Testing the Jeep Compass

Sharing basics with the equally mediocre Dodge Caliber, the Compass went on sale last spring as a smaller and lower cost alternative to the Jeep Liberty.

The only engine available is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder delivering 172 hp. That might sound like a lot of horsepower for a compact vehicle, but Compasses aren't lightweights, ranging from about 3,100 pounds to about 3,300 pounds. TV's "MotorWeek" said zero to 60 miles per hour took a "leisurely" 9.4 seconds - barely sufficient to stay safe in traffic.

The Compass' automatic transmission can be shifted manually through six preset ratios, but if you're going to drive it that way all the time, you might as well save yourself $1,000 and take the standard five-speed stick shift, which will get you better fuel economy besides.

Traction control is standard in all versions of the Compass, and, if you're budget-minded and don't plan any off-roading, the front-wheel drive and traction control should be able to handle almost anything you'll encounter on Long Island, especially with the Compass' 8 1/2 inches of ground clearance.

The tester cornered well and handled legal and extra-legal highway speeds competently. Standard wheels are 17-inchers, with 18s available.

Fuel economy isn't too bad - 23 mpg city and 26 highway with four-wheel drive.

Those looking for something less car-like and more traditional might want to wait until early next year, when the Patriot arrives - also derived from the Caliber-Compass platform.

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