Thinking of buying a compact sports utility vehicle? The choice just got harder.

The Jeep Compass is the well-specced, well-priced, new boy on the block and the iconic US manufacturer hopes it can lure buyers away from rival offerings from Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki and Hyundai.

First impressions are good.

Jeep styling falls into two camps: traditional and modern.

And, with female buyers firmly in its sights, Jeep has gone modern for its entry into a fiercely competitive market.

That means less of the boxy styling sported by more traditional models such as the Commander and Wrangler.

Instead, once you get past the unmistakeable Jeep grille, the windscreen is angled back; the lines are soft and curved, while the shoulder rises to the hunched-forwards, spoiler-sporting rear - giving it an overall dynamic stance.

As with stablemate the Dodge Caliber this is a car which will get you noticed.

Jump inside and Jeep fans will be in more familiar territory.

The controls are laid out functionally but stylishly with the speedo and rev counter right in front of the driver.

The gearstick sits at the base of the central console which houses the  CD/radio and air-con controls with just the handbrake, storage and two cupholders between the driver and front seat passenger.

The white interior roof nicely complements the chrome, grey plastics and two-tone upholstery to create a light, pleasant, roomy environment.

There’s a choice of two engines: the VW-produced 2-litre manual diesel or a 2.4-litre petrol model available as a manual or automatic.

We drove the diesel, boasting a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds, a top speed of 117mph and plenty of oomph in the form of 162Ib/ft pulling power.

The seating position is good and we found it a comfortable, practical car which also offers good, responsive handling.

Our route at the launch in Scotland included both major and minor roads as well as the opportunity for a little soft-roading, courtesy of a post-downpour, poorly maintained track, and the Compass was equally happy on each surface.

An average return of 43.5 mpg represents economical motoring (this does of course drop considerably for the petrol models) and is partly thanks to the more aerodynamic qualities of its “modern Jeep” appearance.

But the Compass’s best money-saving feature is its price.

Each of the three models cost less than £20,000 at launch with the range starting at £17,995 and the diesel priced at £19,010.

Plus all models come with plenty of toys.

18-inch alloy wheels come as standard, as does air conditioning, electric windows, CD/radio with steering wheel-mounted controls, side roof rails and heated front seats.

In fact, the only extras available are a £500 audio pack (six disc and nine speakers) and £400 special paint.

The Compass performs well in terms of safety too.

It may be Jeep’s first front wheel drive vehicle but there is still a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system which works in conjunction with a comprehensive suite of driver aids including anti-lock braking, brake assist, electronic stability program and brake traction control system.

When cruising the vehicle operates on two-wheel drive, improving fuel economy, while drivers can engage the four-wheel system manually at speeds of less than 10mph.

All in all it’s a lot of car for your cash and Jeep’s new addition has just made choosing a new SUV even more difficult – for all the right reasons.

Rivals:

Toyota RAV-4
Nissan X-Trail
Kia Sportage

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