2026 Jeep Compass

The 2026 Compass is the smallest and least expensive entry into the Jeep brand. But it’s an entry nonetheless, granting buyers access to a club comprised of adventure seekers, off-road loyalists, and weekend warriors. Or, at least those claiming to be. Should you actually use a Jeep to do Jeep-capable things, the Compass can impress thanks to its standard all-wheel drive and off-road hardware. These attributes help the Compass stand apart from more commuter-focused rivals like the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, and Toyota Corolla Cross. Yet there’s no denying the Compass is getting long in the tooth and is about to be replaced, at least outside the U.S.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact SUVs, including the Jeep Compass.

The Compass loses the base Sport trim in 2026 and sees no major changes to the others. There’s a good chance this is the final model year. Jeep has shown the next-gen Compass, but it’s unknown at this time whether it will be sold in America.

With the prior base Sport trim out of the picture, the new entry for the Compass lineup is the Latitude, leading to a starting price of around $30,000. That’s above subcompact SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, and Honda HR-V, and closer to the compact class. The Jeep Compass does have all-wheel drive standard, but so does the Subaru Crosstrek, which starts a bit less, along with the Ford Bronco Sport, which is a bit more. Both of those rivals are fresher than the aging Compass.

Before buying a new Jeep Compass, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying. Unlike its sibling, the Wrangler, the resale value of the Jeep Compass lags competitors. The higher the resale value, the more money you can get when it’s time to sell or trade-in your vehicle.

This little Jeep doesn’t skimp on power. We appreciate that all Compass models get a 200-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine. That’s more verve than what most subcompact SUVs have, and even bests some SUVs a size larger. In our testing, we found it enables quick getaways in traffic and dealing with tricky terrain alike. The engine is refined, and it even exhibits a nice little growl when you put your foot into it. We also like the standard 8-speed automatic transmission, a treat when more and more rivals go to drone-inducing continuously variable transmission (CVT) setups. We should point out that a Mazda CX-30, also with standard all-wheel drive, has 191 hp in standard form and up to 250 hp for turbo models. The Mazda isn’t as off-road-oriented but has similar power, excellent driving manners, and a price that starts at thousands less.

The Compass’ ride can be a bit bouncy over rough surfaces, and some of our editors prefer the smaller wheel/tire combination in the Latitude over the less-forgiving larger wheels in the Limited. At just 173.4 inches in length, the Compass is a snap to park on crowded city streets and home garages alike. With a footprint this small, maneuvering in general is easy, and just another asset should you take your “Trail Rated” Jeep onto an actual trail.

Fuel Economy

The Jeep Compass is EPA-rated at 27 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That’s ok enough, but if superior efficiency is your goal in a subcompact SUV, look to the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid; that model has standard all-wheel drive, nearly the same power, is less expensive, and earns 42 mpg combined.

We think the 5-passenger cabin of the Compass is acceptable in terms of design, ergonomics, and quality. We also find the cabin fairly quiet. High points include the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen and 7-inch digital instrument cluster (or optional 10.25-inch unit), and available 8-way power driver’s seat with heating and ventilation. At 38.3 inches, rear legroom is better than average for a subcompact SUV. The 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats hovers near the bottom of the class. That space expands to a more reasonable 59.8 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The Jeep Compass may not be a blocky, utilitarian-looking rig like the Wrangler, but there are enough brand similarities here to at least see lineage. The brand’s 7-slot grill is up front, and if you go for the Trailhawk version, you’ll get distinguishing factors like chunky all-terrain tires, red tow hooks up front, and a black hood treatment to help with glare. We also like the contrasting-color roof options.

Jeep Active Drive 4×4
The standard Jeep Active Drive 4×4 system is the foundation of what makes the Compass a good off-roader. It’s a fully automatic system that delivers torque to the wheels that need it most.

Disconnecting rear axle
One clever aspect of the 4×4 system in the Compass is that it can disconnect the drive to the rear axle, essentially making the Compass a front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle to help save gasoline when conditions allow.

Selec-Terrain
Selec-Terrain is standard, allowing drivers to optimize the 4-wheel-drive system for whatever terrain they encounter. Leaving it in Auto mode works well enough most of the time, but it also has Snow and Sand/Mud modes. The Trailhawk adds a Rock mode for more demanding terrain.

Infotainment system
We like it. The setup has a 10.1-inch touchscreen, is user-friendly and packed with features, including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Wireless charging and an Alpine premium audio system are among the options.

Highway Assist
It does what its name implies. Available in the Limited and Trailhawk models, this partially autonomous system uses features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance to help ease the driver’s workload under certain conditions.

Trailhawk
The Compass Trailhawk is much more than just an appearance package. Thanks to a 20:1 crawl ratio, Rock mode, an extra inch of ground clearance, off-road tires, and skid plates, it has impressive off-road capabilities. All-wheel-drive rivals pale in comparison on the dirt.

The Compass employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 200 hp and 221 lb-ft, which is muscular among subcompact SUVs. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends this to a standard all-wheel-drive system. Maximum towing capacity is 2,000 pounds — better than the class average.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Jeep’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, which is typical among mainstream manufacturers. Jeep also includes free scheduled maintenance for the first three years.

Safety Ratings

The 2025 Compass earned an overall score of four stars out of a possible five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), so that score will likely carry over. It hasn’t been tested fully by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.