Jeep Compass practicality and boot space

• Five-star crash-test score from Euro NCAP
• Lots of safety systems available
• Final specifications yet to be announced

The Jeep Compass achieved a five-star crash-test rating from Euro NCAP. It wasn't a completely glowing result, though, with concerns about occupant chest injuries resulting from the side-impact pole test.

Every Compass gets a suite of airbags, traction control, Isofix lashing points for child seats, lane-departure warning, keyless entry, cruise control, speed limiter, electronic parking brake and a type repair kit.

Then, depending on trim, you can also have adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, a rear-view camera, automatic wipers, a self-parking system and, in the case of the Trailhawk, an array of off-roading kit as standard. This information is expanded upon in the Equipment section.

Our test drive allowed us to sample the adaptive cruise control, the guidance system proving adept at not being foxed by parked cars or the vehicle in front slowing down at a much faster rate than expected.

How many Isofix points does the Jeep Compass SUV have?

Just the two located in the outer rear positions of the three-person bench, like the majority of its competitiors.

• No new standards set for roominess
• Usefully more capacious than the Renegade
• Flexible loadspace not all that it seems

Officially the Compass is a five-seater, although three adults are likely to feel somewhat squeezed on the Jeep’s rear bench.

Leg- and shoulder-room are decent enough, as is headroom, providing you don’t specify the optional panoramic roof.

There’s a decent amount of storage for odds and ends so the cabin shouldn’t look or feel cluttered.

Although the Compass isn’t much bigger than the Renegade, you really notice the difference in the back half of the car.

Yet, it remains compact in footprint and doesn’t feel especially elevated to drive, so it’s unlikely to feel unwieldy to a buyer trading up from a more conventional hatchback.

A reversing camera is available as is a self-parking function.

Keep the rear seat up and you can extend the boot space by 50 litres not by adjusting the rake of the backrest, but by lowering the three-position boot floor.

As standard the Compass is likely to come with a 60:40-split rear bench, but a 40/20/40 arrangement will also be available.

High-grade Jeeps are also likely to feature an electric tailgate – featuring a button inside the boot rather than on the door itself – although we were disappointed to find no release handles for the folding rear seats in the boot itself.