The vehicle performs well, although the extra power is not that noticeable as it tends to get somewhat swallowed up by the 4x4 package. The

(Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

Compass Limited, however, feels very stable on the road and the added grip is quite impressive.

The CVT transmission certainly allows for better fuel economy. Yet it does take a little getting used to if you are not familiar with this type of transmission. On an odd occasion, particularly under hard acceleration, I did sense that the transmission was playing catch-up, but in normal use, it delivered fairly smooth performance.

All in all, I quite liked the Jeep Compass Limited. After raving about how great the Dodge Caliber was, I couldn't really come down on a vehicle which is basically molded from the same platform.

I still do, however, question the purpose of the Jeep Compass. Yes, it maybe a nice little vehicle, but is it truly needed?

The overall design is basically sound as it follows along the line of the Caliber. Yet it seems to struggle to achieve any kind of true "Jeep feeling". Another thing which surprised me is that the car is called the Compass,

(Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

and is made by Jeep. Wouldn't you have thought that the designers would have placed an actual working compass somewhere in the vehicle? To me, that says "a hurried design", and is not in keeping with the company's usual well-planned products.

I'm sure that the Jeep dealers down south are only too happy to have this entry-level model to sell, but is there sound corporate reasoning behind it? After all, every division is owned by the parent company, Daimler-Chrysler, and do they really need to be producing competition within their own brands?

I think that the company would be wise to look to their outside competitors first, as to me, this vehicle is a little like Hummer placing its badge on a GM family car.

(Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

(Photo: Kevin Corrigan)