The European styled but Japanese engineered Peugeot 4008 marks the start of a new attack by the French manufacturer as it seeks to expand its marketshare in Australia. From the outside it’s unfathomable to think the Peugeot 4008 has anything to do with its relatively over-styled brother, the Mitsubishi ASX, but underneath the pretty French styling remains a Japanese heart and soul...
Peugeot has been at the forefront of diesel cars in Australia and the company has championed diesel on the famous Le Mans circuit with some success. Yet there is no diesel on offer here. Instead, it’s the same two-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine from the ASX. The 110kW of power pulls the 1.4-tonnne vehicle to 100km/h in just under 10 seconds, which is ok but hardly sizzling. The resemblance to the stunning Evoque is uncanny, particularly in the bold front end. However, the roof line doesn’t dip as far toward coupe-like styling as the Evoque and the result is that the rear compartment is not as cramped or claustrophobic. All models come standard with a rear camera and seven airbags. Strangely there is a full-size spare wheel under the boot floor but it is only rated up to 80km/h. It takes up cargo space, yet doesn’t really provide much peace of mind if you venture out bush to test its AWD capabilities. Driver and passenger accommodation is comfortable with easy access and plenty of leg and headroom. However, it will still only fit two teens or adults comfortably in the rear. Extra sound deadening material provides a quiet cabin. Surprisingly there seems to be more luggage space than the ASX.
The 2018 Jeep Compass ranked #13 in Compact SUVs. Currently the Jeep Compass has a score of 7.6 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 27 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros User-friendly infotainment system Good value for an off-road SUV Cargo storage is convenient and versatile
Cons Low predicted reliability rating Below-average cargo room Lethargic engine
Coming off last year's redesign, the 2018 Jeep Compass is unchanged.The newest Compass is more comfortable to drive and can be fitted with Jeep's latest in-car technology features such as the easy-to-operate Uconnect infotainment system.
PROS Roomy interior for such a small vehicle Trailhawk version is highly capable off-road
CONS Hard to find a truly comfortable seat position Four-cylinder engine's weak power delivery
The 2018 Jeep Compass makes some compromises in size and power, but its Trailhawk model hits the crossover-SUV sweet spot.
Pros Tough Trailhawk model Clever Cherokee-like shape Lots of trim choice Up-to-date infotainment Comfortable ride quality and good handling
Cons 4-cylinder is overwhelmed here Cabin feels narrow Seats need better padding Mediocre visibility No adaptive cruise control
