Shopping For Used Jeeps? Why Not Consider the Jeep Compass

The Jeep brand of SUVs is by far the most established sport utility manufacturer in the world. Every vehicle put out by the Chrysler-owned company is designed to tackle nearly any driving condition. If you’re looking through the different used Jeeps for sale, you may want to consider a used Jeep Compass. This is one of the newer entries into the Jeep family lineup and shares several design features with the Grand Cherokee. Before you dive headfirst into purchasing though, here is a bit of what you need to know about the different generations and models. With this information, you’ll be better equipped to select a specific Jeep Compass that checks off your car shopping boxes.

First Generation Jeep Compass

Before the release of the Compass, Jeep had been teasing it for years. In fact, it first released a concept of the Compass back in 2002 during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. At this time, it used a 2-door design while borrowing a 3.7L V6 from another newer model, the Jeep Liberty.

Eventually, Jeep did release the Compass in 2007. In a way, Jeep did ditch the two-door design. However, it compromised with this by having the back two-doors opened by a small handle found along the window. This made the Jeep look like an elongated two-door design. It also borrowed its rear hatch design from the Chrysler line of minivans.

Due to all of this, the original Jeep Compass does give you a rather unique look when compared to other Jeeps on the road. By 2011 however, Jeep decided to begin moving away from the hatchback look it created with the original release. To help, Jeep performed a mid-generation facelift to square off the rear end and to enlarge the front nose, giving it more of a Grand Cherokee look. During the first few years of existence, the Jeep pulled front style features from the Jeep Patriot.

Up until the facelift, the earlier models were more designed for general road driving. So if you’re looking for a basic everyday driver that stays on the road, these earlier models might be right for you. However, if you want some off-road potential, you’ll want to begin with the 2011 models.

The 2011 facelift brought with it the option for new all-terrain tires, skid plates, plus a new 4×4 drive system. It also boosted ground clearance. All of these features come as enhancements thanks to the Freedom Drive II package. So if you want some additional off-roading designs on your Jeep Compass, make sure to look for a Freedom Drive II included package. The II package also comes with a four-wheel-drive system that is electronically controlled. However, if you want a full-time four-wheel drivetrain, you’ll want to look for a Jeep Compass with a Freedom Drive I package.

In the United States, the standard engine packed into the first-gen Compass is a 2.4L I4 engine that produces 172 horsepower (this is larger than the 2.0L 158 horsepower engine offered throughout the rest of the world).

The Jeep Compass comes in three different trims (plus some accessories packages), however, included features depend on the year. These trims are the Sport, Latitude, and Limited. The sport comes as the base model, although even as a base, it does come with a Boston Acoustics sound system and a 368-watt amp.

The Latitude builds on the Sport trim. The first-gen models include keyless entry and new performance packages such as a cargo convenience package. This package offers tire pressure monitoring, a garage door opener, and a tonneau cover.

The Limited trim package takes the features a step further and offers leather-trimmed seating, which is a common feature for most Chrysler vehicles. The Limited also includes an available remote start feature and sunroof. There are also a number of special edition and one-off models that came out during the first generation, including an Altitude and 70th Anniversary edition.

Second Generation

The second generation of the Jeep Compass came out with the 2017 model year. This Jeep saw a size improvement as its construction was moved to mimic that of the Jeep Renegade. Jeep also added a fourth official trim: the Trailhawk. The Trailhawk is the only trim of the four that comes exclusively with a 4×4 drive. The three other models offer both four-wheel and front-wheel drive options.

Jeep did upgrade the engine with the second-gen Compass with a new 2.4L Tigershark I4 engine and a 1.4L MultiAir I4. The Sport trim uses this 1.4L MultiAir engine (although you can find some Sport trims with an optional Tigershark).

The Jeep Latitude built on the Sport trim and included a number of upgrades, including a spare tire, satellite radio, tinted glass, and several security features. This is one thing to look for when shopping for a Used Jeep Compass. Some of the models may not have a spare tire. It might have a tire repair kit, but it is always a good idea to have a spare tire on hand, as sometimes it’s not possible to patch up a tire and inflate it while on the side of the highway. The Latitude also comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen that uses Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system. It also has a 9-speaker Beats premium audio system, to really enjoy your music in your used Jeep.

The Limited package is the luxury end of the Compass. This model comes standard with the 2.4L Tigershark I4. It also uses larger 18-inch alloy wheels with an optional 19-inch upgrade (most of the other models use a 17 or 16-inch wheel), plus there are additional features like GPS navigation and a dual-pane sunroof.

The new Trailhawk trim is designed as the off-road model option. The Trailhawk uses the Latitude trim as its base and then adds several off-roading features. This includes improved suspension, a ruby-red interior, the 2.4L Tigershark engine, plus Falken Wildpeak A/T all-terrain tires and a full-size matching spare tire. Some of the models will also come with Limited features, like a Beats premium audio system and power rear tailgate.

There are a number of special edition trims and performance packages as well. There is an Altitude and a High Altitude package option for either the Latitude or Limited trims. These feature black-out interior designs. You can also find some packages for the Sport trim, like the Upland and Sun and Wheel Group add-on.

Looking For a Used Jeep For Sale? You’ll Find it At Online.cars

The Jeep Compass is the perfect combination of all things Jeep. It takes a number of features found on the Grand Cherokee and wraps it up into a slightly smaller presentation. This will help you with fuel economy while still ensuring you’re safe while driving. So whether you go with an older first-generation or spring for the newer second-gen model, you’ll find there is so much to love about this used Jeep. Add in its ability to handle nearly any weather condition, and you’ll have the perfect SUV. All you need to do is check out the current selection available at online.cars.