Ride & Handling

Before this review starts sounding like a bash fest, there is some good news. For an entry-level product, the Compass handles a lot better than it should. Steering feel is light without giving up any accuracy. You can zip through traffic and around corners just like you can in any sporty compact car.

There was a fair amount of road noise on the highway, which can be expected in the compact segment, but it wasn't as noticeable as in the Dodge Caliber. Wind noise was light, and the ride over a torn-up highway of grooved pavement was much better than I imagined. An above-average driving feel like this is much harder to attain than a quality interior, so it's a good thing Jeep got this right.

    See also:

    Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB) Inflator Units — If Equipped
    The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags Inflator Units (if equipped) are designed to activate only in certain side collisions. The ORC determines if a side collision requires the side air bags ...

    Summer Operation
    NOTE: In some cases during high temperature trailer tow operation the Air Conditioning system performance may be reduced. This is to help protect the engine from overheating during the high load ...

    Cooling System
    WARNING! You or others can be badly burned by hot engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming from under the hood, do not open the hood until the radi ...