Here’s the truth: I didn’t actually want to do a full review of the 2025 Jeep Compass (rugged Trailhawk version or not). Mainstream Jeeps have never been interesting to me, as most of them up to this point have been low effort attempts to appeal to the masses.
I’m happy to report that the 2025 Compass Trailhawk is actually a pretty sweet compact SUV that is deserving of the Jeep badges that are plastered all over it.
Ok, it’s a little ugly on the outside. But the interior is phenomenal, and it drives remarkably well over nearly any kind of terrain. Just like a proper Jeep should.
My full review of the 2025 Jeep Compass Trailhawk
Full disclosure: this was my rental car for a recent four day trip to Minnesota in early January. I am not being paid to do this review. I actually do this sort of sh*t for fun.
First impressions
I wasn’t all that excited to be given the keys to this little turd, but boy was I ever happy when I saw it for the very first time. Knobby tires and tow hooks? Hell yeah! Perfect for winter driving in the upper Midwest.
Styling and design
The best way to describe the styling and design of the 2025 Jeep Compass Trailhawk is to say that it suffers from an identity crisis. Without all the rugged Trailhawk bits (knobby tires, lifted suspension, tow hooks, and decals), it would be hard to distinguish this thing from anything that you could buy at the local Toyota dealership.
The overall shape is fairly generic and safe IMHO. You’ve got to look really hard to find any design elements that are part of the Jeep design language, but they do exist. The slotted front grille is probably the most “Jeep” thing on this entire vehicle.
Interior overview
I’ve had the opportunity to drive many Jeeps over the years, but I ain’t never driven one with an interior like this. I actually like it more than the interior of the 2023 Nissan Rogue that I recently drove (and raved about).
Somehow they were successful in making the interior both rugged and luxurious. It looks kinda tough with the red Trailhawk badges, textured surfaces, and all weather flooring material materials. But the swoopy and highly intuitive layout of the dashboard and center console makes it feel like a luxury car.
The front seats are firm but very supportive for a compact SUV. They are highly adjustable, and it took me all of five seconds to find a position that I liked.
The infotainment system is pretty good in this thing. I especially like the fact that the Apple CarPlay connection is not only wireless, but very reliable. I never experienced a dropped connection.
Engine and transmission
The 2.0 L 200 hp in-line four cylinder (mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission) in the 2025 Compass Trailhawk is gutless, a little buzzy, and not very tough sounding. You’re not going to win any races, but it I guess it does a decent job of merging this 3620 lb trucklet onto the freeway without totally pissing off everyone in your general vicinity.
This thing needs about 100 more horsepower to be fun in my opinion. I’m not expecting 2016 Corvette Stingray like acceleration, but a bit more zip would be nice.
Driving impressions
I’ve never driven anything with knobby tires and lifted suspension that drives as well as the 2025 Compass Trailhawk does.
Not only does it track dead straight at highway speed, the ride is soft and plush. It doesn’t bounce, it doesn’t lean too far in the corners, and it isn’t overly firm. It’s easy to tell that the engineers spent a long time getting the suspension tuned just right.
Steering feel was impressive as well. It was almost sports car like (tight and responsive), but it wasn’t perfect in every situation. Maneuvering this thing in tight spots was a little difficult due to a larger than expected turning radius.
Outward visibility is quite good in all directions. The only issue that I had was trying to see out of the tiny rear side windows when merging onto the freeway. It wasn’t impossible, but it was a challenge indeed.
Build quality
The 2025 Jeep Compass Trailhawk is a Jeep that feels like a luxury car. The doors close with a satisfying thud, all the knobs and switches in the interior have a premium feeling weight to them, and I didn’t hear one rattle or squeak during my entire four days with this thing.
This was easily the highest quality Jeep that I have ever driven. At least in feeling (and sound). The jury is still out on whether or not these things will stand up to the test of time. It’s still a jeep after all, so I highly recommend talking to existing owners before purchasing one of your own.
Gas mileage
I only managed to get 24.8 MPG out of this thing. That’s a few MPG less than what Jeep claims that it’s capable of, so maybe the extreme cold weather that I was encountering at the time had something to do with it. Or maybe I just drive like an a**hole. I don’t know.
