Is a Used Jeep Compass a Good SUV for First-Time Buyers?

If you’re on the hunt for your first vehicle, whether you’ve recently crossed the stage at your college graduation or you’re finally ready for a ride of your own to take you to work each day, there are a select few models that are more popular than others. Many first-time buyers might seek something affordable yet reliable, accommodating yet easy to handle. If you’re interested in a confident daily driver that can strike that balance, the subcompact Jeep Compass is a winner. 

Here at McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT, we’re proud to offer our customers a new or used Jeep Compass, but if you want to get more for your money, here’s a tip—consider shopping used. Finding a used Jeep Compass for sale will allow you to get precisely what you want in your ride without compromising based on what you can afford. If you’re wondering whether or not the Compass is a good first car to buy, let us help you decide.

Elegant Appearance

The Compass is one good-looking car, with its confident and approachable aura that seemingly radiates inside and out of the cabin. Opting for newer used models, like those from 2022 and newer, will allow you to take advantage of one of its latest redesigns, which presents the Compass in a whole new light, one that’s decidedly more mature. Its upscale appearance is evident from the moment it pulls up to you on the streets, with a beautifully styled front end, dazzling LED lighting elements, thinner grille slats, and more appealing features that make it stand out in a crowd.

Inside, the Compass is both comfortable and alluring, with top-tier models offering heated leather front seats, a modern dashboard design, and plenty of legroom in the front and back, thanks to high seat bottoms to ensure maximum comfort on board. The Compass is an excellent choice for those who want a bit more space than the more petite Renegade can offer yet don’t want to drive a hulking vehicle around town. With room for five and up to 59.8 cu.ft. in its cargo hold, the Compass is easily capable of handling carpool mates, friends, your new boss, or even a plethora of boxes as you move into your new apartment.

Confident Performance

This is your first car, and the last thing you want is to be disappointed in its performance. After all, maybe you’ve been saving for years to be able to buy your very own car, or maybe you’re using some of that college graduation money to put toward a vehicle. You don’t want to be let down by a lackluster performance, and in the Jeep Compass, you won’t have to worry about this. Choosing a more recent model, like those from 2023 and newer, will allow you to enjoy a more powerful engine and standard all-wheel drive capabilities to ensure heightened assurance on the road ahead, especially if the road succumbs to bad weather. Models from prior years offer both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, so if you want to have a choice, opting for one is advised.

You’ll find a number of powertrains offered on our used lot. Many of the newer Compass models are equipped with a 2.4L Tigershark four-cylinder, which clocks in at 177 hp, while a slew of newer models are found with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, clocking in 200 hp to enhance the quality of the ride. Many first-time buyers are drawn to vehicles that are easy to handle, which is exactly what you can expect with the small-size Compass, allowing you to have more confidence as you take to the streets in your very first car.

Today’s Tech

Every first-time buyer wants to enjoy state-of-the-art tech in their vehicles, especially those who are now embarking on a traffic-infused commute into the city on the way to the office every morning. This calls for a vehicle with connectivity tech, entertainment options, and safety features to ensure that your ride is as best as possible, even when you’ve run into an unexpected delay on the interstate. This is where buying used is advantageous since you’re able to get more of the features you desire for less money than buying new, and this is especially true when considering a newer used model.

Models from the last several years showcase appealing tech features for first-time buyers, including large touchscreens, with many models offering 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch touchscreen displays. You’ll also be able to enjoy intuitive software systems, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with many models offering this wirelessly, as well as voice recognition, navigation, and more desirable tech to help make the most out of your daily commute. Newer used models are also equipped with sophisticated safety tech to help you remain focused and secure as you navigate to a new work friend’s apartment or to your new job.

Off-Road Capabilities

If you’re drawn to a Jeep, chances are you like to explore, and not every small-size vehicle is going to be able to keep up with every type of adventure, especially those that take you on challenging terrain. Fortunately, the Compass is able to keep up when the ground beneath you gets tricky, and when you’re in the mood for a vehicle that can effortlessly transition from the pavement to the trails, the Trailhawk trim should be on your radar. With access to Jeep-level 4×4 capabilities, various terrain modes, and durable design elements, venturing out into nature on the weekends is made easier in the Compass Trailhawk.

Easy on the Wallet

The Compass is an affordable vehicle, with new models starting at under $28K, which means that finding a used model will allow you to save even more. This is due to depreciation, as this typically happens the most during a vehicle’s first year on the market. So, finding a Compass that’s just a year or two old will allow you to take advantage of appealing features for a much more reasonable price than buying new.

The Compass also allows you to keep more of your new paycheck in your bank account when it comes to gas. Its small size and efficient engine make for excellent fuel economy ratings, as newer Jeep Compass models can achieve an EPA-estimated 24 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway when opting for the newer turbocharged engine. This will allow you to save for that beach vacation with friends or put more money toward the security deposit for your new place.

It can be tough when you’re just starting out in the workforce and can’t afford to overspend on necessities like gas and your vehicle. The Compass ensures you won’t have to worry about this with its value-driven price tag and fuel-efficient engine powering it forward.

Get More for Less in the Compass

If you’re looking to save money while getting exactly what you want in your everyday vehicle, shopping for a used Jeep Compass is highly recommended. Not only will you get the satisfaction of traveling around town in an upscale and confident vehicle, but you’ll also get to take advantage of top-notch tech, an engaging performance, and heightened capabilities when the ground gets gritty. It also doesn’t hurt that the Compass is affordable and great on gas, allowing you to allot more of your hard-earned money to what you really want to spend it on. When shopping for your first car, you want to be ultimately satisfied with every aspect, and when you want a solid selection of affordable offerings with highly desirable features, you can’t go wrong with the inventory of used Jeep Compass models we have on our lot.

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