| Take Coca Cola and lime. On their own they make a | | | | does in fact boast some impressive styling with sharp |
| fair fist of making small children go loopy and adults | | | | European lines embraced with Jeep's trademark |
| go all sour-faced. Stick them together and you have | | | | seven-slot front grill and round headlights. It is without |
| a sour tasting drink aimed at those with a sweet | | | | doubt the bravest styled vehicle Jeep have produced |
| tooth. Remember XFL? Xtreme Football League I | | | | in recent years but it works. It also clearly make the |
| believe it was called and this heady formula added a | | | | statement that time and money have been spent |
| pinch of wrestling to the already bubbling pot of | | | | breaking the mould and sending the company down a |
| American Football. One season that multi-million pound | | | | different road. |
| idea lasted for. | | | | I'm not so shallow that good looks will distract me |
| Just because you like two different things is never | | | | from seeing how it drives and to be honest I sensed |
| reason enough to combine them and assume the | | | | the worst. I mean Jeep supplies the US Army with its |
| best. All of which leads me neatly into the muddy and | | | | vehicles where armour easily out-muscles refinement |
| treacherous world of the 4 x 4. Designed to eat | | | | on the must-have list. Despite this lack of pedigree |
| mountains for breakfast, the original premise of a 4 x | | | | the Compass really is refined. As you'd expect from |
| 4 was to be an off-roader and before you knew it | | | | a 4 x 4 manufacturer, the interior is spacious, well laid |
| manufacturers were sticking large wheels and huge | | | | out and easy to use. Leg room in the back is so large |
| ground clearance beneath their cars. Then one day a | | | | that kids may get lost and boot space puts its |
| boffin decided it'd be a good idea to combine the | | | | hatchback rivals to shame. The build quality is also an |
| everyday drivability of a car with the go anywhere, | | | | improvement on past Jeep models - usually a sure |
| no nonsense versatility of a 4 x 4. | | | | fire sign that you've bought cheap. Yet the Jeep |
| Unfortunately this meant that the market was | | | | belies this fact, even if it is all a bit grey. |
| flooded with vehicles that were sufficiently altered | | | | The driveability doesn't let the side down either, with |
| and were therefore useless off road as they weren't | | | | a torque-y 2.0 litre diesel ably propelling the Compass |
| high enough, and rubbish on the road as they weren't | | | | around town or quietly down the motorway. The |
| low enough. Even more unfortunately unlike | | | | independent suspension steals the show however, |
| Audioslave, Coke lime and XFL, no-one seems to | | | | giving the car (yes car!) a smooth, quiet and |
| have noticed the bad idea and the roads crawl with | | | | undeniably comfortable ride. |
| haphazard handling brutes. | | | | Pricing at an initial glace a tad high, with UK models |
| Thankfully then Jeep have decided to break from the | | | | starting at £18,990, however compare the |
| mould and set up camp firmly on the car side of the | | | | American hatchback to its rivals in terms of how it |
| field. Ladies and gentleman please welcome the Jeep | | | | drives, comfort, standard kit and exclusivity and it |
| Compass. It's the first time the company have | | | | suddenly seems like a steal. It must be stressed that |
| stepped away from their roots with a two door | | | | if you do buy the Jeep Compass and you tackle |
| convertible that looks almost identical to a Ferrari. Ok, | | | | much more than a stone on the road you'll look like a |
| it's not a two door Italian supercar look-alike and yes | | | | beached whale. Use the Compass as intended though |
| it does look like a large, almost 4 x 4 type vehicle | | | | and you'll find a hatchback that is a serious contender |
| but it's technically a hatchback, I promise. | | | | to the likes of its similarly priced rivals. |
| Jeep are putting their faith in the Compass attracting | | | | On this form the US Army will go for the leather |
| a new buyer demographic and a look at the rear | | | | seats option on their next bulk purchase. |
| three quarters screams Mercedes. The Compass | | | | |