The 2018 Jeep Compass goes on-sale this month in Australia with prices starting at $28,850+ORC.

THE JEEP COMPASS DISAPPEARED from Australia in December 2016 and Jeep’s sales dropped accordingly. But, now there’s an all-new Compass (revealed to Australian motoring media last night) and one that Jeep says its first globally developed vehicle. Indeed, the new Compass was tested on six continents although Australia wasn’t one of them.

More than that, the new Compass will be produced at several new facilities around the world with Australian cars coming out of Jeep’s new, dedicated right-hand drive plant in India. The Compass also begins Jeeps model line-up renewal and across the next 12 months we can expect to see a refreshed Grand Cherokee, new Wrangler, a new Renegade and a new Cherokee.

While Jeep doesn’t think the Compass will become its volume seller (it claims that’ll always be the Grand Cherokee), we’d disagree, see, the Compass competes right in the heart of a growing segment and at a price point that sees it go head to head with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson (the segment leader) and its sister the Kia Sportage and a host of others, including the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Indeed, Jeep said it benchmarked the new Compass against the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and VW Tiguan. You can read Practical Motoring’s review of the new Compass HERE. The Compass line-up includes four models, the Sport with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and front-wheel drive only in petrol, the Longitude with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive only, the Limited in both petrol and diesel, a nine-speed automatic and four-wheel drive only, and the off-road oriented Trailhawk.

A total of five wheel designs are available on the new Jeep Compass – 17-inch (standard on Sport, Longitude and Trailhawk), and 18-inch standard on Limited – all mated to 225mm wide tyres. Jeep Compass will be available in eight different exterior colours: Bright White, Brilliant Black, Minimal Grey, Hydro Blue, Colorado Red, Grey Magnesio, Mojave Sand, and Bronze Metallic.

The Compass measures 4394mm long and is about an inch bigger than the Renegade and an inch smaller than the Cherokee. It measures 1819mm wide and 1644mm high with a wheelbase measuring 2636mm. The boot offers 438 litres with the rear seats in place and 1251 litres with them dropped down and beneath the floor is a full-size (17-inch) steel spare.

Jeep went to great pains to play up the off-road ability of the Compass and not just the Trailhawk model. All Compass models offer 17cm of wheel travel at the front and 20cm at the rear. There are two four-wheel drive systems offered, Jeep Active Drive and the Jeep Active Drive Low (Trailhawk only), the latter with 20:1 crawl ratio, each of which can send 100 percent of available torque to any one wheel when needed. Both systems include the Jeep Selec-Terrain system, providing up to five modes (Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud modes, plus Rock mode on the Trailhawk).

The Trailhawk model features an increased ride height, skid plates, red tow hooks, unique front and rear bumpers that deliver a 30-degree approach, 24.4-degree break over and 33.6-degree departure angles, aggressive 17-inch off-road tyres and up to 216mm of ground clearance. Selec-Terrain includes Selec-Speed Control with Hill-descent Control on Trailhawk models.

It’s worth noting that while the Trailhawk is the only Compass to carry a Trail Rated badge that doesn’t mean it’s completed the iconic Jeep challenges… for instance, the Compass Trailhawk completed the Jeep track at Moab but it hasn’t completed the Rubicon. That said, the Compass Trailhawk is probably way more capable than buyers of such a vehicle will ever need.

What about safety? The Compass recently scored a five-star EuroNCAP rating and Jeep is boasting of more than 70 available active and passive safety and security features including Forward Collision Warning-Plus, LaneSense Departure Warning, Blind- spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection, ParkView rear backup camera with dynamic grid lines, Automated Parallel and Perpendicular Park assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, electronic stability control (ESC) with electronic roll mitigation and seven standard air bags.

However, the devil is in the detail and the Compass misses out on autonomous emergency braking as standard; becoming a cost option on Limited variants as part of the Advanced Technology Group. Although this is in line with key competitors, like the Hyundai Tucson which doesn’t offer AEB until you get to the top-spec Highlander variant.

