Most debate about the Compass will come from its exterior; no one will say it isn't daring. My black test vehicle made the most of all the Compass' jutting edges and odd exterior light placements. Around front — where cars used to have bumpers — an odd lower lip juts out. Black thankfully hides this design element, but other colors do not. This is where many people find fault with the look.

Otherwise, the side glass that tapers off toward the rear of the Compass looks contemporary, as does the sporty spoiler above the rear liftgate. A tough stance adds Jeep authority from afar, but there isn't much to back it up underneath.