The Compass is Jeep's entry point model with more car-esque styling; however it has performed lamentably in the showrooms and its off road inability also put prospective customers off. Jeep's management were frank about the problems they inherited with this model, which should play a key role in its sales strategy, and the off road deficiencies have been rectified for the facelift with the Compass now earning the brand's coveted "trail rating" for the first time.

Alongside the improvements wrought to its ability, the facelifted version gets new front a rear clips with the front end design language mimicking the new Grand Cherokee in a strong pointer to a fresh 'family' styling path as well as a refresh for the cabin.

"Compact SUVs are the most popular sport-utility segment in Europe, and the new Jeep Compass has what it takes to be a strong contender," said Mike Manley, President and CEO of the Jeep Brand and Lead Executive for International Operations at the Chrysler Group. "We have applied the premium design cues of our award-winning new Grand Cherokee, expanded our powertrain range for Europe, and we have upgraded the interiors and ride and handling to provide European consumers a sporty, value-packed option." The aim of Manley's team has been to deliver the packaging and interior flexibility of an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car, while the facelifted Compass now has more than 30 safety and security features.

Interior upgrades for the Compass include new soft-touch front-door trim panels with a padded upper surface; a new, padded center armrest; new steering wheel with integrated controls that allow the driver to operate the radio, cruise control, available handsfree phone and other vehicle functions while keeping their hands on the wheel; new cloth interior with premium cloth bucket seats in the front; and new backlighting of door-mounted controls for power windows, locks and mirrors. The facelifted Compass also offers a power sun roof and audio system with nine Boston Acoustic speakers while standard features include air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power/heated exterior mirrors, illuminated cup holders, remote keyless entry, fog lamps, speed control and sunscreen glass.

The Compass will be available in Europe in two drivetrain configurations. In addition to the Freedom Drive I four-wheel-drive system, Compass is now also available in a cheaper front-wheel-drive configuration as the model seeks to appeal to more cost conscious customers and provide a better entry point to the brand. Front-wheel drive is the sole configuration for vehicles with the 2.0-litre petrol WGE unit and is also a option for vehicles with the 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine. Freedom Drive I meanwhile is a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with lock mode, designed to give drivers year-round assurance with the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions as well as slick roads that come with rain and light snow. Freedom Drive I features a lockable center coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Compass in four-wheel-drive Lock mode to handle deep snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces. Freedom Drive I is the standard configuration for vehicles with the 2.4-liter petrol WGE engine and is available for vehicles with the 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine. The Compass incorporates a retuned suspension for 2011, with higher spring and damping rates and an increased diameter of the rear sway bar.

The first of two petrol engines is the 2.4-litre WGE engine that produces power of 125 kW (170 hp) and torque of 220 Nm (162 lb/ft). This unit is carried over from the previous-generation of European-specification Compass SUVs, but with the arrival of the 2.0 WGE version in the Compass it is unlikely to make it much past the price lists in Europe, being a more North American market specific engine. the 2.4 WGE has dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts and when paired with the five-speed manual transaxle it delivers fuel economy of 8.1 l/100 km (combined cycle) and a range of 631 km (392 mi) on one tank of fuel. The 2.4 WGE is also available with Continuously Variable Transaxle (CVT).

Newly available for the Compass model in European markets will be the 2.0-litre version of the WGE unit which is a much better choice to try to attempt to attract European consumers into the compact SUV, although the biggest problem facing Jeep is that the WGE engine isn't a competitive proposition when compared to its peers. WGE was originally a three way joint venture between Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, the resulting engine actually being based on one of the South Korean firm's blocks. The 2.0 WGE unit will also come with VVT and power of 115 kW (156 hp) and torque of 190 Nm (140 lb/ft). This engine, which is coupled with a five-speed manual transaxle and front-wheel-drive configuration only and provides fuel economy of 7.6 l/100 km (combined cycle) and CO2 emissions of 175 g/km.

The European-specification Compass will get a new Daimler-sourced 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine with better overall performance than the VW-supplied 2.0-litre diesel engine (also fitted to VW's Passat) it has replaced. The 2.2-litre diesel engine, which is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, produces power of 120 kW (163 hp) and torque of 320 Nm (236 lb/ft). These equate to a 16 percent increase in power and a 3 percent increase in torque over the prior VW 2.0-litre diesel engine which was also finished to now-discontinued Euro IV specification. With the new Daimler 2.2-liter diesel engine, the Compass also improves its overall performance with 12 percent quicker acceleration and increased 4x4 towing capacity of 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs). With this Euro V diesel engine the Compass delivers fuel consumption of 6.6 l/100 km (combined cycle) and, in the front-wheel-drive configuration, can travel 844 km (524 mi) between fuel stops. To broaden the range the 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine will also be offered in European markets as a low-output version, with 100 kW (136 hp) of power at 3,600-4,200 rpm and 320 Nm (236 lb/ft) of torque across 1,400-2,800 rpm.