Used 2012 Jeep Compass Limited for sale 

The 2012 Jeep Compass is a five-passenger compact SUV that's offered in three new trim levels: Sport, Latitude, and Limited. Standard equipment on the entry-level Sport model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, heated mirrors, roof rails, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning, 60/40-split-folding rear seats, a tilt-only steering wheel, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.

Stepping up to the midrange Latitude model gets you heated front seats, a height-adjustable driver seat, a fold-flat front passenger seat, reclining rear seats, a household-style 115-volt auxiliary power point, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. The top-of-the-line Limited trim level adds the larger 2.4-liter engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a trip computer, satellite radio, and a six-CD changer. The Latitude and Limited models are available with a number of different packages.

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The 2012 Jeep Compass, offered in three trim levels, is one SUV that attracts many eyes. Coming from a well-reputed family dedicated to producing quality SUVs, the Latitude trim would be the perfect pick if we are to choose one. The Latitude trim brings a lot of features available with the Limited trim but keeps itself from going out of control budget-wise.

Every front-wheel-drive 2012 Jeep Compass Sport and Latitude model comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 158 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the Sport. A CVT is optional on the Sport and standard on the Latitude.

The five-speed manual transmission that's standard is quite agreeable, but this model's Achilles Heel continues to be its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which is slow to ramp up revs and respond to passing demands or merely confident acceleration out of tight corners. The CVT also brings out these engines' overwhelming tendency to be loud, coarse, and vibration-prone.

Fastest among the SUVs featured here is evidently the Jeep Compass, with the most affordable price when compared to its rivals, the Nissan and the Honda. The 0-60 drag time of Nissan Rogue, however, is actually more than the Honda CR-V, making it the slowest among the above-featured SUVs. 

Depending on which 2012 Compass you choose—and your level of green expectations—you could be satisfied or you could be shocked and disappointed. None of the Jeep Compass models quite hit 30 mpg, which is a bit surprising for a compact crossover that's definitely on the compact side of the spectrum. And while the Compass offers two closely related (and closely sized) four-cylinder engines, its ratings can vary quite widely. EPA city ratings range from 20 to 23 mpg and highway ratings span up to 29.

Compass models with front-wheel-drive and manual-transmission are the best of the bunch, at 23/29. With 4WD and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package, the Compass gets a miserable 20 mpg city, 23 highway—that's on par or even worse than some much larger SUVs with more space and serious towing ability. The Jeep Compass, along with its rivals, have almost similar mpg when it comes to city and highway combined, however, the larger fuel capacity that Nissan holds will bring a difference in the day to day commute.

The 2012 Jeep Compass, all said, has a pretty roomy and versatile interior layout. Although, cargo space is limited, and whether referring to ride quality or cabin noise, refinement is lacking. The interior of the Compass is most suitable for four adults. The seats of the Compass tend to be quite short and lacking in support, so it's no long-haul highway cruiser, but the driving position is upright yet quite car-like. 

In the back, there's enough headroom for most adults (although legroom is a bit tight), and the bench is among the hardest and the flattest. Also, the Compass got some upgrades inside for 2011, with soft-touch surfaces for the door panels, plus all-new upholsteries (and items like backlit door switches and window controls). The new materials go a long way toward improving first impressions, but they still feel on the cheap side. 

The interior is well laid-out and comes with plenty of cubbies and bins for storing smaller items, plus a number of innovative features like a rechargeable flashlight and outward-facing tailgate speakers. Cargo space remains limited, as there's not a lot of space behind the back seats, and the cargo floor is somewhat high. When comparing the cargo space, Honda serves the biggest cargo boot of 37.2 cubic feet. Some of the interior features are listed below for your reference:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats
• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Optional Heated steering wheel
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls

2012 Jeep Compass SUV Infotainment System

The 2012 Jeep Compass comes standard with an AM/FM/CD stereo, auxiliary input, and a removable LED flashlight. Optional features include navigation, satellite radio, and fold-down liftgate speakers, which we found to be a fun feature. We also appreciate the Compass’s clear gauges and straightforward audio and climate controls. Few key infotainment features available with the SUV are-

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Changer (Optional)
• CD Player
• MP3 Player
• Wireless Cell Phone Hookup (Optional)

The nips and tucks worked wonders, even though it's still a little awkward from some angles. The 2012 Jeep Compass is now somewhat attractive, if a bit conservative. The proportions are the same, with the boxy wheel well outlined and smooth rear-pillar upkick preserved.

The front end is essentially a smaller, softer version of the Grand Cherokee's, while the taillamps have also been softened. Overall, the Compass has a vaguely sleeker, classier look from some angles, but from others, there's still a hint of ungainliness.

The heaviest and the lengthiest is the Honda, widest too, but when it comes to the height - all the three SUVs share almost the same figures, with the Nissan leading the way. The same goes with the wheelbase too, with Jeep and Honda to follow. The 2012 Jeep Compass makes plenty of room for lots of people or lots of stuff, and it does it much more efficiently than it ever did in the past. Major exterior highlights of the crossover SUV are-

• Aluminum wheels
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Fog Lamps (optional)
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Reverse camera
• Sunroof/moonroof

The 2012 Jeep Compass hasn't been rated for safety since its refresh by either of the major safety agencies, but its features are pretty strong, albeit typical for the class. Side curtain airbags, Brake Traction Control, a driver-controlled three-mode Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Brake Assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation, and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with rough-road detection are included, along with front-seat side airbags and active head restraints. Major safety features include-

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control
• Electronic Roll Mitigation
• Rough-Road Detection

The 2012 Jeep Compass is one of the most affordable off-road-capable vehicles on the market, but it's still not as refined as many of its compact SUV competitors. The 2012 Jeep Compass offers good off-road performance, but said, there are more capable and refined compact SUVs. In the end, if you want a compact crossover SUV with a touch of adventure in it, then Jeep Compass is the answer.