Jeep Compass Trailhawk review: Versatile SUV carves out a niche

This compact SUV could be the ideal ride for someone who wants a vehicle that can handle the school run and weekend adventures.

Small SUVs are all the rage at the moment, and Jeep’s range-topping Compass SUV makes a compelling case for someone looking for an SUV that can multi-task.

Here are five things you need to know about the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.

IT’S READY TO RUMBLE

Jeep reserves its Trailhawk name for its most accomplished off-road vehicles. The Compass Trailhawk isn’t a hard core off-road weapon like Jeep’s Wrangler, but it’ll handle some fairly rough terrain.

Juicy departure and approach angles give confidence when off-roading.

Off-road enthusiasts will appreciate underbody skid plates, red tow hooks, hill descent control and several off-road focused driving modes including snow, sand, mud and rock.

Generous approach and departure angles and a decent wading depth of 480mm beef-up its tough SUV credentials.

Jeep has fitted the Trailhawk with chunkier off-road tyres than the rest of the Compass range and there is a standard full-size spare so you aren’t caught out.

IT’LL HANDLE THE SCHOOL RUN

Despite its off-road focus, the Compass is likely to spend most of its time on the bitumen.

Front passengers are treated to heated leather seats and plenty of soft-touch materials. A leather steering wheel, contrast stitching and Trailhawk badges add to the premium feel.

Infotainment includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessed through an 8.4-inch touchscreen.

The cabin has enough luxury features to make you forget about its tough underpinnings.

There is plenty of room in the rear and back-seat passengers are taken care of with two aircon vents, a USB outlet and 12-volt charging point.

It isn’t great to drive on a winding road. There’s considerable lean through the corners and the steering feels disconnected, but it has a surprisingly smooth ride, soaking up bumps and road imperfections impressively.

THE RANGE IS IMPRESSIVE

Diesels aren’t for everyone, but if you do a lot of long-distance driving, you’ll enjoy the 800km-plus range.

Jeep claims the Trailhawk will use only 5.7L/100km but you’ll need to do some serious stretches at highway speeds to hit that.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder makes a decent 125kW and 350Nm but it sounds pretty agricultural at lower speeds. There’s a fair amount of diesel clatter and while there’s plenty of torque, it feels sluggish off the mark.

Diesel power makes a lot of sense in off-road focused machines.

YOU’LL PAY FOR ITS OFF-ROAD ABILITY

The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is priced from about $55,000 drive-away. Our test vehicle had premium paint costing $645 and a sunroof for an additional $1950.

That is a lot of money for a small SUV and about a $10,000 premium over most other SUVs of a similar size. Jeep has adjusted its servicing prices in response to customer feedback and the Compass’s first five services are capped at a reasonable $399 each.

There isn’t much else like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk on the road.

IT STANDS OUT FORM THE CROWD

The compact SUV market is one of the most competitive in the country and buyers are spoiled for choice.

But if you’re after a compact SUV that’ll handle the daily grind and weekend adventures with gusto there aren’t many options.

At the bottom end there’s the tiny Suzuki Jimny, which is much cheaper but a bare bones prospect inside, while at the other end of the spectrum the Land Rover Discovery Sport is capable but much more expensive.

Originally published as Jeep Compass Trailhawk review: Versatile SUV carves out a niche