disputes. Being fair to the Compass, it hasn't suffered the same level of issues as larger models, but reputation alone will deter some people from even considering a Jeep. Do your research, insist on seeing the car's service history and engage a professional to undertake the final pre-purchase check.

>> Compass models weren't involved in the Takata air-bag recall but did suffer problems with an unrelated system responsible for triggering the air-bags and seatbelt tensioners in a collision. Cars affected were pre-2014 models and were recalled for repair in 2016.

>> A small number of MK Compass models were recalled in 2015 because a power steering fluid leak could become so serious it caused fires. These should all have been attended to but glance under the front looking for dampness around the power-steer hoses and fluid reservoir.

>> Recommended 12,000 kilometre service intervals are a worry, especially for cars that do short distance, low speed journeys. This kind of use can allow sludge to form in oil-ways and lubricant to be diluted.

>> Situations have been reported where the Jeep engine loses power for no apparent reason while travelling at highway speeds or just stops when the vehicle is idling. After several seconds it just as suddenly returns to normal and while these reports are not common and seem to have no specific cause they need to be noted. Faulty sensors are likely culprits.

>> Jeep trim quality isn't up to Japanese standards so look for worn and broken interior plastics. Make sure the seat belts extend and retract as they should and that the webbing hasn't been damaged

Used vehicle grading for Jeep Compass
Design & Function: 11/20
Safety: 12/20
Practicality: 12/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 8/20
Score: 55/100

Also consider: Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi ASX