You’ve seen them everywhere. In used car lots, parked outside suburban grocery stores, and weaving through morning traffic. The 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude is one of those vehicles that exists in a weird sort of purgatory. It’s not quite the rugged trailblazer its "Jeep" badge suggests, but it isn’t exactly a soft-riding luxury crossover either. Honestly, it’s a time capsule.
By the time 2016 rolled around, the Compass was already ancient. It was the final year of the first generation, a platform that had been kicking around since 2007. That’s an eternity in car years. Most critics at the time were busy burying it under a mountain of negative reviews, yet people kept buying them. Why? Because the Latitude trim, specifically, hit a "sweet spot" of affordability and perceived capability that few others could match at that price point. It’s a bit of a contradiction on wheels.
The Reality of the Drive
If you’re expecting the buttery smoothness of a modern Mazda CX-5 or the refined silence of a Honda CR-V, you’re going to be disappointed. The 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude feels mechanical. You feel the road. You hear the engine.
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Under the hood, most Latitude models came with the 2.4-liter World Gas Engine. It’s a four-cylinder that produces about 172 horsepower. It’s fine. It’s not fast, but it’s fine for merging onto the highway if you aren't afraid to floor it. The real hero (or villain, depending on who you ask) is the transmission. Jeep offered a few different options here, which makes buying a used one a bit of a minefield.
A lot of these came with a six-speed automatic. That’s the one you want. It shifts predictably and doesn’t make the engine drone like a dying vacuum cleaner. However, if you find one with the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group, you’re stuck with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). CVTs in this era of Jeep history were... polarizing. They’re designed to keep the engine in its power band, but they often just make a lot of noise without much forward momentum.
Living Inside the Latitude Trim
Step inside, and it’s a sea of hard plastic. It's durable, sure, but it feels like it was designed in a different decade—mostly because it was. But the Latitude trim was where Jeep tried to make things a little "nicer." You get chrome accents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated seats. Those heated seats are surprisingly good. They get hot enough to cook a pizza if you aren’t careful.
One of the weirdest, most iconic features of this era of Jeep was the flip-down tailgate speakers. If you have the Boston Acoustics premium sound system, you can literally swing the speakers down from the liftgate to play music for a tailgate party. It’s a gimmick. It’s a fun gimmick, though.
The seats are "decent." Long road trips might leave you looking for a chiropractor, but for a 20-minute commute, they do the job. The back seat is tight. If you’re over six feet tall, don’t even try to sit behind yourself. It’s not happening. Cargo space is also surprisingly limited for a vehicle that looks this chunky from the outside. You get about 22.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. For comparison, a 2016 RAV4 gives you nearly 38. That is a massive difference.
The Freedom Drive Confusion
People buy Jeeps because they want to go off-road, or at least feel like they could. The 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude offered two different 4WD systems. This is where most people get confused.
First, there’s Freedom Drive I. This is a basic full-time active 4WD system. It’s great for snow. It’s great for rain. It’s basically an AWD system that you can "lock" to split power 50/50 between the front and rear wheels at low speeds. It won't get you over a boulder, but it’ll get you to work during a blizzard.
Then there’s Freedom Drive II. This actually gave the Compass a "Trail Rated" badge. It includes a special version of the CVT with a low range for crawling, skid plates, and a higher ground clearance. It’s surprisingly capable. You can actually take a 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude with Freedom Drive II onto some moderate trails. Most people never did. They just liked the badge.
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Reliability: What to Watch For
Let’s be real. Jeep doesn’t have the same "bulletproof" reputation as Toyota. If you’re looking at a used 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude, there are things you need to check immediately.
The suspension is the big one. These cars eat control arms and tie rod ends for breakfast. If you hear a "clunk" when you hit a pothole during a test drive, walk away or ask for $800 off the price. It’s a common issue that’s plagued this platform since day one.
Then there’s the TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module). It’s basically the brain of the car’s electrical system. When it goes bad, weird things happen. Your wipers might turn on by themselves, or the car might refuse to start. It’s a known headache in the Mopar world.
The engine itself? The 2.4L is actually pretty stout. It’s a simple design. It’s been around forever. Parts are cheap. Any local mechanic can fix it. It might leak a little oil as it gets older, but it’s not prone to catastrophic failure like some of the turbocharged engines found in newer competitors.
Why Do People Still Love Them?
With all these flaws, you’d think people would hate this car. They don’t. There’s a weird charm to the 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude. It looks like a baby Grand Cherokee. It has that classic Jeep face—the seven-slot grille and the round-ish headlights. In a world of over-styled, futuristic crossovers, the Compass looks rugged and honest.
It’s also cheap to own. Because so many were made, used parts are everywhere. Insurance is usually low. It’s a "no-stress" car. You don’t worry about a shopping cart hitting the door. You just drive it.
Fuel Economy (The Bad News)
Don’t expect to save the planet in this thing. Even though it’s a small crossover with a four-cylinder engine, the aerodynamics are roughly equivalent to a brick. On a good day, you might see 23 or 25 miles per gallon on the highway. In the city? You’re looking at high teens or low 20s. If you have the Freedom Drive II system with the CVT, those numbers drop even lower. It’s thirsty for its size.
Comparing the Competition
Back in 2016, you could have bought a Subaru Crosstrek, a Honda HR-V, or a Mazda CX-3. All of those were technically "better" cars. They had better safety tech, better fuel economy, and better interiors.
But none of them felt like a Jeep.
The Compass offered a sense of "heft." It felt more substantial on the road than the light, tinny feel of the HR-V. For a lot of buyers, that perceived toughness was worth the sacrifice in refinement. It’s about the vibe. Sometimes the vibe wins over the spec sheet.
Maintenance Checklist for Buyers
If you’re hunting for one of these today, do your homework. These cars are often neglected because they were entry-level vehicles.
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- Check the CVT Fluid: If it hasn’t been changed every 60,000 miles, the transmission is a ticking time bomb.
- Listen for Whining: A high-pitched whine from the rear usually means the wheel bearings are shot.
- Scan for Codes: Even if the check engine light isn’t on, plug in an OBDII scanner. Sellers sometimes clear codes right before you show up.
- Inspect the Sunroof: If it has one, check the headliner for water stains. The drains on these are notorious for clogging and leaking water into the cabin.
Practical Insights for the Road Ahead
Owning a 2016 Jeep Compass Latitude in the mid-2020s is about managing expectations. It is a tool. It is a way to get from point A to point B with a little bit of style and the capability to handle a rough winter. It isn't a luxury vehicle, and it isn't a race car.
If you find a well-maintained one with under 100,000 miles and the 6-speed automatic transmission, it can be a reliable daily driver. Just stay on top of the suspension maintenance. Don't ignore the small noises. A $100 fix today prevents a $1,000 headache next month.
For those who want a "real" Jeep experience on a budget, look for the Freedom Drive II models. They are the only ones that actually live up to the brand's off-road heritage. For everyone else, stick to the standard Latitude with 4WD and enjoy the fact that you have a heated steering wheel and a car that looks much more expensive than it actually is.
Before signing any paperwork, take the car to an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. Specifically, ask them to check the subframe for rust and the control arm bushings for cracks. These are the "silent killers" of the 2016 Compass. If the underside is clean and the transmission shifts smoothly, you've found a solid example of one of Jeep's most misunderstood modern classics.