2019 Jeep Compass Trailhawk Package $23,900

If you have your sights set on unpaved roads and wilderness exploration, we recommend the Trailhawk trim for its increased ground clearance, knobbier tires and unique all-wheel-drive calibration. Otherwise, head over to the Latitude, which offers a well-rounded slate of features without ballooning the price up too far. Sizewise, the 2019 Jeep Compass splits the difference between Jeep's smaller Renegade (with which it shares its basic platform) and the larger, pricier Cherokee. However, the compact crossover SUV segment in which the Compass plays is crowded, which makes standing out difficult. The Compass is a tidy-handling crossover that delivers solid day-to-day utility and sound fuel economy, but that goes for many others in the class, too. Jeep has an ace in the hole, however, in the form of the Compass' Trailhawk trim level, which is the most off-road-capable model in the segment. Sure, the Trailhawk serves in part as a standard-bearer for the brand that's intended to burnish the image of the rest of the Compass range, but its off-road edge is undeniable.