Jeep decided to widen its spectrum by introducing a more compact car SUV in 2006.
Aesthetically, the Jeep Compass featured classic Jeep features such as the round headlights, the 7-slot grille and the roof rails. However, the exterior design was completely new, modern and sleek, resembling that of the Dodge Caliber.

Unusual for a Jeep, the Compass was also offered with a front-wheel-drive system besides the all-wheel-drive one. While the new Compass had a reasonable ground clearance, it was mostly designed for town adventure, but it wasn’t bad out in the wild either.

The standard engine mounted on the new model was a 2.4-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder unit that developed 172 hp and 165 lb.-ft of torque. While the engine didn’t feel underpowered, the Compass was still not very agile, reaching 100 kph in around 9.4 seconds, similar to the Caliber’s performance.

For 2007, the Compass was available in two trim levels: Compass Sport and Compass Limited. With the Sport, the car-based SUV was equipped with 17-inch alloys and a CD player, while even the most basic features such as air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors and others were optional.

All optional features for the Sport trim level were offered with the Limited trim level which added 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery, heated front seats and an auto-dimming rear-view mirrors.

Other options included a sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity and a premium sound system.