Jeep gave us a new small Compass SUV earlier this year, the old model had a poor reputation but this new model is vastly better and now with better support from the local company that at long last is better managed. I drove the Jeep Compass Limited, a 2.4-litre petrol nine-speed automatic, standard at $41,250. Quality is the first big update and it had to improve while the nine-speed automatic is first rate and perhaps masks the fact the 2.4-litre engine lacks a little punch. Above all else the latest Jeep Compass is a really nice driver. And it had to be – the competition in small SUV is intense and there are some very good players. The Compass Limited has a swag of features – full leather trim, full and part time 4WD, parking sensors, a rear view camera, heated seats, Sat Nav to name a few. On road it’s very well soundproofed while the nine-speed auto gives it a real air of refinement. Driving dynamics are the surprise – great ride, handling and steering. Interestingly, the Compass is built at a new plant in India – the quality on the test car was hard to fault and so it should be for Jeep in this country previously burnt a lot of customers with low quality and poor warranty support. It’s on the hard road back to acceptance thankfully with new management in Australia. Fuel economy the only real criticism of the latest Jeep Compass – a vastly improved model in a number of areas and a very satisfying driver in so many ways. I’m David Berthon

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