NOW part of the Fiat Group, following its 'troubled period', Jeep has promised a 'product led resurgence' and the revised Compass is its first fruit.

With the smaller Patriot now dropped from the British line-up, this compact 4x4 hints at a more polished brand image with a facelift that apes the design of the forthcoming new Grand Cherokee and a cabin featuring some classier chrome trims and soft-touch plastics.

The petrol side of the range kicks off with a front-wheel drive 154bhp 2.0-litre car, but most Compass customers will go for this new Mercedes-sourced 2.2-litre common rail turbodiesel, offered with 134bhp and front-wheel drive or 161bhp and four-wheel drive – both teamed with manual transmissions.

The car we're looking at here is the 2.2-litre CRD 4x4 Limited model with the higher output version of the Merc motor, and a part-time four-wheel drive system with a lockable 50/50 power split.

Performance is certainly gutsy with plenty of pulling power from modest revs.

This is just as well because refinement tails off significantly if you push the engine harder.

It's best to use the slick six-speed gearbox to tap into the ample supply of torque.

And once in top, the Compass is a relaxed enough motorway cruiser with a surprisingly supple ride.

B roads present more of a challenge, though, exposing the Jeep's less than exemplary body control and tendency to be unsettled by bumps.

Overlight and inconsistent steering doesn't help, making it difficult to place the Compass with much confidence or accuracy and there's plenty of road roar from the tyres on coarse surfaces. In other words, it's no Freelander on tarmac.

However, its 4x4 credentials look much more solid, with 20 degree approach and departure angles and a whopping 2,000kg braked trailer towing capacity.

Think downsized Grand Cherokee (the forthcoming model doesn't look so very different to its predecessor) and you've got the style of the new Compass in a nutshell.

Although the previous car's boxy profile, with its squared-off wheel arches, thick, angled C pillar and hidden rear door handles, has been retained, the new front end's seven slot grille and big badge look substantially more up-market than the rather cartoon-ish treatment of the outgoing model.

The 'butch 4x4' message hasn't been diluted, though. By comparison, rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan look just a little polite.

Much improved as it is, the Compass is still a little rough round the edges.

But for those who like their 4x4s to be tough and capable off road, it should hold plenty of appeal.

There are a number of more refined and stylish rivals out there but few offer as much equipment for the money.

There's enough Jeep DNA to ensure it presents a more purposeful image than your average compact 4x4 soft-roader but the Compass remains a reasonably composed prospect on the road.

Go for this diesel model and it represents solid value.