JEEP COMPASS MODELS AND PRICING

* All prices are manufacturer’s recommended list price (MSRP) and exclude on-road costs and dealer delivery

JEEP COMPASS KEY FEATURES

JEEP COMPASS SPORT

Drivetrain

• 4L Tigershark Petrol – 129kW/229Nm – 6-Speed Manual FWD; 6-Speed Automatic FWD
• Combined-cycle fuel consumption (L/100km) – 8.6 MT/7.9 AT

Standard Features:

• 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Reverse Parking Camera
• 7 Airbags
• 0-Inch T ouchscreen
• Bluetooth Phone & Audio Streaming
• 6-Speaker Audio System
• Digital Radio (DAB+)
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• 5-Inch Instrument Cluster Display
• Electric Park Brake

JEEP COMPASS LONGITUDE

Drivetrain

• 4L Tigershark Petrol – 129kW/229Nm; 6-Speed Automatic FWD
• Combined-cycle fuel consumption (L/100km) – 7.9AT

Standard Features (in addition, or replacing Sport):

• Rain Sensitive Windshield Wipers
• Automatic Headlamps
• Fog & Cornering Lamps
• Roof Rails
• Deep Tinted Privacy Glass
• Bright Side Window Surrounds
• LED Ambient Interior Lighting
• Power Driver Lumber Adjust
• Fold Forward Passenger Seat
• Passenger In-Seat Cushion Storage

Cost options:

Premium Audio Package $2,150

• 4-inch touchscreen radio
• Sat Nav
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Dual-Zone Climate Control

JEEP COMPASS LIMITED

• Drivetrain
• 4L Tigershark Petrol – 129kW/229Nm – 2.0L MultiJet Diesel – 125kW/350Nm; 9-Speed Automatic 4×4
• Combined-cycle fuel consumption (L/100km) – 7 2.4L AT; 5.7 2.0L AT

Standard Features (in addition, or replacing Longitude):

• Jeep Active Drive 4×4 System
• Jeep Selec-Terrain Traction Management System
• Leather Seats
• 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
• 4-Inch Touchscreen Display with Satellite Navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• December 11, 2017
• Bi-Xenon Headlamps and LED T ail Lamps
• 9-Speaker BeatsAudio System including Subwoofer
• 7-Inch Full Colour Instrument Cluster Display
• Power 8-Way Driver / 4-Way Passenger Seats
• ParkSense Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Parallel & Perpendicular Park Assist with Stop
• Dual Zone Climate Control & Heated Front Seats
• Push Button Start
• Automatic Dimming Internal Rear Vision Mirror

Cost options:

Two-Tone Black Roof – $495

Dual Pane Sunroof – $1950

Advanced Technology Group – $2,450:

• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Exterior mirror Courtesy lamp
• Power lift Gate
• Adaptative Cruise Control (w Stop & Go)
• Auto High Beam
• Blind Spot Monitoring w/Rear Cross Path Detect

 JEEP COMPASS TRAILHAWK

Drivetrain

2.0L MultiJet Diesel – 125kW/350Nm – 9-Speed Automatic 4×4

Combined-cycle fuel consumption (L/100km) – 5.7 AT

Standard Features (in addition, or replacing Longitude):

• Trail Rated
• Jeep Active Drive Low 4×4 System
• Jeep Selec-Terrain with Rock Mode
• Off-Road Suspension
• Raised Ride Height
• Unique Front and Rear Facia
• Black Anti-Glare Hood Decal
• Red Recovery Hooks
• Hill Descent Control
• 4 Underbody Skid Plates
• Trail Rated Badging
• Full Size Spare Wheel
• Cloth and Leather Seats
• All Weather Floor Mats
• Reversible Cargo Mat
• Natural Grey Exterior Accents
• 4-Inch Touchscreen Display with Satellite Navigation
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Cost options:

Dual Pane Sunroof $1950

Comfort & Convenience Group $2850:

• Trailhawk Leather seats
• Power 8-way driver / 4-way passenger
• Driver seat memory
• Power lumbar adjust
• Heated front seats
• Passive entry
• Remote Start
• Keyless Go

Advanced Technology Group $2450:

• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Exterior mirror Courtesy lamp
• Power lift Gate
• Adaptive Cruise Control (w Stop & Go)
• Auto High Beam
• Blind Spot Monitoring w/Rear Cross Path Detect