Jeep gave us a new small Compass SUV last year, the old model had a poor reputation but this new model is vastly better and now with better support. I drove the Jeep Compass Limited, a 2.4 litre petrol AWD nine-speed automatic, standard at $41,250. Quality is the first big update and it had to improve while the nine-speed automatic is first rate and perhaps masks the fact the 2.4-litre engine lacks a little punch and for this reason is a little thirsty. The competition in small SUV is intense and there’s some very good players. The Jeep Compass Limited has a swag of features – full leather trim, full and part time 4WD, parking sensors, a rear view camera, heated seats, Sat Nav to name a few. On road its very well soundproofed while the nine-speed auto gives it a real air of refinement. Driving dynamics are the surprise – great ride, handling and steering. Interestingly, the Compass is built at a new plant in India – the quality on the test car was hard to fault and so it should be for Jeep in this country previously burnt a lot of customers with low quality and poor warranty support. It on the hard road back thankfully with better management here but sales YTD are 27% behind last year in a fairly tough market. Fuel economy the only real criticism of the latest Jeep Compass apart from a lack of autonomous emergency braking but a vastly improved model in a number of areas and a very satisfying driver.. I’m David Berthon

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