2008 Jeep Compass Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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In 2007, Jeep introduced the Compass to break into the car-based SUV market represented by Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Jeep chose the Patriot platform, which derives from the Mitsubishi-developed Dodge Caliber. They powered the Compass with an engine sourced from the DaimlerChrysler/Mitsubishi/Hyundai global engine family. The results are mixed. The 2008 model has few changes.
The Compass measures 7.7 inches shorter than Toyota's RAV4, yet it can seat 5. But there isn't as much cargo space (less than the Ford Escape, RAV4 and even the much smaller Hyundai Tucson), and the interior plastics are of the hard type. Yet, the ride comfort makes for a "tossable" good handling experience.
Most reviewers, however, fault the engine and CVT (continuously variable transmission) for not being up to the standards of the class competition. The 2.4-liter I4 makes 172 hp at 6,000 rpm. Reviewers complain that the CVT seems to soak up most of that power, leaving the engine screaming at 6,000 rpm under any type of serious acceleration. EPA claims 23-25 city and 26-29 highway, but one reviewer observed 19.5 mpg. 0-60 came up very slowly at 10.2 seconds. On-ramp excursions seemed to be of the teeth-clenching type, with the engine madly revving and the approaching traffic bearing down. The manual 5-speed was the preferred choice of available transmissions.
There are two trim lines and the optional "Freedom 1" full-time all-wheel-drive system that includes a locking center differential, but it is not a trail-rated system like the one on the Patriot. Jeep recommends its Freedom 1 system for daily use, including snow and rain conditions. Standard safety equipment includes brake assisted antilock brakes, electronic stability control with roll mitigation and front and side-curtain air bags.
Jeep projects that 60% of the market for the Compass will be females looking for an urban Jeep-type vehicle. However, the Japanese competition offers more refinement, though at slightly higher entry prices.
User reviews for 2008 Jeep Compass
Write a review2008 Jeep Compass Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · AM/FM radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 2 · 66 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 0.39 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: vinyl/rubber · Floor Mats: front and rear · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 115V · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.12
Exterior Features
Door handle color: black · Grille color: body-color · Paint: pearl · Pickup tonneau cover: soft · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Locks
Power door locks: speed sensitive central locking
Mirrors
Auto-dimming mirrors: rearview · Exterior mirrors: manual · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rack color: black · Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Passenger seat folding: folds flat · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: full-size
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all terrain
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · AM/FM radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 2 · 66 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 0.39 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: vinyl/rubber · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Assist handle: passenger side · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 115V · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand · Axle ratio: 4.12 · Locking differential: center
Exterior Features
Door handle color: black · Grille color: body-color · Paint: pearl · Pickup tonneau cover: soft · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Locks
Power door locks: speed sensitive central locking
Mirrors
Auto-dimming mirrors: rearview · Exterior mirrors: folding · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rack color: black · Sunroof: tilt/slide
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Passenger seat folding: folds flat · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: full-size
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: painted aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · HD radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 2 · 66 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 0.39 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Dash trim: simulated alloy · Door trim: simulated alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Front power outlet: 115V · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.12
Exterior Features
Door handle color: black · Grille color: body-color · Paint: pearl · Pickup tonneau cover: soft · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rack color: black · Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bench · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · CD changer: 6 · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Boston Acoustics premium brand speakers · HD radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 66 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.5 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brake width: 0.39 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Dash trim: simulated alloy · Door trim: simulated alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Front power outlet: 115V · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand · Axle ratio: 4.12 · Locking differential: center
Exterior Features
Door handle color: black · Grille color: body-color · Paint: pearl · Pickup tonneau cover: soft · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rack color: black · Sunroof: one-touch
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed
