Altitude 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
Altitude 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
For the 2013 model year, Jeep has made no changes to the Compass, and the only difference is the marginal rise of highway fuel economy in the base manual trim.
Jeep has been known for making rugged off-road vehicles, and fuel savings was never on the agenda for Jeep. With an efficient engine powering theJeep Compass, it intends to offer Jeep levels of performance without burning a hole in the pocket with its fuel bills. The Compass is one of the most affordable off-road capable vehicles in the market and also makes use of the Jeep’s signature styling to create a stir in the compact SUV segment.
For the 2013 model year, Jeep has made no changes to the Compass, and the only difference is the marginal rise of highway fuel economy in the base manual trim. It continues to be powered by the 2-liter engine and prices start at $20,490, and it competes against the much more refined Hyundai Tucson, the powerful Mazda CX-5, and the capable Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
The Jeep Compass is offered in three trims with an option for the AWD drivetrain. The base Sport trim is offered with a manual transmission, whereas the other two get a CVT transmission. There is a decent amount of fitment available lower down the range, but to enjoy the most premium and latest of features, one has to shell out additional money and opt for the top-spec Limited trim.
Trims |
Sport |
Latitude |
Limited |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (FWD) |
$20,490 |
$22,790 |
$25,490 |
MSRP (4WD) |
$22,390 |
$24,690 |
$27,390 |
Key Features |
2-liter 158 hp four-cylinder engine |
Sport trim plus; |
Latitude trim plus; |
|
Tire Pressure Monitoring |
Emergency Braking Assist |
Ventilated Front Disc Brakes |
|
4-speaker audio system |
Steering wheel controls |
12 Months Of Provided Satellite Radio Service |
|
Cruise Control |
Leather Steering Wheel |
Automatic Climate Control |
|
Heated Mirrors |
Multi-Level Heating Front Seat |
6-Way Power Driver Seat |
|
Cloth Upholstery |
Reclining Rear Seats |
Leather Upholstery |
We Recommend
Buying a Jeep is justifiable only with the four-wheel-drive drivetrain and thus we would recommend the Latitude 4WD trim that adds a decent of features and also provides the legendary Jeep off-roading tricks. When it comes to choosing the trim, the top of the line Limited trim is the preferred choice.
The 2013 Jeep Compass is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine that is mated to either a 5-speed manual on the base trim or a CVT transmission. The power is sent to the front wheels as standard as it is essentially an FWD chassis but Jeep does offer its 4WD drivetrain to entertain the enthusiasts in you.
The acceleration performance isn’t the quickest as it takes 9.2 seconds to achieve 60 mph whereas the quarter-mile takes 17.3 seconds. The towing capacity is on par with the segment at 2,000 lbs, which although isn’t substantial but is better than what some competitors might offer.
Model |
Jeep Compass Sport |
Hyundai Tucson GL |
Mazda CX-5 Sport |
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$20,490 |
$20,450 |
$21,790 |
$19,995 |
Engine |
2.0L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
2.0L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
2.0L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
2.0L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
Transmission |
5-speed manual |
5-speed manual |
6-speed manual |
5-speed manual |
Power |
158 hp @ 6,400 rpm |
165 hp @ 6,200 rpm |
155 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
148 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
Torque |
141 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
146 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm |
150 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
145 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm |
0-60 mph (sec) |
9.2 |
8.8 |
9.5 |
9.2 |
Quarter-mile (sec) |
17.3 |
17.0 |
17.1 |
17.1 |
Top Speed (mph) |
112 |
119 |
116 |
116 |
Towing Capacity (lbs) |
2,000 |
1,000 |
2,000 |
1,311 |
TheHyundai Tucson has the highest power figures in this comparison and hence is also the quickest to 60 mph. The Outlander Sport has the lowest power output, and yet it manages to be on par with the Compass in terms of 0-60 mph sprints. There is not much to differentiate between these cars in terms of quarter-mile timings but the Compass is the one that is placed last.
The Jeep Compass 2-liter engine under its hood is an efficient one as compared to its other big brawny engines, and although it isn’t the best in the business, it is on par with the segment. The EPA rates it for 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, whereas the combined fuel economy is rated for 26 mpg. The 13.6-gallon fuel tank is on the smaller side and does adversely affect its driving range. When equipped with 4WD setup, the fuel economies drop by 2-3 mpg.
Model |
Jeep Compass |
Hyundai Tucson |
Mazda CX-5 |
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
23 |
20 |
26 |
24 |
MPG (Highway) |
30 |
26 |
35 |
31 |
MPG (Combined) |
26 |
22 |
29 |
26 |
Fuel Capacity (gal) |
13.6 |
14.5 |
14.8 |
16.6 |
Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles) |
313 / 408 / 354 |
290 / 377 / 319 |
385 / 518 / 429 |
398 / 515 / 432 |
TheMazda CX-5 has the most efficient engine, which is well beyond the reach of the Compass, and although it doesn’t feature the largest fuel tank, it offers the longest driving range amongst all the cars present here. The Outlander Sport offers the largest fuel tank, whereas the Hyundai Tucson has the highest fuel consumption.
The cabin of the Jeep Compass is relatively roomy and offers a decent amount of space for all its passengers. Also, gone are the functionally only interiors that Jeep offered, and the recent update has brought the material quality and fit and finish to acceptable industry standards.
The seats aren’t wide enough but they do offer good support and are comfortable in most circumstances. There is also a decent amount of space for the luggage even with the rear seat in use, and folding it opens up a maximum of 53.6 cu-ft of space.
Model |
Jeep Compass |
Hyundai Tucson |
Mazda CX-5 |
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in) |
40.7 / 54.6 / 40.6 |
39.4 / 57.1 / 42.1 |
40.1 / 57.5 / 41.0 |
39.4 / 56.2 / 41.6 |
Rear Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in) |
39.9 / 54.0 / 39.4 |
39.1 / 55.1 / 38.7 |
39.0 / 55.5 / 39.3 |
37.9 / 55.7 / 36.3 |
Cargo Capacity with rear seat upright (cu-ft) |
22.7 |
25.7 |
34.1 |
21.7 |
Cargo Capacity with rear seat folded (cu-ft) |
53.6 |
55.8 |
64.8 |
49.5 |
The Hyundai Tucson has the most spacious front seats, whereas the Mazda feels the most spacious at the back. The CX-5 also has the best cargo capacity, whereas theOutlander Sport feels cramped for space for both the passengers and their luggage. The Compass and the CX-5 have similar seating space, but the Japanese trump the American in the trunk capacity. Major interior features include-
The instrument cluster of the Compass is pretty small and the gauge markings aren’t easily legible. The hard plastics around the center console disappoints in terms of quality. The touchscreen infotainment system, although elevates the cabin feel, isn’t very intuitive to use, and basic tech like Bluetooth connectivity is also available only as an option. Though there is a 12 month paid subscription for SiriusXM Satellite Radio, the audio system on offer is nothing worth mentioning as well. Few key features include-
The Jeep Compass embodies the signature Jeep design language that we have seen in all other Jeep cars yet. The vertical slat chrome embellished grille upfront with chunky bumpers offers a good road presence and gives a mean look to the car.
The overall appearance is well proportioned, and the roof rails add to the sporty look of the car. To tackle all sorts of terrain, the Compass offers over 8-inch of ground clearance which also adds to the tough appearance of the SUV.
Model |
Jeep Compass |
Hyundai Tucson |
Mazda CX-5 |
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3,082 |
3,179 |
3,208 |
3,032 |
Length (in) |
173.4 |
173.0 |
179.3 |
169.1 |
Width (in) |
69.3 |
71.7 |
72.4 |
69.7 |
Height (in) |
65.2 |
65.2 |
67.3 |
64.2 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
8.1 |
6.7 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
Wheelbase (in) |
103.7 |
103.9 |
106.3 |
105.1 |
The Mazda CX-5 is the longest, widest, and tallest car, and it also offers the longest wheelbase and the highest ground clearance in this comparison. The Outlander Sport matches the CX-5 in terms of ground clearance, whereas the Compass has a marginally lower ground clearance. The Mazda is also the heaviest of the lot, tipping the scales over 3,200 lbs whereas the Mitsubishi is the lightest, thanks to its compact dimensions. Major exterior highlights of the SUV include-
The one thing that the Jeep Compass needs to improve on is the safety aspect of the car. There aren’t many safety and driver assistance features on offer, and the safety test scores aren’t really confidence inspiring either. The NHTSA has rated the 2013 Compass with an overall rating of 3-stars out of the possible 5-stars, whereas it also performed similarly in the crash test conducted by the IIHS. There is a limited amount of safety tech on offer, the list of which is listed below.
TheJeep Compass sure isn’t the most refined, or frugal, or even comfortablecompact SUV in the market. It also has substandard safety features, and the luggage room isn’t that big either. But what the Compass offers is a Jeep that does not have a thirsty engine and is also equally capable off the road as any other Jeep vehicle. It won’t be wrong to say that the Compass is the most capable compact SUV in the market today for the adventure types.