You would never guess it from the outside, but the Jeep Compass points to the start of a brave new world for Jeep.

The US manufacturer has steadfastly churned out some of the world's roughest, toughest vehicles and slotted into them massive engines that drink fuel so fast they can make you weep.

Despite this, sales of 4x4s, notwithstanding a vitriolic and mostly ill-informed campaign against them, continue to do well, especially among the funkier, more compact models.

But as compact sports utility vehicles (SUV) continue to grow larger and their prices rise above the £20,000 mark, Jeep opted to try to fill the gap emerging beneath, with a full-blown offensive of lower-priced models.

The arrival of Jeep's iconic name alone, in the compact SUV sector, is bound to capture its slice of sales. So enter the Illinois-built Compass, a neat, nippy vehicle with the footprint of a Ford Focus, riding on whopping 18-inch alloy wheels and an engine which is the first to power a Jeep that is capable of more than 43 miles per gallon.

It is also the Jeep brand's first front-wheel-drive-based vehicle and the first with a fully independent suspension, delivering a more comfortable on-road ride and improved handling.

In normal driving, the Compass operates in front-wheel-drive only. The four-wheel-drive system requires no driver input or control and the system continually assesses conditions so that it distributes the power in the best way. In addition, at speeds up to 10mph, the driver can also engage an off-road mode at the flick of a switch.

Under the bonnet is a choice of either a Volkswagen-sourced, 2.0-litre, six-speed manual diesel engine, or a 2.4-litre petrol engine developed between DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi, which comes with either a five-speed manual, or an automatic gearbox.

The Compass has a fresh look with traditional round Jeep headlamps, seven-slot grille and muscular body-side flares.

Standard equipment on the Jeep Compass Limited includes everything from anti-lock braking system and a traction control system, to leather upholstery with heated front seats and air conditioning And if that still isn't enough to tempt you behind the wheel of a Jeep, then just launched, with a more traditional Jeep look and design, is the Jeep Patriot, which shares the Compass platform and engines, but costs even less.

MODEL Jeep Compass 2.0 CRD Limited PRICE £19,010 INSURANCE GROUP 13 FUEL CONSUMPTION (COMBINED) 43.5mpg TOP SPEED 117mph LENGTH 440.5cm/173.4in WIDTH 181cm/169.6in LUGGAGE CAPACITY 15.4 cu ft FUEL TANK CAPACITY 11.2 gallons/51 litres CO2 EMISSIONS 177g/km WARRANTY 3 years/60,000 miles